Diamondback® GlasRoc® Tile Backer Now Available for Floor and Countertop Applications

(Tampa, Fla.) – Contributing to easier, faster and cost-effective tile installations, Diamondback® GlasRoc® Tile Backer from CertainTeed Gypsum is now available for floor and countertop applications. Reinforced with embedded glass mats for added strength and moisture and mold resistance, Diamondback features a patent-pending polymer coating with a unique textured surface that creates a strong bond, reducing tile slippage during installation.
The new 1/4-inch Diamondback is designed to meet ASTM C 627 Robinson Floor Test requirements for use as an underlayment. It weighs 40 percent less than traditional cement boards and is much easier to handle, cut and install, saving installers valuable time.
“The innovative technology used in Diamondback tile backer eliminates the need for an additional moisture barrier, reducing overall installation cost for contractors and builders,” says Dave Engelhardt, president of CertainTeed Gypsum. “Since introducing Diamondback as a substrate for walls and ceilings, we’ve received a very positive response from customers, and it was a logical extension to have the product developed for flooring and countertop applications.”
Ideal for use in bathrooms, kitchens and other high-moisture interior areas, Diamondback is suitable for both wet and non-wet installations in both residential and light commercial applications as defined in the Tile Council of North America Handbook for Ceramic, Glass, and Stone Tile Installation.
The 1/4-inch Diamondback tile backer is available in standard 3- by 5-foot and 4- by 4-foot sizes. It conforms to ASTM C 1178 and yields the best level of mold resistance – a score of 10 – when tested in accordance with ASTM D 3273. In addition, all products are GREENGUARD Children & Schools(SM)certified and backed by a limited, lifetime warranty for residential applications and a limited 20-year warranty for commercial applications. Diamondback is also offered in 1/2-inch and 5/8-inch thicknesses for use in wall and ceiling applications.
Offering a broad range of gypsum and finishing products for interior and exterior needs, CertainTeed Gypsum has served the North American building industry for more than 80 years and is a subsidiary of Saint-Gobain, the world’s leading producer of gypsum products. This, in combination with the full range of affiliated CertainTeed Corporation building products, provides architects, contractors, builders and dealers one partner to provide service and support for commercial and residential building projects. For more information, visit www.certainteed.com/gypsum.
About CertainTeed
Through the responsible development of innovative and sustainable building products, CertainTeed, headquartered in Valley Forge, Pa., has helped shape the building products industry for more than 100 years. Founded in 1904 as General Roofing Manufacturing Company, the firm's slogan "Quality Made Certain, Satisfaction Guaranteed," quickly inspired the name CertainTeed. Today, CertainTeed® is North America’s leading brand of exterior and interior building products, including roofing, siding, fence, decking, railing, trim, foundations, pipe, insulation, gypsum, ceilings and access covers.
A subsidiary of Saint-Gobain, the world’s largest building products company, CertainTeed and its affiliates have more than 6,000 employees and more than 65 manufacturing facilities throughout the United States and Canada. Recognized as a 2009 and 2010 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, CertainTeed earned the 2011 and 2012 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award, the highest level of recognition for outstanding contributions to protecting the environment through energy efficiency. The group had total sales of approximately $3.2 billion in 2011. www.certainteed.com
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