The Wet Wall - HomeModders.com

briansol · 08-17-2007, 04:30 PM

the buyer for my condo had an inspection done earlier this week, and they found the wall in my foyer to be wet. I hadn't even noticed it until they pointed it out, but the wall you can actually feel is moist to the touch.

There's no pipes that run there, so i'm assuming its just humidity build up (as its been humid lately, and the foyer is basement-level on the ground)

So, the buyer wants me to tear off the sheet rock, dry it up, note "problem" or source of the water, and then re-sheetrock and tape and paint the wall again.

I don't really have a choice to say no, so it looks like i'm breaking out the sledge hammer tomorrow and tearing the wall down to let it dry up for a couple days if it is in fact wet in there....

I'm hoping the studs aren't moldy. If they are, thats going to be a big problem... its a dividing wall between me and my neighbors unit, so i can't exactly tear it down.

Airjockie · 08-17-2007, 05:43 PM

it has been humid for the last few weeks. Toss a dehumidifier in there and see how it feels in a week. I just tossed on in my basement, and I"m dumping a bucket a day from that beast.

briansol · 08-17-2007, 05:45 PM

yeah, i think i might get one... but the end result is that they want this done as part of the contract. i don't think there's any way around it...

briansol · 08-17-2007, 09:53 PM

welp, i tore the bottom of the wall out... no pipes. hell, there's no studs. its right on the foundation, and thats why it is how it is....

i'll be replacing the bottom sheet of sheetrock

briansol · 08-18-2007, 12:19 AM

here it is completely off.

new piece of sheetrock tomorrow from home depot, some tape and some joint comp, and some paint, and shes ready to go

Drakej · 08-18-2007, 12:44 AM

Concrete is a porous material. So it is possible that very tiny tiny amounts of water could have worked its way through. Looks like you did a good clean job though.

Airjockie · 08-18-2007, 01:45 AM

paint it with that hydoloc paint stuff before you slap the sheetrock on.

chestercheeto48 · 08-18-2007, 02:03 PM

yeah I would paint your concrete wall with some sort of vapor blocking paint then place your drywall back on. I am sure that it is a combination of excess humidity and the fact that is was placed directly on the concrete (I have not seen that before).

briansol · 08-18-2007, 02:13 PM

Me either.... it's a condo. they probably built it as cheap as possible back in 1986.

anyway, i found a piece of sheet rock that is moisture resistant. its green and feels like MDF more than 'rock. this alone should be good enough instead of 'monkey taring' the cement.

Drakej · 08-18-2007, 03:43 PM

Concrete, you meant to say concrete not cement right? I see guys pour concrete foundations the right way very rarely. There are actually concrete additives that make it so you don't have to coat it after the fact. Looks good though B.

08-17-2007, 04:30 PM	#1
briansol Administrator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Central CT Age: 32 Posts: 499 Rep Power: 10	The Wet Wall the buyer for my condo had an inspection done earlier this week, and they found the wall in my foyer to be wet. I hadn't even noticed it until they pointed it out, but the wall you can actually feel is moist to the touch. There's no pipes that run there, so i'm assuming its just humidity build up (as its been humid lately, and the foyer is basement-level on the ground) So, the buyer wants me to tear off the sheet rock, dry it up, note "problem" or source of the water, and then re-sheetrock and tape and paint the wall again. I don't really have a choice to say no, so it looks like i'm breaking out the sledge hammer tomorrow and tearing the wall down to let it dry up for a couple days if it is in fact wet in there.... I'm hoping the studs aren't moldy. If they are, thats going to be a big problem... its a dividing wall between me and my neighbors unit, so i can't exactly tear it down.

08-17-2007, 09:53 PM	#4
briansol Administrator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Central CT Age: 32 Posts: 499 Rep Power: 10	welp, i tore the bottom of the wall out... no pipes. hell, there's no studs. its right on the foundation, and thats why it is how it is.... i'll be replacing the bottom sheet of sheetrock Attached Thumbnails

08-18-2007, 12:19 AM	#5
briansol Administrator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Central CT Age: 32 Posts: 499 Rep Power: 10	here it is completely off. new piece of sheetrock tomorrow from home depot, some tape and some joint comp, and some paint, and shes ready to go Attached Thumbnails

08-18-2007, 02:13 PM	#9
briansol Administrator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Central CT Age: 32 Posts: 499 Rep Power: 10	Me either.... it's a condo. they probably built it as cheap as possible back in 1986. anyway, i found a piece of sheet rock that is moisture resistant. its green and feels like MDF more than 'rock. this alone should be good enough instead of 'monkey taring' the cement. Attached Thumbnails

08-17-2007, 05:43 PM	#2
Airjockie Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 95 Rep Power: 5	it has been humid for the last few weeks. Toss a dehumidifier in there and see how it feels in a week. I just tossed on in my basement, and I"m dumping a bucket a day from that beast.

08-17-2007, 05:45 PM	#3
briansol Administrator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Central CT Age: 32 Posts: 499 Rep Power: 10	yeah, i think i might get one... but the end result is that they want this done as part of the contract. i don't think there's any way around it...

08-18-2007, 12:44 AM	#6
Drakej Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 14 Rep Power: 0	Concrete is a porous material. So it is possible that very tiny tiny amounts of water could have worked its way through. Looks like you did a good clean job though.

08-18-2007, 01:45 AM	#7
Airjockie Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 95 Rep Power: 5	paint it with that hydoloc paint stuff before you slap the sheetrock on.

08-18-2007, 02:03 PM	#8
chestercheeto48 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 73 Rep Power: 5	yeah I would paint your concrete wall with some sort of vapor blocking paint then place your drywall back on. I am sure that it is a combination of excess humidity and the fact that is was placed directly on the concrete (I have not seen that before).

08-18-2007, 03:43 PM	#10
Drakej Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 14 Rep Power: 0	Concrete, you meant to say concrete not cement right? I see guys pour concrete foundations the right way very rarely. There are actually concrete additives that make it so you don't have to coat it after the fact. Looks good though B.