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specialty-boards

SPECIALTY BOARDS AND PANELS

Drywall and panels with added properties for applications involving sound reduction, security, air quality, moisture resistance and other specialized applications.

Delivering sheathing panels for projects demanding specialized properties.

Best Supply is your go-to resource for a wide variety of wall boards and panels used in specialized environments where concerns may include security, acoustics and sound quality, strength and durability, air quality and other heightened considerations.

We’re a regular supplier of materials for construction and renovations in medical environments, government buildings and institutions, food processing and food service and high-traffic venues like stadiums and arenas.

We maintain local inventory of many of these specialty materials and have developed partnerships with manufacturers to assure reliable availability and prompt delivery of product.

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SPECIALTY WALL BOARD MATERIALS WE OFFER

  • Lead-lined Drywall: For use in medical environments where radiation shielding is required. Also used in some industrial applications and nuclear applications.
  • Cement Board: Also known as concrete board, it’s used as backing for stone and tile because of its strength and water resistance.
  • Ballistic Panels: Sometimes referred to as ballistic drywall or bullet-proof sheetrock, ballistic panels are used in government buildings, schools, banks and other security-sensitive environments to protect against armed intrusion and projectiles of all kinds. Typically constructed in layers to absorb shock and contain projectiles, these materials are rated at various levels for bullet resistance.
  • High-impact Panels: You may know these products as abuse-resistant or high abuse panels. Typically made of gypsum reinforced with fiberglass, these panels provide extra abrasion and scuff resistance, with the additional benefit of reduced noise transmission.
  • Prefinished Drywall Panels: Often used for interior office walls and partitions, this gypsum board is finished with a vinyl coat and can be hung directly on metal studs using a specified adhesive, or as a top layer on other types of wallboards. It’s available in a variety of colors and textures.
  • FRP panels, trim and adhesive: Fiberglass Reinforced Panels –fiberglass reinforced plastic or FRP panels – offer water resistance, stain resistance and sanitation protection. They’re lightweight, easily cleaned and can be installed directly over a wide range of surfaces, for appropriate use in food-service areas, restrooms and moist or otherwise difficult environments.

Learn more about specialty wall board materials from Best Supply.

GLASS MAT PRODUCTS

  • DensArmor Plus: Abuse-resistant and impact-resistant fiberglass mat panels designed to replace paper-faced panels in high-traffic areas for protection against abrasion, scrapes and gouges.
  • DensShield: Fiberglass mat-faced gypsum based tile back product panels for moisture and mold resistance in fire-rated and non-fire-rated environments.
  • Shaftwall Liner: Fire-rated shaftwall liner with a reinforced fiberglass mat for shafts, stairwells, area separation walls and horizontal ducts and shaftwalls.
  • DensElement Weather Barrier: Weather-resistant exterior-use gypsum sheathing board that’s part of a water-resistive barrier and air barrier (WRB/AB) system for installation in any weather conditions.
  • GlasRoc Sheathing DensGlass: Water-resistant, noncombustible gypsum sheathing, surfaced with coated fiberglass mats to provide superior weather protection and mold resistance.
  • Diamondback Tile Backer: Interior substrate for use in wet areas such as bathrooms and laundry areas, allowing direct installation of tile without additional membranes or skim coats.
  • eXP Sheathing: Like purple board on steroids, eXP panels are coated with a purple glass mat to provide improved weather resistance and moisture protection.
  • eXP Shaftwall: eXP board with a fire-resistant core for shafts, stairwells and other fire-rated applications.


SOUND BOARD AND RELATED PRODUCTS

  • Silent FX: In the category of panels commonly called quietrock or soundproofing drywall. Noise-reducing gypsum board for interior use inhibits sound transmission between adjacent spaces.
  • Soundbreak Board: Another noise-damping gypsum board with additional properties of moisture resistance and protection against scuffs and abrasion. For use in interior commercial and residential environments.
  • RSIC Sound Clips: Resilient Sound Isolation clips improve the STC rating of walls and ceilings by creating a buffer between structural elements to reduce vibration and noise transmission.
  • RC-1 & RC -2 Resilient Channels: Specialty channels to place between wall panels to reduce noise transmission.
  • Green Glue Compound: Fast and effective soundproofing adhesive for use with channels and wall panels.
  • Acoustic Caulking: Latex-based caulk that provides an effective sound barrier anywhere caulk would be used.

