Drywall buckling
#1
04-04-19, 03:30 PM
Drywall buckling
A corner of our TV room the, I assume, thick paper over the gypsum plaster, is buckling or rippling. From top to bottom. 60ish year old slab foundation house, but this room was an addition, not sure how old it is. From the outside there is no obvious cracks or "issues" I can see in the stucco.
Should I be worried about this?
Should I be worried about this?
Last edited by PJmax; 04-04-19 at 03:40 PM. Reason: resized picture
#3
04-04-19, 03:40 PM
Group Moderator
If that is happening now..... I'd think it was a water issue.
Is it buckling or bubbling ? Looks like it's bubbling.
Is it buckling or bubbling ? Looks like it's bubbling.
#4
04-04-19, 03:41 PM
This isn't wall paper if that's what you mean. It is a painted surface. Paint over primer over drywall. I am pleased you might have thought it was wall paper. But it's just a kind of "faux" paint technique.
#5
04-04-19, 03:42 PM
Group Moderator
Can't tell much from that photo. Why don't you cut it open with a utility knife and see whats going on behind? Probably horrible hanging and a big gap.
#6
04-04-19, 03:48 PM
Member
Dryawall corners are taped over. There is special tool that runs long strips of that paper or, it is hand managed. Sometimes they also use screen tape. What he's saying is that it looks like that paper is peeling off.
this will help. Has good looking one in it, otherwise, you get the gist of it,.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EcrZqLw4zU
this will help. Has good looking one in it, otherwise, you get the gist of it,.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EcrZqLw4zU
#7
04-04-19, 03:55 PM
Member
My original remark (before editing) was thinking a poorly done job of taping. But then it looked so much like wall paper. If you have no water stains, I doubt it's water damage. As Xslpr, says, cut it and look see. Send us pics.
#8
04-04-19, 03:56 PM
Group Moderator
Not sure how that video applies here.
A joint with or without paper doesn't usually do that unless it gets wet.
A joint with or without paper doesn't usually do that unless it gets wet.
#9
04-04-19, 03:58 PM
Group Moderator
There were papers used over plaster that are not what we now consider wallpaper. I think these wall papers were used to conceal cracks and sometimes create a texture. Every one I have seen did not have a printed pattern and was painted. I have often seen these papers separate or bubble. Sheetrock has a paper face bonded to the gypsum core that rarely separates and I have never seen it bubble like your photo.
Should you be worried about it? Yes, to a certain extent. You need to find out why it's bubbling. Often water, old age or movement in the wall is the cause. If it's old age there isn't much you can do other than start thinking of a remodel. If it's caused by water or the wall moving then you have bigger problems.
Should you be worried about it? Yes, to a certain extent. You need to find out why it's bubbling. Often water, old age or movement in the wall is the cause. If it's old age there isn't much you can do other than start thinking of a remodel. If it's caused by water or the wall moving then you have bigger problems.
#11
04-04-19, 05:24 PM
Group Moderator
#13
04-04-19, 07:56 PM
Group Moderator
It's only your second picture. You're doing ok. 
It's still a little hard to see what's going on there.
Was it hollow behind the paper ?
Anything wet or damp ?
Did the spackle just crumble ?
It's still a little hard to see what's going on there.
Was it hollow behind the paper ?
Anything wet or damp ?
Did the spackle just crumble ?
#14
04-04-19, 07:59 PM
Group Moderator
The way that nail is all rusty, it could be getting wet like someone said. Is this a exterior wall?
As long as it stays dry you just need to retape it. You need to remove more tape on the right where it's swollen. Also any above and below that you can see is no longer bonded to the wall. If you cut the paper tape and it easily and cleanly peels off the wall.. keep going.
As long as it stays dry you just need to retape it. You need to remove more tape on the right where it's swollen. Also any above and below that you can see is no longer bonded to the wall. If you cut the paper tape and it easily and cleanly peels off the wall.. keep going.
#15
04-04-19, 08:02 PM
Group Moderator
#16
04-04-19, 08:23 PM
Group Moderator
Do you live where you had snow or ice on the roof? If so, could have been an ice dam at some point during the winter when it warmed up and finally melted. That water can run down the wall behind the siding/stucco where it's trapped and can't dry out.
#17
04-05-19, 02:51 AM
I'd cut and remove all the loose paper, then coat the exposed gypsum with Zinnser's Gardz and tape/mud as needed once the Gardz is dry. That is assuming everything is dry and any potential leaks are taken care of first.
#18
04-05-19, 04:31 AM
Thanks so much. I imagined walls pulling apart, structural engineers, thousands of dollars, etc.
I feel confident it's not water, we don't get snow. I will patch it up and stop worrying that my walls are going to fall down!
I feel confident it's not water, we don't get snow. I will patch it up and stop worrying that my walls are going to fall down!
Last edited by izzie; 04-05-19 at 07:30 AM.
