Patching and Plastering - Is there such a thing as "cheap" drywall?
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MC'sOldHouse
02-05-06, 07:43 AM
My fiance and I just bought a house built in the 1950's. We think the house originally had pine paneling in every room. The man that bought it right before us (to flip it) sheetrocked over most of the rooms. During the walk throughs and home inspections, the sheetrock/drywall looked good. However, after living in the house a few months, we have discovered that it is cracking everywhere. You can literally see all the seems on the walls and ceilings. (He did the ceilings too).
Another odd thing is that the walls do not appear sturdy....we had a hard time hanging shelves in ANY of the newly sheetrocked closets b/c the drywalls anchors wouldn't hold.
My fiance says its b/c the flipper used "cheap" dry wall. Is this possible? I didn't know there was such a thing.
In the meantime, he wants to re-sheetrock EVERY room (we are talking every bedroom (4), bathroom (2), etc. We already want to sheet rock the kitchen when we remodel it so I am thinking this is going to be HUGELY costly. Is there anything else we can do? Repair wise? We literally can't even hang pictures on the current "sheetrock" b/c of its condition.
Another odd thing is that the walls do not appear sturdy....we had a hard time hanging shelves in ANY of the newly sheetrocked closets b/c the drywalls anchors wouldn't hold.
My fiance says its b/c the flipper used "cheap" dry wall. Is this possible? I didn't know there was such a thing.
In the meantime, he wants to re-sheetrock EVERY room (we are talking every bedroom (4), bathroom (2), etc. We already want to sheet rock the kitchen when we remodel it so I am thinking this is going to be HUGELY costly. Is there anything else we can do? Repair wise? We literally can't even hang pictures on the current "sheetrock" b/c of its condition.
marksr
02-06-06, 12:37 PM
Most drywall is similiar in price and quality. It is possible that thinner rock [3/8" or even 1/4" :eek: ] was used. Definetly sounds like a cheap finish job. They may have also cut corners in the hanging.
Drywall anchors won't hold much in thinner drywall. If there is wood behind the sheetrock it should be strong enough to hold a nail/screw.
It is really hard to advise you not knowing what you currently have - both sheetrock and wood [?] behind it. Most heavy pictures, mirrors and such are best hung by securing the hanger into a stud. These should be every 16" but could possibly be every 24"
Was the kitchen also drywalled at the same time? If it was once you get into tearing it out, you should know more about what you are dealing with.
If it is feasable to save what you have you will likely need to add screws to make sure the rock is well secured and refinish as necessary.
Drywall anchors won't hold much in thinner drywall. If there is wood behind the sheetrock it should be strong enough to hold a nail/screw.
It is really hard to advise you not knowing what you currently have - both sheetrock and wood [?] behind it. Most heavy pictures, mirrors and such are best hung by securing the hanger into a stud. These should be every 16" but could possibly be every 24"
Was the kitchen also drywalled at the same time? If it was once you get into tearing it out, you should know more about what you are dealing with.
If it is feasable to save what you have you will likely need to add screws to make sure the rock is well secured and refinish as necessary.
brentwoodpmg
02-06-06, 08:54 PM
mc's oldhouse,
cool, someone that isn't embarassed to say that they are from the state of north carolina, o.k. i'm over myself, the old stuff,( i know and hope that marksr knows), is what we guys call here in the south as beaded ceiling, go and try to buy it, (it is so costly it's like $12.00 a foot )that you would have to take a third loan on the home to fix it. anyway in my humble opinion i would expose as much as i could. not the most energy conscience way to go but it would be a show place. and as far as cheap sheetrock/drywall, no, there is only in the cheap installation of the product. i remodeled a 180 year home with the stuff you described, and the residents could not be happier. belive it or not they still
used an outhouse! let us know how the project is going on you may help others.
and welcome to this forum,.
barry
cool, someone that isn't embarassed to say that they are from the state of north carolina, o.k. i'm over myself, the old stuff,( i know and hope that marksr knows), is what we guys call here in the south as beaded ceiling, go and try to buy it, (it is so costly it's like $12.00 a foot )that you would have to take a third loan on the home to fix it. anyway in my humble opinion i would expose as much as i could. not the most energy conscience way to go but it would be a show place. and as far as cheap sheetrock/drywall, no, there is only in the cheap installation of the product. i remodeled a 180 year home with the stuff you described, and the residents could not be happier. belive it or not they still
used an outhouse! let us know how the project is going on you may help others.
and welcome to this forum,.
barry