DISTRIBUTOR FOR TOP BRANDS OF SPECIALTY WALL BOARDS AND PANELS

Best Supply works with leading producers of gypsum products and specialty panels, so you always get the exact supplies you need. Our providers of specialty boards include:

  • Crane Composites FRP Panels: Provides fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) wall and ceiling panels that combine unsurpassed hygiene and durability with high-performance and style that customers around the world trust.
  • Dens Armor Plus: Fiberglass mat abuse-resistant panel. It has been designed to replace paper-faced panels in commercial building interiors and formulated for high traffic areas (e.g., corridors in hospitals, schools and other public buildings)
  • CertainTeed: Fully integrated perforated metal and wood specialty & acoustical wall systems that improve speech intelligibility in education and office settings.


CUSTOMER SERVICE YOU CAN COUNT ON

As a distributor, our reputation is built on the service we provide. Best Supply employees are knowledgeable in the construction trades and are empowered to make decisions and solve problems as they arise. We bring materials to the exact location where you need them—whether it’s the first floor or the tenth, using our own well-maintained fleet of trucks. We accept a variety of payment options and are set up to support contractors and builders of all sizes.


LEARN MORE ABOUT SPECIALTY WALL BOARDS AND PANELS FROM BEST SUPPLY

No matter what your project involves, Best Supply will meet your needs for specialty wall boards and panels. Contact us today for more information on our products or services, to request a quote or to schedule a delivery.

Have a specific project in mind?

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SPECIALTY BOARDS & PANELS - FAQs

Specialty Board Basics

What types of specialty boards and panels does Best Supply carry? Best Supply carries a wide range of specialty wall boards and panels for demanding and code-driven applications, including lead-lined drywall for radiation shielding, cement board for tile and stone, ballistic (bullet-resistant) panels, high-impact abuse-resistant panels, prefinished vinyl-faced drywall, FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) panels, glass mat moisture- and fire-rated panels, exterior sheathing, and soundproofing boards and accessories. These products serve medical, government, food service, education, and high-traffic environments. Our team can help match the right board to your specification.
What is cement board (concrete board), and what is it used for? Cement board, also called concrete board, is a rigid, moisture-durable panel used as a backing (substrate) for tile and stone in wet and high-moisture areas such as bathrooms, showers, kitchens, and floors. Unlike standard drywall, it won’t deteriorate when exposed to moisture, giving tile a stable surface to bond to. Best Supply carries cement board along with glass mat tile backer alternatives for wet-area installations.
What is FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) paneling, and where is it used? FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) paneling is a durable, washable wall and ceiling panel that resists water, stains, and bacteria, making it ideal for sanitary environments like commercial kitchens, food processing areas, restrooms, and healthcare spaces. It installs over a substrate with matching trim and adhesive to create a cleanable, moisture-resistant surface. Best Supply carries FRP panels, trim, and adhesive, including Crane Composites products.
What are high-impact or abuse-resistant panels? High-impact panels—also called abuse-resistant or high-abuse panels—are gypsum boards reinforced with fiberglass to withstand abrasion, scuffing, and impact in high-traffic areas, and many also help reduce noise transmission. They’re specified for corridors, schools, hospitals, stadiums, and other spaces where standard drywall would quickly get damaged. Best Supply carries abuse- and impact-resistant panels, including Georgia-Pacific DensArmor Plus.
What is prefinished (vinyl-faced) drywall? Prefinished drywall is gypsum board with a durable vinyl face applied at the factory, so it needs no taping, finishing, or painting after installation—the finished surface is ready as soon as the panel goes up. It’s used for interior walls and partitions and comes in a range of colors and textures, making it popular for commercial spaces that need fast, low-maintenance, washable walls. Best Supply carries prefinished vinyl-faced drywall panels in various colors and textures.

Glass Mat, Moisture & Weather Panels

What are glass mat gypsum panels (such as DensGlass and DensShield)? Glass mat gypsum panels replace the paper facing of standard drywall with a coated fiberglass mat, which resists moisture, mold, and mildew far better than paper-faced board and makes them suitable for wet, humid, or weather-exposed locations. Different products target different jobs—DensShield is a tile backer for wet areas, DensGlass is a water-resistant, noncombustible sheathing, and DensArmor Plus is an abuse-resistant interior panel. Best Supply carries the Georgia-Pacific Dens line and other glass mat products, including DensShield, DensGlass, DensArmor Plus, and shaftwall liner.
What’s the difference between a tile backer board and cement board for wet areas? Both give tile a moisture-durable surface to bond to in showers, tubs, and other wet areas, but they’re built differently: cement board is a dense cementitious panel, while glass mat tile backers (such as DensShield or Diamondback) use a moisture-resistant gypsum core with a fiberglass mat facing and can be lighter and faster to cut and install. Some tile backers include a built-in moisture barrier, while cement board is typically paired with a separate membrane. Best Supply carries both cement board and glass mat tile backers so you can match the substrate to the installation.
What is exterior gypsum sheathing, and when is it used? Exterior gypsum sheathing is a moisture- and weather-resistant panel installed on the outside of wall framing, beneath the cladding, where it adds sheathing while resisting water and, in many products, contributing to the wall’s air and water-resistive barrier. Glass mat versions are noncombustible and hold up to weather exposure during construction. Best Supply carries exterior sheathing including DensGlass, DensElement weather barrier, GlasRoc, and eXP sheathing. Always install sheathing and barrier systems per the manufacturer’s details and local code.

