Masonite walls!! Now what do I do??

wMw · 01-07-2007, 11:01 AM

I bought a house in the Weirs recently...a funky old beach house (aren't they all!) near the wooden bridge. I've been peeling ugly old 70's wallpaper and tearing down cheap ugly paneling from the same era and trying to decide what to put up in its place....so, I decided, just to get to see a project finished, I'd repaint the living room. Piece o'cake! Right??

The house inspector said that the cracked seams were just a bad taping job... rip it off, re-tape, mud and paint. That I've done before. Not a fun job, but not a big deal. Well, I discovered the walls are not sheetrock (why am I suprised?) but Masonite. Can anyone tell me if the cracked and buckled seams might have been because the materials are incompatible or if retaping & joint compound are the way to go? or do I have to rip it all out and start over? (Yechh! but then I'd be able to find out if the outer walls are insulated). I'd like to do it inexpensively (not many $$$ left after the down payment) but want it to look good.

If I could afford to hire someone I'd love to come home from work and find the room all finished, but the savings account is kind of low right now.

Orion · 01-09-2007, 12:48 PM

That old masonite is nothing worth saving and is not a good basis to build on anyway. You'd be well suited removing it and replacing it with something else. As you say, this would give you a good view of what's in the walls, inclding inspecting and upgrading wiring if needed. Sheetrock is quick and not too difficult. You could go with paneling (but it should have something more solid under it) or even v-groove pine to make a nice finished (campy) look but you should use a finish nail gun for v-groove. You can just do a wall at a time as you can afford it, and end up with something you can be proud of when you're done.

Weirs guy · 01-09-2007, 01:07 PM

Wow wMw, I'm in the exact same boat over on Kingsley Ave. Trust me, you don't want to know whats in those walls!!

Our place is a combo of knotty pine/masonite walls and I too am in the process of repainting. Just the other day I was looking at the same cracked joints you've got and thinking how they look the same as they did when I was a kid, and debating about re-taping and muding them (cause I've got to be smarter then the last guy who painted, right?). Then I thought better of it and had kinda settled on running a bead of silicone cock over them and blending as best I can. The big issue with that is you can see where the tape itself is starting to lose its adherence to the masonite.

So other then re-sheet rocking I'm dieing for options too!

mcdude · 01-09-2007, 05:25 PM

Weirs Guy:

I always enjoy your posts...but this one especially so....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weirs guy

(I've got to be smarter then the last guy who painted, right?). Then I thought better of it and had kinda settled on running a bead of silicone cock over them and blending as best I can.

I'm trying to imagine a bead of silicone adult male domestic foul but have decided that you must have meant "caulk" instead. (Yup...that must be it)

And for those of you who were thinking of something else....shame on you!

Weirs guy · 01-09-2007, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcdude

Weirs Guy:

I always enjoy your posts...but his one especially so....

I'm trying to imagine a bead of silicone adult male domestic foul but have decided that you must have meant "caulk" instead. (Yup...that must be it)

And for those of you who were thinking of something else....shame on you!

DOH! The worst part of this is I actually debated the correct spelling for this type of caulk in my head for a few seconds before posting! The worserest part is I work in the plumbing industry!!

Now if you'll all excuse me my silicone adult male domestic fouls are melting in this warm weather. Thanks McD!

Mee-n-Mac · 01-09-2007, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcdude

I'm trying to imagine a bead of silicone adult male domestic foul but have decided that you must have meant "caulk" instead. (Yup...that must be it)

Do silicone adult male domestic foul cry fowl when you put them in the cocking gun ?

Just putting one back for Weirs guy.

Sunrise Point · 01-10-2007, 06:30 AM

I have watched this forum for the last 6 years but it was this thread that prompted me to join in...We also have the pleasure of owning a 1935 "ish" original camp. The interior walls and ceilings are covered in homosote, painted off white. The joints are covered by a thin strip of lattice and left natural. It's a nice look but takes forever to repaint.

mcdude · 01-10-2007, 09:30 AM

...as Weirs guy said....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weirs guy

DOH!

sorry my spelling has also run afowl...!!!!

Weirs guy · 01-10-2007, 12:13 PM

Not only do we need to buy a dictionary for the forum members, but Sunrise Points post reminds me that in certain rooms of my place there is in fact a small piece of lattice covering the joints, which, by the way, does make repainting horrible. It also makes the walls look like something my 6 year old put up.

Maybe I can teach the silicone adult male domestic fowl/foul to paint the walls?

Lets see, that makes me 0 for 2 on this particular subject. Looks like the lead paints getting to me after all.

