DIY Drywall Repair Question

Ken Light

beatnic

It sounds like you had moisture in the dry wall. I would just replace it. It is much easier than dealing with this year after year. And new installation is much easier than patching. You do own the house? In the words of Mike Holmes, "do it right". JMO

Amos Umwhat

beatnic:

It sounds like you had moisture in the dry wall. I would just replace it. It is much easier than dealing with this year after year. And new installation is much easier than patching. You do own the house? In the words of Mike Holmes, "do it right". JMO

agreed. You'll do more work patching a 2'x2' hole than you will replacing the whole piece.

Ken Light

Amos Umwhat:

beatnic:

It sounds like you had moisture in the dry wall. I would just replace it. It is much easier than dealing with this year after year. And new installation is much easier than patching. You do own the house? In the words of Mike Holmes, "do it right". JMO

agreed. You'll do more work patching a 2'x2' hole than you will replacing the whole piece.

No hole in the dry wall though, just the backing peeling off. Do you really think I need to replace it? It looks fine.

bearb

Amos Umwhat

hmm, I may not be visualizing your problem. The backing? My terminology may not be correct, either, but usually you have a backing that is essentially a heavy paper / light cardboard material, an inner core of gypsum, and a front sheath, also heavy paper that is somewhat canvas-like. Two kinds of strength, the rigidity of the gypsum inside, surrounded by the cohesion of the paper layers. Once that gypsum is exposed it's very vulnerable to even slight moisture, and will quickly decompose. In other words, if I understand you rightly, if you don't have a hole yet, you're about to.

Ken Light

Amos Umwhat:

hmm, I may not be visualizing your problem. The backing? My terminology may not be correct, either, but usually you have a backing that is essentially a heavy paper / light cardboard material, an inner core of gypsum, and a front sheath, also heavy paper that is somewhat canvas-like. Two kinds of strength, the rigidity of the gypsum inside, surrounded by the cohesion of the paper layers. Once that gypsum is exposed it's very vulnerable to even slight moisture, and will quickly decompose. In other words, if I understand you rightly, if you don't have a hole yet, you're about to.

It's like cardboard, on the interior facing side the painted side. If I could describe what it looked like, it'd be like wallpaper starting to peel off the wall, but the walls are painted. Actually my first thought was the previous owners had painted over wallpaper and it was peeling. My terminology might be wrong. I'm trying the fix first, since it's relatively cheap. If problems recur, I'll replace. So far i tore it off where it was coming loose, put the joint tape on, applied spackle. I think the tape is supposed to help the spackle adhere and the spackle is supposed to re-seal the gypsum? Also priming and painting on top of the spackle. Hopefully this works out, otherwise I guess I'll know soon enough and will just replace then.

beatnic

I'm also having trouble visualizing this. If its' wallpaper, peel it off. If the thick paper that is part of the dry wall is separating, then you have (had) a moisture problem. Painting will not last. Spackle? Spackle is generally used for wood. Joint compound is the correct product to use. Also what Amos said.

RBeckom

The Kid

Ken Light:

Amos Umwhat:

hmm, I may not be visualizing your problem. The backing? My terminology may not be correct, either, but usually you have a backing that is essentially a heavy paper / light cardboard material, an inner core of gypsum, and a front sheath, also heavy paper that is somewhat canvas-like. Two kinds of strength, the rigidity of the gypsum inside, surrounded by the cohesion of the paper layers. Once that gypsum is exposed it's very vulnerable to even slight moisture, and will quickly decompose. In other words, if I understand you rightly, if you don't have a hole yet, you're about to.

It's like cardboard, on the interior facing side the painted side. If I could describe what it looked like, it'd be like wallpaper starting to peel off the wall, but the walls are painted. Actually my first thought was the previous owners had painted over wallpaper and it was peeling. My terminology might be wrong. I'm trying the fix first, since it's relatively cheap. If problems recur, I'll replace. So far i tore it off where it was coming loose, put the joint tape on, applied spackle. I think the tape is supposed to help the spackle adhere and the spackle is supposed to re-seal the gypsum? Also priming and painting on top of the spackle. Hopefully this works out, otherwise I guess I'll know soon enough and will just replace then.

Best advice,, hire someone!

Ken Light

No direct access to the attic, but there is attic above and it is an exterior wall. I think it's an old moisture problem. I'll probably find out soon enough if this doesn't work. Trying not to hire someone, I figure there's no further damage that can be done by trying this first...right?

RBeckom

Ken Light

RBeckom

fla-gypsy

Been working at United States Gypsum for 30 years making this stuff. You are describing delamination. It could be just a bad piece of wallboard when produced or could be a moisture intrusion issue. Knock/cut a hole in it and see what the problem is and you can best decide how to address it. Replacing a small piece is quite simple. BTW the idiots at HD don't know anything about wallboard. We invented Sheetrock and own the name, everything else is just wallboard!