Acoustic Wall Alternatives
Wills Construction is now the Central Illinois Exclusive Dealer for Acoustic Wall Alternatives which manufactures a fabric-covered fiberglass panel which replaces drywall. These panels are used in a variety of applications, both residential and commercial.
In residential applications, these drywall alternative panels are most commonly used to remodel basements. They have a number of advantages:
- They are made of inorganic materials and therefore do not promote the growth of mold and mildew.
- They are porous which allows moisture to pass through them. Combined with the inorganic materials, they make very mold resistant walls, virtually eliminating the health hazards associated with conventional construction in a basement.
- Their porosity also makes them sound absorbing, trapping 85% of the sound that hits them. When used in conjunction with acoustical tile ceilings, these panels deaden the sound in the room which makes them great walls for home theaters, home offices, or anywhere a quieter environment is desired.
- They are prefinished so they take less time to install and create less mess.
- They come in over 800 colors and patterns
- They are trimmed in any kind of wood trim, either painted or stained.
- The fiberglass portion of the panel is made from at least 25% recycled glass and the fabric is made from 100% recycled plastic bottles, making it a “green” product.
These properties make this a very attractive alternative to drywall.
In commercial applications they are commonly used for acoustic wall treatments in auditoriums, conference rooms, offices, restaurants, retail spaces, houses of worship, hotel lobbies, exhibition halls, classrooms, music/rehearsal space, recording studios, offices, “quiet rooms” for scientific experiments, and libraries. Because they are available in many colors, they can be made to fit any décor.
In addition to their ability to be installed as the wall surface, they can also be made into panels which can be hung on a solid surface wall. This is often done to enhance sound systems and can be used as an architectural feature as well.
Because they are “green”, architects can use them to meet LEED certification.
To find out more, you can click on the AWA link or go to www.awallc.us