I’m working on a house built around 1940, it was added onto twice but that’s not relevant to my question.
I’m working in the bathroom making some cuts into the wall covering. Interior wall with layers of paint. I’m a little concerned because I don’t know what it is. It’s hard, 1/4″ thick, sounds like plywood does if it’s hung on a wall and you tap on it with your fingernail, sort of looks like cement board, feels like cement board, it’s easy to fracture if I’m not careful while cutting, dust is a light gray powder. If I hit it with a hammer it will break into shards.
What could it be? Is it some kind of asebstos I should worry about?
I don’t know if I have it on a picture. I’ll be taking one next time I’m there.
Replies
Could very well be. I did an addition last fall and the owner wanted a basement shower removed also. Looked like the shower was made out of asbestos siding pcs, only larger. Samples came back "hot". gave her the names of abatement contractors, and she did not have it removed. We had to re-route some heat ducts to avoid it. ('cause we had planned on it being removed, and it didn't get done). The house was built in 1951.
Never heard of it being on all walls, but this shower stall was an old homeowner hatchet job too, so I suppose it could be possible.
Bowz
Hmmm. I was sawing this stuff with a hacksaw blade and a dust mask. Probably bad.
You mentioned the shower- I just put in a new Swanstone three-piece unit and it looks like the original shower ceiling went up to 12'- this same stuff is on the top four feet of the walls- the ceiling was lowered at some point to 8' and everything above it was left in place. Whether or not it was the original shower wall I do not know, but the rest of the bath has it so I'm willing to bet.
I don't know if I should keep working around this stuff.
How do we dance while our world keeps turning? How do we sleep while our beds are burning?
sounds like asbestos. I've seen it used for many things so wall board does'nt surprise me. better get it checked