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effiekins

What is this ceiling substance?

2 years ago

One of my “favorite” parts of working on a home is the discovery. My nee home has a laundry room that appears to have excessive water damage. Before I out up new drywall I think I need to remove the old ceiling.

I cut a whole and took a picture. The ceiling seems to be approx 1/2 inch thick cement like and crumbly.

When I took the picture there is a granular green surface.

Any ideas of what it is?

Comments (13)

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    Definitely roofing. Looks like someone wanted to change roof pitches, or add on something, and just did a frame over, roof over. That's going to be complicated structurally, and for flashing, for where new conncects to old. You need a good contractor to see what supports what there, and the connection/flashing situation.

  • 2 years ago

    I agree with the others, it is roofing from a previous roof. Call a good reputable contractor, and have him check to make sure all is ok with the structure, and that there are no more leaks, and then it you can replace the ceiling.

  • 2 years ago

    Staining from leaks will last forever, so it's possible the roof leaked and was replaced, but no one painted the ceiling. You can get a moisture meter to test.

  • 2 years ago

    Thanks. I dug further and found large quantities of rat dropping and several nests. So, I conceded defeat and called in professionals. It was old roofing material, a layer of 1/4inch drywall followed buy 1/2inch of cement. Head scratcher for sure. I’ve found other materials in my house that appeared to be reused so maybe this material was also. There would be no good reason for this combo. The joists were dry and in good condition. The leak was due to improper flashing where the addition met the original house. Also fixed!!!

  • 2 years ago

    Now for my next dilemma, now that this room is dry, what should I do with it. Things for certain on my list. Add a dimmer switch to the light. Thats the only thing I’m certain of. Loving the new LEDs out there but wow!! Can land a plane with this much light.

    Do I keep cabinets? Paint them a light green? Enclose the laundry? Pull the laundry from the nook out and make the nook a closet, and do a laundry wall with a built in surround. (I have my nice washer and dryer from my previous home) not stackable’s.

    For reference this laundry room/sunroom/mystery room is right off my small kitchen and leads to the back yard which will eventually be the heart of my home.

  • 2 years ago

    You mention a small kitchen. Do you want to add this space to the kitchen to enlarge it or create an area for a kitchen table, pantry, or whatever?

  • 2 years ago

    I kind of like my contained kitchen and having just moved in a kitchen reno is not in the budget. I have $1k budgeted for the balance of whatever I do to this room, assume my personal sweat equity

  • 2 years ago

    Here’s a picture of the kitchen and yard for perspective

  • 2 years ago

    Looks like a good extra space/working room. Is it used as a entry? I live in Minnesota so an area for coats, boots, hats and glove storage and a place to sit on a bench or chair, with a roomy closet and hooks on wall to store often used coats. Maybe also add a pantry since it's next to the small kitchen.

  • 2 years ago

    I am fortunate to live in sunny socal so I rarely need a mud room. I have a confused hall closet that I’m turning into my pantry. I love the ideas though. Do I dare make laundry a destination? This room in my house gets the BEST natural light and from the couch corner you can chat with whoever is in the kitchen AND watch tv all the way in the living room without having to share couch space with all the teenagers. Yep my house is that small.

    My other thought was to make it a music room. Currently, my piano is in the garage since I dont have the space, but typically I’d want my piano in a place where people can gather and this is certainly not that

    That one corner feels like the command post of my home.

  • 2 years ago

    You can see the door to the closet off the kitchen that im going to make into a pantry

  • 2 years ago

    Its very nice to have a large laundry room. I would just finish it up. Definitely leave those cabinets, and if you can fit a laundry tub, or a sink somewhere, thats also perfect for the laundry room. Its also a good place for a dog crate, or cat litter box, if you have either of those.