prefab'd bathrooms, what's it made of?

[baldy]

When my mother-in-law had this house built, she did a good job at looking around to find good deals. The house has 3 bathrooms, all are exactly the same and design, and I believe all are Holiday Inn bathrooms. She has an album of the construction of the house, and I can see that these bathrooms were in before the framing was even finished.

Anyways, the wall material doesn't seem to be drywall, or not the kind I'm used to. Areas that are exposed (due to wear or removed fixtures) look brown and fibrous, and when I drill into it, the dust has the consistancy of dirt, rather than a fine dust the floats in the air. The paint is peeling in places that have gathered moisture, and the wallpaper is peeling in the same type of places. I want to eventually paint these rooms, but I want to be sure the walls are in good condition before I waste efforts on paint that might be ruined again. Can I used spackle on holes? Should I be worried that this material will deteriorate?

Patrick

[Jimmer]

Patrick,

If you have an unknown wall product that is failing I would have to guess that it is the wrong product for the environment. If it where me I would either float the whole wall with a couple of layers of Durabond 90 then a layer of featherweight drywall compound and use a good primer and paint designed for bathrooms, or removed the current wall board and install the right product.

Good luck, Jim


'Just a handyman trying to help'

[baldy]

Should I worry about the areas that are tiled? I see no evidence yet of any tiles coming off or loosening, and this is 20 years old.

quote:float the whole wall with a couple of layers of Durabond 90

What exactly does this entail? Is this just a spreadable compound I put over the existing wall, before the featherweight drywall compound? Or is it actually some kind of board to put over the existing wall?

[Jimmer]

Patrick,

Durabond 90 is a brand name product you buy in powder form. You mix it in a clean bucket with cool water to the same consistancy of featherweight drywall compound (no lumps). You will have 20 - 30 minutes depending on the air temp and the temp of water you used to mix the compound and then it sets up hard. Do not overfill with this product. It does not 'dry' it 'cures' so it will not shrink or crack. This product also comes in 30 and 45 minutes set times which are usually too fast. Use hot water in the mix and it will set before you are done stirring it! I use it alot because it cures quick and provides a very solid surface.

There are other similar products like Sheetrock 90 that is similar but you can sand it if needed.

Good luck, Jim

'Just a handyman trying to help'

[baldy]

Great, that doesn't sound bad at all!