Sunrise Point, welcome to the forums. As you can see after a while we do start to loose our minds though....

ghfromaltonbay · 01-10-2007, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weirs guy

Sunrise Point, welcome to the forums. As you can see after a while we do start to loose our minds though....

Do you lose your mind once you set it loose?

We all need a copy of Strunk & White's Elements of Style rather than a dictionary. It has a section entitled "frequently misused words".

Sunrise Point · 01-10-2007, 02:54 PM

Thank you for the welcome. I sometimes feel that these threads take on Monty Python-like twists and turns. Always good fun!

I agree with Orion, that it might be a good idea to see what's behind the masonite. We found some very scary electrical problems (mostly due to rodent activity over the years). Of course, if money is tight, you only do what you can do. Paint, even at $38.00 per gallon is a good quick fix and makes everything look and smell better!

I mentioned the lattice strips simply because I don't believe that there is any reliable way to get a seamless finish when taping panels of masonite together. Good luck with your project!

wMw · 01-10-2007, 07:58 PM

Thanks for the advice, Orion. I was afraid that's what I would learn...that the Masonite wasn't worth keeping. In the one room where my brother ripped out the buckled cheap paneling it was hiding a wall of horizontally placed boards. My brother thinks that we should sand the boards and poly them, but they were never intended to be visible so they have some good sized gaps. And where the seams were between the sheets of paneling the boards have a swath of dark stain...kind of odd. I'd guess that might also be what is behind the Masonite.

I like your idea of one wall at a time...that's probably the way to go. And I do like the look of pine. it might brighten up this dark living room. That would mean learning a new tool...never have played with a nail gun.

I've never done any wiring so if there are problems uncovered in that department I'd have to find an electrician...That means I'll be back here asking for recommendations. Haven't been here long enough to have any good contacts.

It's all such a learning experience...this old house!

wMw · 01-10-2007, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weirs guy

Wow wMw, I'm in the exact same boat over on Kingsley Ave. Trust me, you don't want to know whats in those walls!!

Hey, Weirs guy, we are practically next door neighbors. So far I haven't found anything in the walls except some weird styrofoam type stuff in one of the outer walls. No hidden treasure, although the guys I got to come in to reinish the floors found some pills in the attic that got them all excited (I didn't ask) and some rules written on the attic wall that they claimed were put there by some bad-a** biker group.

I recently read an article about mixing joint compound with (if I remember right) plaster and just plastering over whatever...the article claimed it would stick to just about anything and you can tint it. If I can remember where I put that article I might give it a try on one of the smaller walls and see how miserable a job it is.

Are you painting over the knotty pine, too?

wMw · 01-10-2007, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunrise Point

I have watched this forum for the last 6 years but it was this thread that prompted me to join in...We also have the pleasure of owning a 1935 "ish" original camp. .

Hi Sunrise Point.

Me too, but I've only been lurking for about 2 years. I finally piped in last week. Being a newcomer to the area I picked up a lot of information by just reading...just didn't have too many questions to ask until I started to try to figure this house out. Mine was built in 1930. I'm trying to figure out where the interior walls were originally. Some of the walls were built on top of carpeting (???? STRANGE!!!) I wish that I could run into someone who remembers what this house originally looked like and could give me a clue.

Weirs guy · 01-10-2007, 09:22 PM

OK, thats it, I'm done!

Sunrise Point · 01-11-2007, 04:41 PM

Hello wMw,

I love old houses. It sounds like your has had a lot of "improvements" over the years. I bet that you could find an older resident in your area who will remember how things were 50 or 60 years ago. Weirs Beach is so well known that just mentioning it anywhere will get people talking.

I'm not sure it's worth going to the building department to research it, (that's a sleeping dog that I usually leave alone!) but sometimes builders/developers even then, used the same plans and built several similar camps in an area. You might find a camp similar to yours that way.

Keep your eye on dumpsters and construction sites, especially where they are tearing down an old camp to build a McMansion. You can often salvage doors, windows, knotty pine, etc. with the builders blessing. If you like old houses, you should definitely visit Blue Moon Salvage. I think that it's in Rumney. It's a great source for hardware, doors and all sorts of things.

Good luck!

mcdude · 01-11-2007, 05:21 PM

click here for.... BLUE MOON SALVAGE

wMw · 01-14-2007, 11:25 AM

Thanks for the Blue Moon Salvage info. I've been a fan of Vermont Salvage in White River Junction and Manchester for years...got a lot of materials (doors, flooring, old tub parts, etc) for an old Victorian I used to own in Jefferson. AdMac in Littleton is another good resource, although they seem to have gotten pricey in the last few years. Never been to Blue Moon Salvage, though. Must be time for another road trip!

