Removing Cord Mate Causing Damage to Drywall
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Removing Cord Mate Causing Damage to Drywall
I have been using cordmate (wiremold for running cables on the outside of the wall) to run my speaker wire around the room to my speakers. It has been working great. The problem is the wife and I plan on moving next year which involves some home improvement projects. One of those project is to paint the walls and ceilings which also means I have to remove the cordmate.
I have it running along the baseboard to the corner of the wall. It then runs up the wall to the ceiling and then along the ceiling to the speakers. This pattern is done on both sides of the room. I started removing the first piece along the baseboard and noticed that I was damaging the drywall. Not only was the paint being removed, but some of the paper layer from the drywall was coming off as well. If I was to continue on, I will have stripes of bare brown drywall being shown on both sided of the room, wall and ceiling. I plan on painting the whole condo, but the first thing is to remove the cordmate and hopefully repair the damage I foresee happening.
Below are pictures of what is happening as I remove the cordmate. How should I go about fixing this so that I can paint when it is all done?
Pic 1
Pic 2
I did a bit of research before hand and I think I need to uses some joint compound in thin layers sanding in between each layer. I keep doing this until I get the wall smooth again and then I prime and paint. I read about drywall tape as well before using the compound, but I'm not sure if that is needed or not.
Thanks for the help
I have it running along the baseboard to the corner of the wall. It then runs up the wall to the ceiling and then along the ceiling to the speakers. This pattern is done on both sides of the room. I started removing the first piece along the baseboard and noticed that I was damaging the drywall. Not only was the paint being removed, but some of the paper layer from the drywall was coming off as well. If I was to continue on, I will have stripes of bare brown drywall being shown on both sided of the room, wall and ceiling. I plan on painting the whole condo, but the first thing is to remove the cordmate and hopefully repair the damage I foresee happening.
Below are pictures of what is happening as I remove the cordmate. How should I go about fixing this so that I can paint when it is all done?
Pic 1
Pic 2
I did a bit of research before hand and I think I need to uses some joint compound in thin layers sanding in between each layer. I keep doing this until I get the wall smooth again and then I prime and paint. I read about drywall tape as well before using the compound, but I'm not sure if that is needed or not.
Thanks for the help
#2
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Anywhere the paper face of the drywall is missing, you need to coat those areas with a solvent based primer. This will prevent the moisture in the joint compound and/or paint from bubbling up the surrounding paper. Other than that, you have it right - apply j/c, sand, prime and paint. Shouldn't be a need for drywall tape.
If you have any more 'cordmate' to remove, you might try scoring the edge with an utility knife to break any paint bond - or is it the adhesive on the back of the cordmate that is causing the issue?
If you have any more 'cordmate' to remove, you might try scoring the edge with an utility knife to break any paint bond - or is it the adhesive on the back of the cordmate that is causing the issue?
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It is the adhesive on the back that is causing the damage. I will never use this stuff again. I've been comparing some primers for drywall damage and it looks like Zinsser Gardz is recommended often. When I use the Gardz primer, is it ok to just prime the damage areas on the ceiling on walls or do I need to prime the entire ceiling and wall.
For example, what I was thinking was:
1) Prime damage area with Gardz (slight overlap where damage area meets good area)
2) Apply joint compound to area just primed
3) Sand with 120-180 grit
4) Repeat steps 2 & 3 until a smooth surface is achieved
5) Prime damaged area for painting with Gardz (or should a different primer be used)
6) Paint ceiling and walls
With this procedure, I'm only repairing the damage area caused by the cord mate. The remaining wall is still go so I figure I can leave it and eventually paint right over the existing paint. When I paint, I'll only be going a shade darker of what is currently a light tan.
For example, what I was thinking was:
1) Prime damage area with Gardz (slight overlap where damage area meets good area)
2) Apply joint compound to area just primed
3) Sand with 120-180 grit
4) Repeat steps 2 & 3 until a smooth surface is achieved
5) Prime damaged area for painting with Gardz (or should a different primer be used)
6) Paint ceiling and walls
With this procedure, I'm only repairing the damage area caused by the cord mate. The remaining wall is still go so I figure I can leave it and eventually paint right over the existing paint. When I paint, I'll only be going a shade darker of what is currently a light tan.
Last edited by twodaend; 05-29-08 at 07:36 AM.
#5
Is that really torn sheetrock paper? Or more of a pressed cardboardy stuff? That brown color/consistency looks like the stuff I've run into in say attic rooms on some older houses.
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ecman51,
I would say it is more like some very thing cardboard stuff. Somewhere in between paper bag and lightweight cardboard.
Well I did make better progress last night when trying to remove the cord mate. I used a 4" wide putty knife and a 1" scrapping knife and I was able to remove one side of the rooms cord mate without the same amount of damage as shown in the pic. At most either a small amount of paint was removed, about a quarter size worth in different spots, or there is some left over adhesive on the wall.
Overall though a much better job when using the knife that I think will require much less effort to fix and get back into good shape now. I had to take it very slow with the knife, but it is giving me better results.
I would say it is more like some very thing cardboard stuff. Somewhere in between paper bag and lightweight cardboard.
Well I did make better progress last night when trying to remove the cord mate. I used a 4" wide putty knife and a 1" scrapping knife and I was able to remove one side of the rooms cord mate without the same amount of damage as shown in the pic. At most either a small amount of paint was removed, about a quarter size worth in different spots, or there is some left over adhesive on the wall.
Overall though a much better job when using the knife that I think will require much less effort to fix and get back into good shape now. I had to take it very slow with the knife, but it is giving me better results.
#7
Multiple coats of primer paint, while a fan is blowing to dry out the moisture quickly, may help guard against any blistering of that paper. This will act as a sealer.
Do not do any one soaking coat! You could also use shellac-based BIN primer (as this will prevent brown bleed thru, also) and spraying it on in thin coats, will help seal it.
Do not get impatient.
Then skim coat, also in real thin multiple coats over time, so moisture does not act on the carboardy stuff. Actual spackle works good as it is not as 'wet', and spackle has excellent adhesion.
Do not do any one soaking coat! You could also use shellac-based BIN primer (as this will prevent brown bleed thru, also) and spraying it on in thin coats, will help seal it.
Do not get impatient.
Then skim coat, also in real thin multiple coats over time, so moisture does not act on the carboardy stuff. Actual spackle works good as it is not as 'wet', and spackle has excellent adhesion.