Soundproofing Boards & Accessories

What’s the difference between soundproof drywall, sound deadening drywall, Quietrock, Silent FX, and Soundbreak? “Soundproof” and “sound deadening” drywall are generic terms for specialty gypsum panels that sandwich a layer of acoustical (viscoelastic) compound between two thinner layers of drywall, which dampens vibration and limits the sound passing through the wall. The major branded versions work the same way but come from different manufacturers: Soundbreak is a National Gypsum product, Silent FX is a CertainTeed Gypsum product, and Quietrock is a Pabco Gypsum product. Best Supply carries soundproof gypsum panels and can match the brand specified for your project.
What are resilient channels and sound isolation clips (RC-1, RC-2, RSIC), and how do they reduce noise? Resilient channels and sound isolation clips decouple the drywall from the framing so that vibration—and the sound it carries—can’t travel straight through the wall or ceiling, which raises the assembly’s STC (Sound Transmission Class) rating. RC-1 and RC-2 resilient channels mount between the framing and the panels, while RSIC clips provide an even higher-performance isolated mounting; both are often paired with a damping compound like Green Glue between panel layers and acoustic caulk at the perimeter. Best Supply carries RSIC sound clips, RC-1 and RC-2 resilient channels, Green Glue compound, and acoustic caulking to build a complete sound-isolation system.

Shielding & Security Panels

What is lead-lined drywall, and where is it used? Lead-lined drywall is 5/8″ drywall with a layer of lead sheeting bonded to the back of the panel, used to contain radiation within a space. The lead thickness is specified by a radiation shielding report for the room, with common thicknesses of 1/32″, 1/16″, 3/32″, and 1/8″. It’s typically installed anywhere x-ray or imaging equipment is used, so radiation doesn’t escape the intended area. Best Supply supplies lead-lined drywall ordered to the thickness your shielding report specifies.
What is bulletproof drywall, and where is it used? Although it’s commonly called “bulletproof drywall,” ballistic paneling is made of woven fiberglass rather than gypsum, and it’s rated for bullet resistance rather than being truly bulletproof. It’s offered in protection levels 1 through 8, covering everything from small handgun rounds up to high-powered rifle rounds, and is commonly used in banks, government buildings, police stations, and schools. Best Supply carries ballistic panels, including Waco Composites products, in the protection level your specification calls for.

Brands, Ordering & Delivery

What brands of specialty boards and panels do you carry? Best Supply is a distributor for leading specialty panel manufacturers, including Georgia-Pacific (the Dens line—DensGlass, DensShield, DensArmor Plus, and DensElement), CertainTeed (GlasRoc sheathing, Silent FX soundproof board, and perforated metal and wood acoustical wall systems), National Gypsum (Soundbreak soundproof board and eXP sheathing), Pabco Gypsum (Quietrock), Crane Composites (FRP panels), and Waco Composites (ballistic panels). Because we work directly with these manufacturers, we can supply mainline, specialty, and made-to-spec panels to match your project.
What areas do you deliver to, and where can I buy specialty boards and panels near me? Best Supply delivers specialty boards and panels from locations across the Midwest, Southeast, and Florida—including Ohio (Cleveland, Columbus, East Columbus, Dayton, Canton), Michigan (Detroit), Indiana (Indianapolis), Kentucky (Louisville, Lexington), Tennessee (Nashville), Georgia (Atlanta), the Carolinas (Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Greenville, Columbia), and Florida (Tampa, Orlando, Sarasota, Fort Myers). We keep many specialty materials in local inventory and deliver with our own fleet, dropping materials exactly where they’re needed on the job site—whether that’s the first floor or the tenth.
Do you have any discounted, overstock, or clearance specialty boards and panels available? Yes—Best Supply keeps a rotating list of inventory specials on building supplies that can include discounted, overstock, and clearance items when they’re available. Because this inventory changes regularly, the best way to see what’s currently offered is to browse our inventory specials on building supplies and contact our team to confirm availability and pricing. For larger specialty board and panel orders, our team can also put together a competitive quote.