Sunrise Point · 01-14-2007, 07:13 PM

We go right through Manchester on our way up and I have always wondered about Vermont Salvage. What exit do you take? Any directions would be much appreciated.

I wasn't sure that they were going to survive that road construction project. They seemed to have disappeared for a while and now they're back.

wMw · 01-15-2007, 10:47 AM

From 293 South I usually take exit 6. If you are coming fomr the south you would probably want to take exit 5 although their directions are only given from exit 6. Here is a link to the Vermont Salvage website with a map and directions to their Manchester location:

http://vermontsalvage.com/manch.html

And, as they say, dress appropriately, the building is unheated. The lighting is also not the best so a flashlight can sometimes be a big help.

Happy hunting!

Sunrise Point · 01-15-2007, 08:22 PM

wMw,

Thank you, We'll stop by there this weekend.

01-09-2007, 12:48 PM	#2
Orion Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cow Island Posts: 914 Thanks: 602 Thanked 193 Times in 91 Posts	suggestions That old masonite is nothing worth saving and is not a good basis to build on anyway. You'd be well suited removing it and replacing it with something else. As you say, this would give you a good view of what's in the walls, inclding inspecting and upgrading wiring if needed. Sheetrock is quick and not too difficult. You could go with paneling (but it should have something more solid under it) or even v-groove pine to make a nice finished (campy) look but you should use a finish nail gun for v-groove. You can just do a wall at a time as you can afford it, and end up with something you can be proud of when you're done.

01-09-2007, 01:07 PM	#3
Weirs guy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Weirs Beach, NH Posts: 1,067 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Wow wMw, I'm in the exact same boat over on Kingsley Ave. Trust me, you don't want to know whats in those walls!! Our place is a combo of knotty pine/masonite walls and I too am in the process of repainting. Just the other day I was looking at the same cracked joints you've got and thinking how they look the same as they did when I was a kid, and debating about re-taping and muding them (cause I've got to be smarter then the last guy who painted, right?). Then I thought better of it and had kinda settled on running a bead of silicone cock over them and blending as best I can. The big issue with that is you can see where the tape itself is starting to lose its adherence to the masonite. So other then re-sheet rocking I'm dieing for options too! __________________ Is it bikeweek yet? Now?

01-10-2007, 06:30 AM	#7
Sunrise Point Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Meredith Center / Winnisquam Posts: 250 Thanks: 87 Thanked 34 Times in 21 Posts	They don't build them like they used to..... I have watched this forum for the last 6 years but it was this thread that prompted me to join in...We also have the pleasure of owning a 1935 "ish" original camp. The interior walls and ceilings are covered in homosote, painted off white. The joints are covered by a thin strip of lattice and left natural. It's a nice look but takes forever to repaint.

01-10-2007, 12:13 PM	#9
Weirs guy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Weirs Beach, NH Posts: 1,067 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Double DOH! Not only do we need to buy a dictionary for the forum members, but Sunrise Points post reminds me that in certain rooms of my place there is in fact a small piece of lattice covering the joints, which, by the way, does make repainting horrible. It also makes the walls look like something my 6 year old put up. Maybe I can teach the silicone adult male domestic fowl/foul to paint the walls? Lets see, that makes me 0 for 2 on this particular subject. Looks like the lead paints getting to me after all. Sunrise Point, welcome to the forums. As you can see after a while we do start to loose our minds though.... __________________ Is it bikeweek yet? Now?

01-10-2007, 02:54 PM	#11
Sunrise Point Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Meredith Center / Winnisquam Posts: 250 Thanks: 87 Thanked 34 Times in 21 Posts	They don't build them like they used to.... Thank you for the welcome. I sometimes feel that these threads take on Monty Python-like twists and turns. Always good fun! I agree with Orion, that it might be a good idea to see what's behind the masonite. We found some very scary electrical problems (mostly due to rodent activity over the years). Of course, if money is tight, you only do what you can do. Paint, even at $38.00 per gallon is a good quick fix and makes everything look and smell better! I mentioned the lattice strips simply because I don't believe that there is any reliable way to get a seamless finish when taping panels of masonite together. Good luck with your project!

