Walls and Ceilings - I have chunks of drywall falling....

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McFlubber
11-07-05, 02:35 PM
I have chunks of drywall falling from my walls where nails are located. These are nails not screws, and they appear to be rusted. I have about 5 little holes in my home where this has happened in the last few weeks. I'm concerned that it may continue to happen. Did the builder use the wrong nail/screw when putting my walls up? We have been here a year, but the house is about 4 years old.

Thanks!

Terry

coops28
11-07-05, 04:08 PM
You probably have water damage due to a leak. Check into that. 4 years old should have been mostly screwed. Nails only around perimeter.
marksr
11-07-05, 05:45 PM
Some hangers use nails exclusively or charge extra for screws. Nail pops are the only big disadvantage of not using screws. As coops28 said for the rock to disintergate usually means water damage.

McFlubber
11-07-05, 08:42 PM
I have this happening to several internal walls...2 in a bathroom, 1 in the wall dividing the dining room and kitchen, another in a wall dividing the formal living room and the dining room, and one in an external wall.

Home Depot thought it might be due to the fact that we have so much building going on in our area. That doesn't explain the rust, though.

I've seen some of the walls that have sustained water damage in our development....very easy to spot. I don't see that here.

Could it just be that they used the wrong nails?

Terry
marksr
11-08-05, 07:26 AM
I doubt that they used the wrong type of nail. It is unlikely that the nail would rust without getting wet [besides the moisture involved in the finishing process] Unless the nail is so rusted it is falling apart it shouldn't affect its holding power.

Drywall is ground up gypsum rock mixed with water to make a slurry which is then poured on paper, topped with paper and dried to remove the water. It has no real structural strength but as long as the paper is intact and it doesn't get wet there are hardly ever any issues.

I'm not sure what construction nearby would have to do with your walls [unless they're using dynamite]. Unless the drywall is barely nailed to the wall it shouldn't have any movement.