what are my walls made of?
#1
02-18-09, 05:37 PM
what are my walls made of?
Hello, all.
I just bought a 1933 bungalow and am hoping that your expertise can answer some questions. I'll start with the biggest (well, for the moment).
There is seriously ugly paneling in the living and dining rooms. It's been painted and I am already thinking about tearing it out and putting up drywall. Here's the thing. I've taken a few switchplates off the wall to look at what this stuff is made from. It's not wood. It's kind of...fibrous-looking. It seems to be quite thick: 1/4 inch or so. I've come across the terms beaverboard and homasote in my research. Is there possibly (dare I say it?) asbestos in these products?
Thanks for any and all information.
I just bought a 1933 bungalow and am hoping that your expertise can answer some questions. I'll start with the biggest (well, for the moment).
There is seriously ugly paneling in the living and dining rooms. It's been painted and I am already thinking about tearing it out and putting up drywall. Here's the thing. I've taken a few switchplates off the wall to look at what this stuff is made from. It's not wood. It's kind of...fibrous-looking. It seems to be quite thick: 1/4 inch or so. I've come across the terms beaverboard and homasote in my research. Is there possibly (dare I say it?) asbestos in these products?
Thanks for any and all information.
#2
02-18-09, 06:28 PM
Welcome to the forums! It could be masonite, or other products. Would it be possible for you to post a couple of pictures on a site such as photobucket.com and copy/paste the HTML code to your reply post. That way we can see what you see.
#3
02-18-09, 09:04 PM
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had a similar thing in our house, it was masonite. We opened a medium can of worms peeling it off because the walls behind weren't suitable to put new drywall up (rotten furring strips over brick). you may be better off putting 1/4" drywall right over it.
Keep in mind with asbestos - it's only harmful if you make it airborne. you shouldn't not worry about it, but lots of times the worry is over done. In lots of places it's legal for the homeowner to remove asbestos themselves. that's the case here unless you're in a multi unit dwelling. I think the theory is that I'm free to endanger myself, but not anyone else.
Keep in mind with asbestos - it's only harmful if you make it airborne. you shouldn't not worry about it, but lots of times the worry is over done. In lots of places it's legal for the homeowner to remove asbestos themselves. that's the case here unless you're in a multi unit dwelling. I think the theory is that I'm free to endanger myself, but not anyone else.
#4
02-19-09, 05:24 AM
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your 1930's bungalow was originally built with plaster walls and ceilings. Your ugly masonite paneling was someones bad fix to cover (probably) a damaged plaster wall. Can't legally say the "A" word but I doubt it?
