Patching and Plastering - fix or SELL HOUSE!
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WornOutMom
02-06-05, 11:39 PM
We've had some water damage from a leaking roof in the kitchen nook the popcorn cieling has a chunk falling off it. ok. i can handle that. Then I noticed the paint bubbling up on another wall in the kitchen, it's soft and spongy.. :(
Then the wall formed a huge crack horizontally about 3 ft across in the middle of the wall. I think that wall is plaster as it's an exterior wall. I dont know how to fix that. A horizontal buckle has formed in the laundryroom, i've wondered what that was for the last 4 years :confused: ...then today in the laundry room under the window, near the buckle, I see the same sort of mysterious spongyness, it's like the wall is only being held up by a billion layers of paint.
I have not told my husband, I'm ok at home repairs (i drywalled our garage)but he freaks out. this maybe too much job for me. but we're broke... maybe i should just try to get out of this house..... HELP? Do i just start busting up walls and replace the drywall? what about the plaster? a what about the mold, i bet theres mold, and probably termites :eek: I'm afraid of what i'll find
Then the wall formed a huge crack horizontally about 3 ft across in the middle of the wall. I think that wall is plaster as it's an exterior wall. I dont know how to fix that. A horizontal buckle has formed in the laundryroom, i've wondered what that was for the last 4 years :confused: ...then today in the laundry room under the window, near the buckle, I see the same sort of mysterious spongyness, it's like the wall is only being held up by a billion layers of paint.
I have not told my husband, I'm ok at home repairs (i drywalled our garage)but he freaks out. this maybe too much job for me. but we're broke... maybe i should just try to get out of this house..... HELP? Do i just start busting up walls and replace the drywall? what about the plaster? a what about the mold, i bet theres mold, and probably termites :eek: I'm afraid of what i'll find
awesomedell
02-07-05, 04:08 AM
Welcome to the forums.
Actually it kind of sounds to me like you've sheetrock rather than plaster walls. Take a cover plate off an outlet and you'll probably be able to determine for sure if it's plaster or sheetrock on the walls. Really it sounds like which ever it is, it's going to need to be gutted and start from scratch. Unless you sell the house "As Is" you're going to have to fix the leaking roof and the damage it's caused before you can sell the house. First thing to do is fix that leaky roof as it's most likely what is causing all of the symptoms you've described.
As to being broke, if you've owned the house for any amount of time, maybe you can refinance the home and get the $$ to afford to make the repairs. Hope that helps a little, good luck.
Actually it kind of sounds to me like you've sheetrock rather than plaster walls. Take a cover plate off an outlet and you'll probably be able to determine for sure if it's plaster or sheetrock on the walls. Really it sounds like which ever it is, it's going to need to be gutted and start from scratch. Unless you sell the house "As Is" you're going to have to fix the leaking roof and the damage it's caused before you can sell the house. First thing to do is fix that leaky roof as it's most likely what is causing all of the symptoms you've described.
As to being broke, if you've owned the house for any amount of time, maybe you can refinance the home and get the $$ to afford to make the repairs. Hope that helps a little, good luck.
WornOutMom
02-07-05, 02:35 PM
I was told the exterior walls were plaster, but who knows (this house has many annoying mysteries :wall: )
I guess i have to wait for the roof guy. the fastest he can get here is 3 wks!
do you think it would take more than a year to cause that sort of damage? The buckle in the laundry room i noticed early on but we've been here almost 6 yrs. I 'm wondering if the *******s that sold us the house knew it was that bad. I'm feeling scammed. :(
I guess i have to wait for the roof guy. the fastest he can get here is 3 wks!
do you think it would take more than a year to cause that sort of damage? The buckle in the laundry room i noticed early on but we've been here almost 6 yrs. I 'm wondering if the *******s that sold us the house knew it was that bad. I'm feeling scammed. :(
awesomedell
02-08-05, 05:48 AM
You're talking about the inside of the exterior walls being plaster right? The outside of the walls would have to be stucco which is a cement based product, plaster is real durable, but not really designed for exterior use. Hard to say how much damage the leaky roof had caused before it became noticable, it might have been leaking for a long time before the damage became readily visible. But things like that are why you should always have a trusted house inspector look at any property before you sign on the bottom line to buy it.