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Anne Whitacre, FCSI CCS
Senior Member
Username: awhitacre

Post Number: 1133
Registered: 07-2002


Posted on Friday, March 18, 2011 - 05:14 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Hi all-
some years ago, I heard of some pretty spectacular failures using straw boards for casework and have not specified that type of composite board since that time. (let's say... it's been close to ten years).
Because I know that all building products either go out of business or get better, (and I see wheat boards and straw boards still on the market) I'm asking what the group experience has been with these products.
Do they hold up better under day to day use than they used to? Does hardware stay in place better than it used to? how about finishing?
I'm not looking for a sales pitch here - just day to day experience with this product type.
Thanks in advance.
Steve Taylor
Senior Member
Username: steveatwi

Post Number: 33
Registered: 07-2008
Posted on Friday, March 18, 2011 - 06:13 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Who is still making straw board/wheat board? I had heard that the only company that still makes wheat board only makes if for door core.

I understand there is an import product, from Japan I believe, but it is very expensive.

If these products are on the market for casework and millwork I'd like to be aware of them.
Lisa Goodwin Robbins, RA, CCS, LEED ap
Senior Member
Username: lgoodrob

Post Number: 126
Registered: 08-2004
Posted on Monday, March 21, 2011 - 09:23 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Anne,
We stopped specifying straw boards when they disappeared from the marketplace a few years ago. Dow closed its plant and Primeboard sold to Masonite. When I called Primeboard, they told me over 70% of their product went directly to Masonite for low density door cores. I never found where the other 30% goes. The lab casework manufacturers are not seeing it either.
The only manufacturer still operating, that I know about, is Environ Biocomposites in Minnesota. I've had only one client ask for it, as an interior finish materials, don't ask. I wouldn't automatically exclude agrifiber board if it was requested as a substitution, but I haven't seen it.
There were rumors of a Southern California firm working on a rice composite board, but I never heard more about it. I'd be very suspicious of agrifiber boards coming from Asia without independent testing from a reliable source.
Let us know if you find anything else.
-
Bruce Maine
New member
Username: btmaine

Post Number: 1
Registered: 03-2011
Posted on Monday, March 21, 2011 - 09:57 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Environ Biocomposites has entered Chapter 11 and their products are no longer available.
Anne Whitacre, FCSI CCS
Senior Member
Username: awhitacre

Post Number: 1135
Registered: 07-2002


Posted on Monday, March 21, 2011 - 04:05 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

thank you all. I had greenies in the Cal offices asking, and its very nice to say that it still doesn't exist in any viable form.

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