Sto Guard® Provides Superior Protection
ATLANTA, GA – Sto Guard® from Sto Corp., a leader in cladding, coating and restoration systems, is one of the most effective waterproofing/air barriers that can be used behind most claddings in the commercial and residential markets.
Sto Guard® is a breathable, fluid-applied waterproofing/air barrier, providing superior protection against air and moisture intrusion in a variety of applications, including underneath brick, wood, vinyl, cement siding and exterior insulation and finish systems, and even cement stucco if used in conjunction with a bond breaker.
Problems that can occur because of air leakage and condensation are minimized because Sto Guard® is an effective and economical means of controlling moisture in wall assemblies. By constructing an airtight building envelope the risk of moisture problems – decay, corrosion, loss of insulation value, mold growth and IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) -- are minimized.
Sto Guard® consists of three products:
- Sto Gold Fill— a spray- or trowel-applied joint treatment.
- Sto Guard™ Mesh— a 9.5 or 4.25 inch (108 or 241 mm) wide adhesive reinforcing mesh used in conjunction with Sto Gold Fill.
- Sto Gold Coat — a waterproof coating applied by spray, roller or brush to wall sheathing surfaces treated with Sto Gold Fill®, or to prepared concrete or concrete masonry wall construction.
Together these three components create a structural waterproofing/air barrier that greatly improves resistance to air leakage and water infiltration resistance in comparison to sheet goods in wall assemblies.
The purpose of an air barrier in wall construction is to minimize air infiltration and exfiltration through the wall construction. The benefits are:
- Reduced risk of condensation caused by air leaks through the wall construction.
- Increased thermal efficiency of the wall construction
- Energy cost savings
- Increased occupant comfort
- Provides opportunity for pressure equalized or pressure moderated wall system design, thus minimizing the risk of rain water penetration through wall construction
- Efficient use of materials--doubles as moisture barrier in wall assembly (in the case of Sto Guard®)
“The purpose of a moisture barrier in wall construction is to protect against ingress of incidental water into the building and to protect moisture-sensitive components such as gypsum based sheathing in the event of a breach in the outer wall covering, such as a crack in stucco,” said Alec Minne, Sto Marketing Group manager.
Sto Guard® is not a vapor barrier. The purpose of a vapor barrier in wall construction is to minimize water vapor diffusion through the wall assembly and thus reduce the risk and the amount of condensation on cold surfaces in the wall assembly. The term vapor retarder is a better term to use than vapor barrier when describing materials with low water vapor permeance. Very few materials have zero (0) water vapor permeance. Vapor retarder placement in the wall assembly depends on climate conditions and other factors.
About Sto Corp.
Sto Corp., based in Atlanta, Ga., is the North American headquarters for Sto AG, an innovative world leader and producer of a broad range of versatile cladding and coating systems for building construction, maintenance and restoration. Sto Corp. is ISO 9001:2000 certified and operates production plants strategically located to serve a network of more than 170 distributor locations across North America. At research and development laboratories in the U.S. and Europe, Sto continues to revolutionize the industry with the highest quality products and application technology. For more information, please call 1.800.221.2397 or visit www.stocorp.com. |
Press Release 2005
