Bad drywall taping

GSaunders02

I am re-doing a room in my house and I have a celing that has a crack running the length of the room. The ceiling has popcorn sprayed texture on it as well. I took off some of the popcorn texture and confirmed that it was the seam of the drywall that is cracking, not the actual drywall. The issue is, I want to take down the popcorn texture to look at the entire ceiling, but the popcorn texture is pretty well adhered to the ceiling (except in a few places where it flakes off) It appears that whoever put this texture up is hiding issues as the texture is not on the ceiling evenly. In some places it's 1/8" thick, in others it's 1/4". Is there anything that will take this texture down without damaging the drywall? I am real hesitant in ripping down the ceiling, as I don't want to have to re-drywall the entire room...any ideas?

Sammy

You can try scraping it off by spraying it damp with a bottle of water.. [small areas at a time]
Leave it sit ten minutes and then try scraping it off with a wide putty knife.

Then retape and maybe skim coat and see what the ceiling finish looks like.

If you cant get it smooth then use a knock down or textured paint to refinish it.

jensenconstruction

+1 on the water

We usually get a pump up garden sprayer dampen it, then scrape. the trick is to not use to much water so as not to damage the drywall. You will need to find the proper amount of dampness through trial and error, but once you do it should go pretty quick.

Be warned this is very messy, it usually best to take everything out of the room, then put down plastic to catch everything.

Also, it should be noted that depending on the age of the home acoustic ceiling material may contain asbestos.

GSaunders02

The part of the house that has the accoustical ceiling was an addition built in the 80's, so I am assuming there is no asbestos. But, if there was, using water would pretty much eliminate the problem becuase the dust can't get airborne being wet, right?

AtlanticWBConst.

If the ceiling has not been painted, then the wetting and scraping method will work. If it has been painted, that is a whole different ceiling you are dealing with.

Here is a link with a more detailed discussion about popcorn removal, including asbestos:
http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/i...opcornoff.html

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AtlanticWBConst.

Even if it was built in the 80's doesn't neccessarily mean that it doesn't have asbestos on the ceiling. The manufacturing of asbestos based materials was stopped in the late 70's (around 1978). However, the materials already sold and in the field, were still being used (installed) after that time.
Contractors & builders were still allowed to use asbestos-containing building supplies, that they already had on hand - until 1986.

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Knucklez

AtlanticWBConst., that was a good post.

if the web link disappears send me a private message as i have a PDF copy on my hard drive.

Knucklez

kgphoto

If you are going to disturb more than a very small area, then you are REQUIRED to perform an asbestos test. Moisten small area and scrape small amount into a plastic bag, tape shut, insert into another plastic bag and send to a lab you can find online or in phone book.

Do run risk of fines or damaging the health of you and others.

4just1don

just asking cuz I dont know,,,How much does a test for this cost??

AtlanticWBConst.

More Information For Home Owners: http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/ashome.html


Test Kits: http://www.acehardware.com/sm-pro-la...i-1296032.html

Plus the cost of having the test itself done (sample needs to be sent out to a lab) See instructions with cost listed here: http://www.prolabinc.com/instructions/asbestos.html

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kgphoto

About $50.00

Gigs

A single exposure to asbestos won't do anything. The people that got sick were breathing it in all day every day for years.

kgphoto

Make sure to tell that to the lawyer and judge.

AtlanticWBConst.

I'm sorry, but you are wrong, a single exposure will do something:

"...When asbestos fibers are inhaled, most fibers are expelled, but some can become lodged in the lungs and remain there throughout life...."
- http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/asbestos/as...cts/index.html

Tho, it is chronic exposure (exposure to high concentrations, longer time-periods, and frequency of exposures)- that causes serious asbestos -related disorders and lung damage, ......exposure of any kind, can still imbed dangerous asbestos fibers into the walls of your lungs. That includes any asbestos fibers that are spread through a home's other living spaces, and also, the asbestos fibers that end up on any work-clothes, when a person goes home to their families.

This is hardly something I would catergorize, or describe as; "....won't do anything....".
It's still considered a hazardous material by the EPA, OSHA., and other Health and Safety organizations.

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Gigs

Yeah it'll do something alright, pad the bottom line of contractors.