When I looked at the picture of the steel c section in the opened up window sill, it didn't appear to be affected. Maybe it just wasn't as obvious as the aluminum was?? And, are you saying that the steel screws holding the aluminum window frame in did not make contact with the steel c section? If they did, then that is where the electrolysis potential is coming from. The screws by themselves may not have enough potential to corrode the aluminum, but the combination of all of the steel in the c sections could - the steel fasteners just electrically bridge that potential. If it is an electrolysis problem, then you may be able to use a rubber (or non-metal) grommet (or something) under the screw head to reduce the contact of the steel screw with the aluminum window frame.

OldGuy we have Never sold any of our board into Central America and have NEVER had any of our board weep or corode fasteners we have only sold board to our MagWall SIPS licensees for the last 2 years..you must of bought some counterfiet board from a Chineese broker

Send me a copy of the B/L so I can prove you DID NOT use our board we own our factory in China and all sales go through me

I have sent the invoice to many of you ... I will try to post it later when my computer guy can reduce the file to less than 100 kb that the blog requires...... magdaddy send me your email directly and I will be glad to sent it directly to you....

[email protected] [email protected]

Old Guy you bought Magnum Board not MagBoard..you bought from a broker who has no skin iin the game in China they have no testing no QC,, and could be the worst board on the market..the reciept you sent me says Magnum board you bought (9mm board) if they knew SIPS at all they would have never sold you that board..it dosent work on SIPS.. check out www.mag-board.com thats all we do is SIPS..there are a lot of unscrupolus people out there ..buyer be ware ask for documentation on structural testing QC manual and there testing on SIPS they have NONE

You are correct . Please our appologies but there is no intent to harm your company's reputation. Looking at the invoice and the promotional and technical materials supplied by them, there really is a fraudulent intent by magnum to promote their products as being of magboard quality. You should make efforts to make this clear to the marketplace. It certainly was not clear to us and is confusing. You are right....buyer beware.

you could have avoided the egg on your face by simply looking at the paperwork. This is why I asked if you had contacted the supplier and what was the response. People that go onto a public forum and make unfounded accusations before calling the supplier first are boring. You deserve the egg on your face and you should call Tim and apologize. Tim and Gordon are doing everything humanly possible to make a quality, consistent product. Who you bought from is not in control of the production and is simply a broker.

Old Guy no need to apoloigise the guy's at Magnum Board have been ripping people off for years..they have been riding our coat tails under cutting the market with cheap inferior boards they are good con men.you are not the only one who has fallen for their BS..they say on their website they have Certified testing www.magnumbp.com they dont... give them a call and ask for proof the two guys are Dan Armstrong and Ed Gilbert they are the owners..ask them for a copy of their certfied tests..you will get nothing but excuses and the run around..this industry needs to have an association to keep the bad guys out.and the gentlemen is right ( guest ) he must know us we do everything we can to be above board honest and not cut any corners when it comes to MagBoard and MagWall... QC.. wittnessed production runs for products being tested by accreditted 3 rd party labs.90 day audits.. saving core samples for 3 years..etc..etc

Dear All,

I am Sam Shan from China. We are a manufacturer and exporter of MgO boards and MgO/CBPB faced SIP panels. In terms of people's concerns about the products, I would like to take this opportunity to add my opinion for your reference.

Health Concerns:
MgO board is safe to people's health. MgO board doesn't' give off formal dehydrate gas or other poisonous gases because it doesn't contain these. It is made of such raw materials as MgO, MgCl2, and other inorganic, light weight ingredients like sawdust. On both sides of the MgO mortar, fiberglass reinforcement mesh and nonwoven fabric are placed. They are the universal formula of MgO boards.

Corrosion Concerns:
As magnesium oxide boards contains MgCl2, brine recurrence or leach problem does exist with some manufacturers' products. There are two methods in addressing the problem in China: one is through water penetration and the other is by using modifying agents. The two methods have their respective advantages and disadvantages. The former puts the finished MgO boards into water to dissolve the mag chlorine. This method, however, reduces the strength of the boards. The latter adds some agents to confine chlorine ions into certain cells in the mag board. This technology is considered to be very ripe now. But the truth is MgO boards are not made just by mixing the ingredients together. There are many other variables that contribute to the brine recurrence, for example, preservation time and methods, different weather conditions and the purity of the raw materials, etc. The national standard of chlorine ion level is 10%. Some manufacturers can control it to 2%. However, on the user's end, stainless steel or galvanized fasteners are recommended to use to avoid steel’s direct contact on the boards.

