Skim coat everything or tear it down?

MGravie

Long story short...Scrapped all the paint off 800 sq' of my house. The paint came off easily in huge sheets. I am left with walls that are down to drywall in some spots, fully covered, or half cover with a yellow,chalky,powdery film that can't seem to be identified. It is either the world's worst yellow primer or the world's worst builder's paint. Obviously, I can't paint over it and have a decision to make. Do I seal, skim coat, seal, prime, paint or rip the nightmare surface down and put new drywall? The existing drywall was glued with a few screws/nails and has separated from the studs in some places. I have gotten quotes of all sorts but the one constant is everyone tells me they have never seen this before!

joecaption

Without a picture?
Wallpaper paste that was painted over?

chrisn

sounds like replacement to me.

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Maintenance 6

I would damp wipe one room with a sponge and see if you can remove the chalky stuff. Then prime it with a good quality sealer like Kilz of Zinsser. If it holds you're golden. Skim coat where you need to smooth it out and then prime again. If not, then replacement may be the next option.

MGravie

I will try to get the pictures to post. I have tried to wash it off in a couple spots, the lose edges came off but most of it stayed.

MGravie

OK, decided to rip this crappy drywall down. The next question is about insulating. I have unfaced in the walls and blown in insulation in the ceiling. There is plastic coating the ceiling and in the walls too. I live in a relatively cold climate (N IL 20 miles from WI border) and was wondering if there was any reason not to use the paper faced insulation instead.

Just Bill

Tear off the walls and do new drywall after properly insulating. Many of the houses in our are were built in the 60's and have about 1 1/2" insulation, useless. Fiberglass will be R13 for 2x4 construction, Roxul makes R15, fits very tightly in 16" centers. I would go over ceiling with 1/4" or 3/8" drywall. That way no need to disturb the insulation.

MGravie

Ripped it all down. The blow in insulation in the ceiling was a nightmare of a mess! I had good drywall guys and the taper did a great job. Insulated the attic with double layer of R30 and didn't find any issues with the wall construction. Now i am getting OCD about making the new walls absolutely perfect but have primed the place. The dust has been more than anyone could ever imagine but, the finished product should be worth the countless hours of shop vac time!

MGravie

Ripped it all down. The blow in insulation in the ceiling was a nightmare of a mess! I had good drywall guys and the taper did a great job. Insulated the attic with double layer of R30 and didn't find any issues with the wall construction. Now i am getting OCD about making the new walls absolutely perfect but have primed the place. The dust has been more than anyone could ever imagine but, the finished product should be worth the countless hours of shop vac time!

MGravie

Ripped it all down. The blow in insulation in the ceiling was a nightmare of a mess! I had good drywall guys and the taper did a great job. Insulated the attic with double layer of R30 and didn't find any issues with the wall construction. Now i am getting OCD about making the new walls absolutely perfect but have primed the place. The dust has been more than anyone could ever imagine but, the finished product should be worth the countless hours of shop vac time!