Innovative New Finishing Compound Reduces Dust

Introducing Dust Control

INNOVATIVE NEW FINISHING COMPOUND REDUCES DUST IN RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL PROJECTS

New to Australia, Knauf SHEETROCK® Dust Control is a finishing compound which greatly reduces airborne dust when sanded.

The unique new product has been trialled by a range of Australian contractors and builders on both commercial and residential projects – and the feedback has been exceptionally positive. 

FILLING A NICHE IN RESIDENTIAL RENOVATIONS

Ceiling Resurfacing Australia specialises in residential refurbishment projects across Australia, particularly older properties with vermiculite ‘popcorn’ ceilings. Director Matthew Bailey says hundreds of thousands of units built back in the 1970s have textured ceilings, and the niche business transforms them to a perfectly smooth surface. Ceiling Resurfacing Australia uses SHEETROCK Dust Control applied with spray equipment on their ceiling resurfacing projects and are very happy with the results they are able to achieve.

“It’s not just a finishing product; it has shrinkage, but it's one of the lowest shrinkage plasters we’ve ever come across,” Matthew says. “We need products that have low-shrinkage. Dust Control is incredibly low-shrinkage, so that puts very little stress on the ceiling; less surface tension which is something that's very important to us. It also minimises the amount of time we have to spend reapplying coatings.”

Dust Control Case Study

 

“It’s not just a finishing product; it has shrinkage, but it's one of the lowest shrinkage plasters we’ve ever come across.”


MATTHEW BAILEY,

DIRECTOR, CEILING RESURFACING AUSTRALIA

EASY TO APPLY

Matthew also likes the texture of SHEETROCK Dust Control. “Compared to other products, it has a slippery feel and just applies so easily, spreads so easily. A lot of plasters feel quite gluey and gluggy, whereas you can apply Dust Control relatively thick. It just glides through the machines.

”Ceiling Resurfacing’s Queensland State Manager Andrew Baston is also impressed with the texture. “It seems to mix really well. Because we're spraying it as opposed to just trowelling, it just goes on a lot smoother.” Matthew says clients can’t believe the results. "They expect to still see some texture on the ceiling. But, once it's sanded, Dust Control is perfect. There's no texture, no imperfection – the job is clean. Of all the products we use, it’s probably the best finishing plaster.”

SUPERIOR DUST CONTROL

Over 28 years, Matthew Bailey has seen a change in client requirements and appreciates the OH&S advantages of Dust Control. “People today don’t like dust, so we always try to minimise it on health grounds. A lot of clients are also conscious of the amount of cleaning that has to be done after replastering,” he says. “Years ago, we didn't worry about it. We just breathed everything in. Now we're aware of the damages to health by means of airborne dusts, whether it be asbestos or silica or other things. If we're able to control the way the dust falls, that gives us control as well. Rather than just sanding and having ultrafine dust floating in the air and going all over the place, we're able to control where it goes, control our clean-up, and use safety equipment that lets us live a healthier life.”

As a Specialist Applicator for Ceiling Resurfacing Australia, Mark Neeson likes Dust Control because it greatly reduces dust and saves work cleaning up. “Normally when you sand it's like a talcum powder bomb, even using a sanding machine with a vacuum attached. But Dust Control falls as little clumps straight down, instead of blasting all over the room.”Plastering contractor Torquay Interior Linings does a lot of insurance work, and Operations Manager Mark Paramonov agrees. “Minimising dust in someone’s home is important. Instead of covering up all the furniture it’s going to be a lot easier. Dust Control stays in the defined area, rather than blowing everywhere around the rest of the house. Comparing it to the regular top coat, you find that Dust Control definitely changes the aspect of sanding, it makes it a lot easier,” Mark says. “The regular product has very fine dust that blows away in the air, gets in your ears and your eyes, up your nose. Whereas Dust Control just clumps together and drops straight to the ground. Mark’s colleague Tyson Wijaya agrees. “When you finish sanding it with blocks, there’s not as much dust hanging on the walls, which is good for painting and cleaning up.”

“The regular product has very fine dust that blows away in the air, gets in your ears and your eyes, up your nose. Whereas Dust Control just clumps together and drops straight to the ground.”

MARK PARAMONOV - OPERATIONS MANAGER, TORQUAY INTERIOR LININGS

 

SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS FOR COMMERCIAL PROJECTS

While the product rates extremely highly as a finishing compound, the unique dust control formula is a bonus for large commercial projects. Leading national fit-out and refurbishment specialist SHAPE Australia manages many different projects around the country including offices, hotels, retail, education and healthcare. SHAPE trialled Knauf’s new SHEETROCK Dust Control compound at a major commercial property in Brisbane. Business Development Manager Tim Dixon says, “Controlling dust on a site of this size is very important. There are a large number of trades on our site at any one time – so anything that can help mitigate dust is great.” He adds, “During our trials there was a significant amount of evidence to show comparisons to previous products. What Knauf is doing and what we’re seeing has been significant.”

“There are a large number of trades on our site at any one time – so anything that can help mitigate dust is great.”

TIM DIXON - BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, SHAPE AUSTRALIA

 

“SHEETROCK Dust Control is perfect… Of all the products we use, it’s probably the best finishing plaster.”

MATTHEW BAILEY,

DIRECTOR, CEILING RESURFACING AUSTRALIA

For more information on USG Boral SHEETROCK Dust Control visit USGBoral.com/au/DustControl

Download the case study here.

 
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