Drywall gosting

[John Shishilla]

Here was a curious call today.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Seen a few up here like that.

I'm sure you probably seen this already.

http://www.toolbase.org/Best-Practic...-discoloration

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by jshishilla

Here was a curious call today.

How old is the place? If it's newer, any chance it was built with some steel studding......they show ghosting way easier than wood studs.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Not to many houses built with metal studs Brian, and the ones that are were not built right to prevent thermal breaching and could be as simple as magnetic adhesion of the filings from the drywall screws and dust particles never cleaned off the walls.

Just saying.

[John Shishilla]

Originally Posted by Brian A. MacNeish

How old is the place? If it's newer, any chance it was built with some steel studding......they show ghosting way easier than wood studs.

Built in 2006, it was seen most on exterior walls with wood ferring strips.

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by mcyr

Not to many houses built with metal studs Brian, and the ones that are were not built right to prevent thermal breaching and could be as simple as magnetic adhesion of the filings from the drywall screws and dust particles never cleaned off the walls.

Just saying.

I have mentioned the last big litigation I worked on was against an award winning architect. One of the many issues was "ghosting"......my client loved white walls and in one area with a 2 storey mezzanine, 18 feet of the unbroken wall was visibile as was each piece of steel framing with ghosting.

The building was a mix of commercial (owner's business on first floor)/residential (hers on the top 2 stories). This particular wall with ghosting sat right on the property line and, as such, had to meet stringent fire requirements...no windows, a fire rating, hence, steel studs required! But the architect had not specified a thermal break to prevent "ghosting".

This was only one of the issues that added up to about $80 grand which she held back. They then threatened her with a lawsuit until my report was in their hands.....we haven't heard from the other side for about 17-18 months now......it's a dead issue now, I believe!

The building had so many issues during construction and in the first 6 months that the owner (a single woman) actually had to move out of it for her sanity........that's when I met her- she bought a house to move into that I inspected. At that point, I knew nothing of the situation she was leaving but she called me about 10 months later after looking at my card and seeing I did "Litigation Assistance".....the rest is becoming history!

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by jshishilla

Here was a curious call today.

This could explain.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Jim, wonder if they vacuumed twice a week and use a rinse and vac every year on that picture?

[John Shishilla]

Originally Posted by jbushart

This could explain.

Thanks, some good info there.

[ROBERT V. YOUNG]

I see the Sheetrock seams showing up as ghosting. BHOOOOO!!!
I see no studding myself. When the wall board is being taped and plastered, must be taped and at the seams it takes 3 passes to level out that grove. 2 base coats 1 finish skim coat.
Nails take a minimum 2 passes, unless you know how to mix plaster of Paris to tighten up the mix.
That way you get to work around the room and do not have to stop to let the mud dry.
By the time you come the the starting point you keep going with your second pass and so on onto your 3 pass.
I have laid board on new construction and tried my hand at plaster and lath 2 and 3 coat plaster.Mostly repair for lath work.
If it where wall studding it would be 16 inch centers or maybe 24 inch centers if using 2 by 6. The pattern would be every 8 feet, I see every 4 feet.
Bathroom same thing. Cement board or blue-board.
I see quick job, boss giving it a push to maximize money, and inexperience at work here.
Now look at the walls and tell me that darkened area is 1.5 or 1.75 inches thick times 2 every 8 feet.. Even if it was a load bearing point it would be 3.5, 5.25,or etc.
I see seams and not finished flush that have trapped soot and atmospheric contaminants. Ghosting,,,,,BHOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
WHO YOU GOING TO CALL ? ( Ghost Busters ) I an,t afraid of no ghost.
I see 48 inch centers and partial cut wall board to end off at the corner. If they used 8 foot board because floor to ceiling was7.8" or7.9,or 7.10.
If over 8 foot floor to ceiling they used 10 foot board and saved time on tapping staggered layout joints.
My opinion.

[John Shishilla]

It was every 24 in. There is no doubt that it has something to do with the construction of the wall as that is how we build in the South. There these are block exterior walls with ferring strips 24 in on center

[ROBERT V. YOUNG]

Originally Posted by jshishilla

It was every 24 in. There is no doubt that it has something to do with the construction of the wall as that is how we build in the South. There these are block exterior walls with ferring strips 24 in on center

Sorry Josh.
I was in a happy mood yesterday and carried on.
OK 24 inch centers. Thanks Josh. I am sometimes forgetting that I am on a American website and my mindset remains remains in Canada.
I was just being playful and hope that no-one took my gesturing as offensive or idiotic.
I an,t afraid of no ghosts. ( whoa you going to call? )

[ROBERT V. YOUNG]

Just a question.
Could the ghosting affect caused by studs ( wooden ) be partly because the timber studding was erected when moist and thustly transferring an image to the opposite side of the sheet-rock.
Metal studding be an attraction of magnetically charged particles? ions ,positive and negative charged.
I am looking at all angles.
Yes I have seen ghosting on more than one occasion and only looked briefly to its nature and not so much the cause but its effects.

[John Shishilla]

I think it happens for multiple reasons. The PT chemicals could be a cause or magnetic attraction. You usually need very small particulates to become attached in any case.

[John Gromkoski]

What would you write in the report about this?