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Discussion Forum

Drywall falling off ceiling

marv | Posted in General Discussion on July 16, 2003 11:33am

My house is about 10 years old.  Since the 2nd year I bought it, the drywall tape has been slowly falling off the ceiling of the garage.  The paper separates from the drywall and brings the compound with it.  I thought it was caused by moisture in the attic.  But there is no discoloration in the attic so I don’t think rain is blowing in.  I talked to a builder a couple of years ago and he said it was because I didn’t have insulation in the ceiling.  I blew in insulation and pulled down all the old drywall tape.  I mudded up the joints and applied tape. (it was summer, and very hot).  before I could get the 2nd coat of mud up (two days), the tape started to fall off again!  The paper came away cleanly from the drywall.  It doesn’t seem to want to bond.

Any suggestions?

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Replies

  1. Zano | Jul 17, 2003 03:41am | #1

    Are you in a high humidity area?  Where are you?  Humidity besides wood shrinkage is the main cause of drywall failure.  Paper not holding is mainly caused by high constant humidity.  What type of joint compound was used?  If the finisher used a light joint compound coupled with high humidity when he applied the tape, that's probably the cause.

  2. Craftsman1510 | Jul 17, 2003 04:21am | #2

    While not occurring as quickly as your situation, we here in Florida have a similar problem in our garages and porches.  In addition to the failing tape, we also get sagging of the drywall sheets  away from the trusses.  I've been told that these problems would have been lessened if the builder had used MR Drywall on the ceilings in these areas and also used a 5/8" Drywall.  The cure seems to be to remove the failing tape,  make sure that the ceiling is firmly fastened to the trusses, and then use mesh drywall tape and a setting type drywall compound for the seams as opposed to regular drying type compound.  Good luck.

    1. marv | Jul 17, 2003 11:00pm | #6

      This was a brand new house when I moved in.  The drywall was not painted before the tape was applied.  I will try misting it with water. 

      Is it possible the moisture is being pulled out of the compound too quickly by the drywall?  Kinda like brick can pull moisture out of morter.

      Thanks for all the advice.

      Marv

  3. User avater
    Dinosaur | Jul 17, 2003 06:23am | #3

    Try using pressure-sensitive mesh drywall tape instead of paper. You stick it to the naked drywall, then pull your joint compound over it. It's usually used for repairs rather than new work; maybe it will be what you need in your situation.

    One thought pops into my head: Is it possible somebody primed or painted the drywall before taping the joints? I can't think why anyone would, but joint compound won't stick as well to a coated surface as to the raw paper of a new piece of board. If that's the case, definitely try the mesh tape.

    Another thought: maybe the gyprock was put up in the garage and the joints not taped for a few years. The accumulation of exhaust fumes, grease, oil, whatever, in a garage environment could easily have coated the paper surface of the board with a film of crud that just rejects the joint compound.

    Dinosaur

    'Y-a-tu de la justice dans ce maudit monde?

  4. riverr1 | Jul 17, 2003 06:28am | #4

    Without getting too invovled here. Try paintingpriming the seams with kilz, XIM, 123 or any one of the shellac primerssealers and then try taping.

    Do you by chance have a diesel vehicle?

    Don

    1. DaveRicheson | Jul 17, 2003 06:49am | #5

      I am thinking greasey film like the rest of you guys.

      Try misting an area where the tape has fallen off with a spray bottle of water. If the water beads up or the paper doesn't wet immediately, some type of oily film is causing the problem.

      I have never had a problem with tape not sticking to a painted wall unless it was a semigloss enamel. A few quick passes with sand paper easily corrects that situation.

      Another solution might be to wipe the drywall with a damp spong before laying on the bed coat of joint compund and using a setting type mud for the bed coat.

      Dave

  5. CPopejoy | Jul 18, 2003 03:30am | #7

    Marv, is the clothes dryer in the garage?  Is it vented to daylight?

    Cliff

    1. Scooter1 | Jul 18, 2003 03:44am | #8

      I might also try using a latex additive in the mud ("milk") to increase bonding. I would probably try some test spots and see if I could improve bonding.

      Regards,

      Boris

      "Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934

      1. DaveRicheson | Jul 18, 2003 04:55am | #9

        Most of what hold joint compound together is PVA, polyvinylacetate, or more commonly called Elmers Glue. That is the bonding agent. It is probably compatable with a latex additive, so it me be worth a try.

        Dave

        1. User avater
          Mongo | Jul 18, 2003 05:24am | #10

          Does anyone think a bonding agent, llike Plasterweld, would help?

          1. marv | Jul 28, 2003 10:01pm | #11

            No there is no dryer vented to the garage or ceiling.

            I talked with an installer and he said the garage was probably never painted!  Thus any moisture from cars or cement floor went right to the compound and lossened it.  

            This makes sense.  When I bought the house, I just assumed it had been painted.  ( it had a spraid on sand tecture).

            Does this make sense to you guys?

            Marv

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