advice needed: how to fix sheet rock

[casper114]

Hey guys I just bought a house and I really need to do some work on the walls.
The biggest thing my wife wants to be done is the sheetrock work. Currently we have paneling all over the living room and kitchen and we want to revert it back to the drywall it once was. I know that when we pull all that paneling off it's going to look terrible on top of that sheetrock so I was just gonna see if I could get some pointers from anyone who has expirienced this task before.
Thanks-
Casper

 

[Leper Messiah]

Um, put up new sheetrock?

 

[Praetorian7]

Did the same type of work with my dad few years ago in my parents house. Your best bet (we did this) was to take down the existing shetrock as well and re-sheetrock the room. We did the demo and sheetrock ourselves and brought in a guy (friend of my fathers) to tape and spackle. I dunno if you can restore it to a good condition, so my advice is to rip it all down and start over from scratch.

 

[Rumpltzer]

I suppose it really depends on just how bad the old sheetrock looks. If it's so bad, tearing it down and putting up new probably is the best bet.

I also agree that the demolition and putting up new shouldn't be hard. The tape and spackle is somewhat skilled to get a neat finish and to make sure it doesn't crack. I'd probably try to learn it myself, but that's just the way I am. Talk to the Home Depot guys and see if they have a course, or hire someone to finish the work once the sheetrock is up?

Congrats on the house. Good luck.

 

[casper114]

Originally posted by: Praetorian7
Did the same type of work with my dad few years ago in my parents house. Your best bet (we did this) was to take down the existing shetrock as well and re-sheetrock the room. We did the demo and sheetrock ourselves and brought in a guy (friend of my fathers) to tape and spackle. I dunno if you can restore it to a good condition, so my advice is to rip it all down and start over from scratch.

I appreciate the advice! Anyone else... Keep in mind I have never done anything like this bevore in my whole life. This is my first home.

 

[casper114]

bump

 

[Inappropriate4AT]

The hard part is matching the paint, and retexturing if applicable. Other than that, just cut the damaged area/panel out, replace, and cement then paint/texture.

 

[QuitBanningMe]

Demo yourself and have someone else install new is your best bet.

 

[Howard]

If this is your first time installing drywall, I would suggest hiring somebody you trust to do it, and watch them.

BTW, drywall dust is REALLY annoying. Please wear lung protection.

 

[Ornery]

As long as the previous owners didn't put the wonderous texture finish on the walls, you could spackle the nail holes in minutes. If they glued the paneling up... ugh! It may scrape off, but I wouldn't count on it. Worth a try though.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

skim coat the wall. Ask around for either a carpenter who can tape or a plasterer/taper. Expect to pay around $0.40 to 0.50/sf tp have it done...

 

[Squisher]

Since you are a home owner it is time for you to learn how to apply wet plaster. You may not be any good at when you start, but you'll learn when you have to sand your handiwork.

It isn't that hard. I'd use drywall joint compound to skim coat where you need. You can always smooth it out after it drys with a damp sponge. Use a 1/2" nap roller to prime, that'll dimple the finish on the fresh plaster so it won't stand out as being dead flat against the rest of the wall.

 

[db]

Like someone said, if it's glued on there will be damage.
In that case fill in a test section with drywall compound just to see if you like the results. If you don't like it, hire someone.