Structural Concerns:
The ultimate goal for MgO board is to replace wood to save the natural resources. In some respects, this goal is achieved. But there is still a long way to go. The appearant shortcomings are brittleness, nail holding strength and flexibility. But the differences are narrowed day by day. We are striving to make SIP panels to last for over 50 years. We hope that our American counterparts join us. Compared with OSB, MgO as faces of SIP panels needs a wider margin when nails or fasteners are applied. We are going to have our SIP panels approved by ICC standards. Technically, we believe we can pass the tests.

How to Choose the Better Ones?
There are many MgO boards in the market. It is very difficult to tell good ones from bad ones for an inexperienced buyer, because they look similar. But only a limited number of MgO factories make reliable boards that can stand the test of time. Some manufacturers, driven by greed, use poor quality raw materials and take no care for quality and durability, which greatly discourages the users.

As a senior exporter with engineering background, I can help you find the best suppliers in China. I will be in the USA from Jan 24 to Feb 5, 2012. If you would like to meet with me, please write back.

Thanks,
Sam Shan
[email protected]

As a person who works with several binding mechanisms (portland, MPC,Na2Si03,MOC,geopolymers, etc. I find mr Mill's input to be problematic from a chemistry standpoint
Exceeding the molar ratio with an excess of MgCl2 is a problem which will result in leaching of the excess MgCl2
Exceeding the needed amount of MGO may seem to be a "solution" but the excess MGO will revert to MGC03 which is not stable and is water soluble and leaves a chalky residue
There are many people who have their own additives which have an impact in locking up the transient water molecule inherent with magnesium oxychloride.
The effectiveness is verifiable with testing and hopefully soon there will be a required test for at least the exported boards.
I know Tim and Gordon and others at MagBoard and I concur that they are doing as good or better than any manufacturer I know. Even though the factory is in China the ownership and management are US. I have absolutely NO affiliation with them. I say what I do because it is the truth and is pertinent to the discussion.
Buying through a broker who has no skin in the game is what leads to most of the problems

I'd like to consider using MgO SIPs (MagWall) for my upcoming construction, but how is it better than OSB SIPs when the prices I find is more than twice the cost (for equivalent thickness and R-value)? I was quoted $12/psqft for just the MgO SIP wall panels. Roof panels cost even more. For that amount I could build with ICFs!

MGO = Junk

Leon Hui..I am a founderf of MagWall who quoted you 12 bucks a sq ft and I will get you a real quote with stucco finishes that has over 1400 colors for about 1/2 that

Steel SIPS = Stupid Expensive Junk

Posted By MagDaddy on 02 Feb 2012 07:15 PM
Steel SIPS = Stupid Expensive Junk

I just finished building with metal SIPs. It appears my cost per square foot of panel was about a 1/4 of what you charge. I'm sure my labor cost were even more favorable in comparison due to the differences in material weight, connection details and panel sizes. I've spent a considerable amount of time working in China. I cannot imagine any reason I would want to import an item from there to put in my house and depend on for decades. Especially when I can get a locally sourced product that a local manufacturer is constrained to stand behind by law as well as their future viability as a business. I cannot think of any material advantage to MgO.

You can build Steel SIPS for a $1.50 a sq ft more power to you ..I couldn't imagine living in a glorified oven..we only make the board in China the rest is made in the USA....we own the factory in China because of the proximity of the raw materials we will be making it in the USA in due course..the reason we make SIPS with it is because of FIRE WATER and MOLD issues with OSB and drywall you can't overcome plus the chemicals in those two products can kill you

Gentleman

maybe one should consider the advantages of MgO vs. OSB and keep an open mind - without emotions. This forum is to inform - not to place blame without foundation.

I believe $12/4 equals $3 (not $1.50). When someone says they "own" a factory in China it makes me skeptical. There are long term leases and partnerships but no one besides the government actually owns it.

Posted By Torben on 02 Feb 2012 08:56 PM
I just finished building with metal SIPs. It appears my cost per square foot of panel was about a 1/4 of what you charge. I'm sure my labor cost were even more favorable in comparison due to the differences in material weight, connection details and panel sizes. I've spent a considerable amount of time working in China. I cannot imagine any reason I would want to import an item from there to put in my house and depend on for decades. Especially when I can get a locally sourced product that a local manufacturer is constrained to stand behind by law as well as their future viability as a business. I cannot think of any material advantage to MgO.

Torben, who was your metal SIPs supplier??? Your costs seem very attractive.