Magnesium Oxide Panels: A Durable Alternative to Drywall
For a client with a mold-prone Florida home, paper-faced drywall had become the enemy. After battling a severe mold infestation, he was determined to avoid using gypsum board in two small apartment units we were remodeling in the hot, humid climate of Houston, Texas. That’s when I turned to magnesium oxide panels (MgO panels), a durable cementitious board praised as mold-proof, fire-resistant, and long-lasting.
Why Choose Magnesium Oxide Panels?
During my search for a drywall alternative, I found Huber Engineered Woods’ new MgO sheathing board, Exacor. Unlike traditional gypsum, these panels withstand moisture and mold while meeting code and performance standards.
Huber, known for Zip System sheathing and AdvanTech subflooring, designed Exacor to replace both underlayment and drywall. This meant it could act as sound-deadening subfloor underlayment—eliminating poured gypcrete in apartments—while also serving as interior wall panels.
Inside Look: Exacor Panels
Ben Richardson, R&D manager for Exacor, explained that magnesium oxide boards are essentially cement boards made of inorganic magnesium cement and reinforced with fiberglass mesh. All MgO panels are currently manufactured in China under Huber’s strict quality control, since U.S. magnesite deposits are limited in scale.
While the supply chain is concentrated overseas, the performance advantages make these panels an attractive solution in mold-prone or fire-sensitive environments.
Read: Passive Ventilation System: Affordable Fresh Air for Airtight Homes
