Asbestos?????

Question

Our house was built in 1948 and it has textured walls, I was wondering for someone who knows about this subject, would it be harmful it drywall over the textured walls and repaint over that???

Answer 1

Perfectly fine to do this. If the walls have asbestos, you want to avoid making airborne particles. As long as you do not disturb the present wall, you will be fine.

Answer 2

I have 9 years of experience as an asbestos inspector and analyst. Yes, it is definitely possible that there may be asbestos in textured walls of that age. The only way to ever know would be to test. I agree that drywalling over is acceptable. Like everyone else has stated, it is only a hazard when the particles are disturbed and become airborne. Pounding a few nails through it once the drywall is up would create such a minimal disturbance, I would not worry about it.

Answer 3

Would'nt worry.
Textured walls of that period had almost certainly did not have asbestos in them unless it was a home brew.
In woodlath & plaster wall construction of the time , the texturing plaster was applied to the browncoat & then painted.
One reason for this techinqueis it was just faster since it did not require the care to skim & polish the finish coat.
Looked OK & contrs. probably got more money for it.
Anyhow laminating gyp board over it is fine& an approved way to encapsulate it.
Asbestos is only a problem if you disturb it.
If the walls in fact have wood lath, use long drywall screws.
Nails will just bounce out unless you are able to catch the studs.
Also...cool name.
I have a couple of Govt Mule's CDs
Good luck

Answer 4

Encapsulating the old walls would be safer than tearing them out if you think there may be asbestos in them. Drywall should work fine. Asbestos is only dangerous if it gets airborne as a dust.

Answer 5

Use plenty of construction adhesive, and then use course threaded drywall screws.
I think you are worrying about nothing. You will be covering up some of the charm of the era needlessly