01-07-2007, 11:01 AM	#1
wMw Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Weirs Beach & Jefferson, NH Posts: 63 Thanks: 17 Thanked 8 Times in 4 Posts	I bought a house in the Weirs recently...a funky old beach house (aren't they all!) near the wooden bridge. I've been peeling ugly old 70's wallpaper and tearing down cheap ugly paneling from the same era and trying to decide what to put up in its place....so, I decided, just to get to see a project finished, I'd repaint the living room. Piece o'cake! Right?? The house inspector said that the cracked seams were just a bad taping job... rip it off, re-tape, mud and paint. That I've done before. Not a fun job, but not a big deal. Well, I discovered the walls are not sheetrock (why am I suprised?) but Masonite. Can anyone tell me if the cracked and buckled seams might have been because the materials are incompatible or if retaping & joint compound are the way to go? or do I have to rip it all out and start over? (Yechh! but then I'd be able to find out if the outer walls are insulated). I'd like to do it inexpensively (not many $$$ left after the down payment) but want it to look good. If I could afford to hire someone I'd love to come home from work and find the room all finished, but the savings account is kind of low right now.

01-10-2007, 07:58 PM	#12
wMw Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Weirs Beach & Jefferson, NH Posts: 63 Thanks: 17 Thanked 8 Times in 4 Posts	Thanks for the advice, Orion. I was afraid that's what I would learn...that the Masonite wasn't worth keeping. In the one room where my brother ripped out the buckled cheap paneling it was hiding a wall of horizontally placed boards. My brother thinks that we should sand the boards and poly them, but they were never intended to be visible so they have some good sized gaps. And where the seams were between the sheets of paneling the boards have a swath of dark stain...kind of odd. I'd guess that might also be what is behind the Masonite. I like your idea of one wall at a time...that's probably the way to go. And I do like the look of pine. it might brighten up this dark living room. That would mean learning a new tool...never have played with a nail gun. I've never done any wiring so if there are problems uncovered in that department I'd have to find an electrician...That means I'll be back here asking for recommendations. Haven't been here long enough to have any good contacts. It's all such a learning experience...this old house! __________________ wMw Sing...Dance...Love...Live deliberately!!!

01-10-2007, 09:22 PM	#15
Weirs guy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Weirs Beach, NH Posts: 1,067 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	OK, thats it, I'm done! __________________ Is it bikeweek yet? Now?

01-11-2007, 04:41 PM	#16
Sunrise Point Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Meredith Center / Winnisquam Posts: 250 Thanks: 87 Thanked 34 Times in 21 Posts	They don't build them like they used to... Hello wMw, I love old houses. It sounds like your has had a lot of "improvements" over the years. I bet that you could find an older resident in your area who will remember how things were 50 or 60 years ago. Weirs Beach is so well known that just mentioning it anywhere will get people talking. I'm not sure it's worth going to the building department to research it, (that's a sleeping dog that I usually leave alone!) but sometimes builders/developers even then, used the same plans and built several similar camps in an area. You might find a camp similar to yours that way. Keep your eye on dumpsters and construction sites, especially where they are tearing down an old camp to build a McMansion. You can often salvage doors, windows, knotty pine, etc. with the builders blessing. If you like old houses, you should definitely visit Blue Moon Salvage. I think that it's in Rumney. It's a great source for hardware, doors and all sorts of things. Good luck!

01-11-2007, 05:21 PM	#17
mcdude Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Rock Haven Lake - West Newfield, ME Posts: 5,361 Thanks: 374 Thanked 1,044 Times in 490 Posts	click here for.... BLUE MOON SALVAGE

01-14-2007, 11:25 AM	#18
wMw Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Weirs Beach & Jefferson, NH Posts: 63 Thanks: 17 Thanked 8 Times in 4 Posts	Thanks, mcdude Thanks for the Blue Moon Salvage info. I've been a fan of Vermont Salvage in White River Junction and Manchester for years...got a lot of materials (doors, flooring, old tub parts, etc) for an old Victorian I used to own in Jefferson. AdMac in Littleton is another good resource, although they seem to have gotten pricey in the last few years. Never been to Blue Moon Salvage, though. Must be time for another road trip! __________________ wMw Sing...Dance...Love...Live deliberately!!!

01-14-2007, 07:13 PM	#19
Sunrise Point Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Meredith Center / Winnisquam Posts: 250 Thanks: 87 Thanked 34 Times in 21 Posts	They don't build them like they used to... We go right through Manchester on our way up and I have always wondered about Vermont Salvage. What exit do you take? Any directions would be much appreciated. I wasn't sure that they were going to survive that road construction project. They seemed to have disappeared for a while and now they're back.

01-15-2007, 10:47 AM	#20
wMw Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Weirs Beach & Jefferson, NH Posts: 63 Thanks: 17 Thanked 8 Times in 4 Posts	From 293 South I usually take exit 6. If you are coming fomr the south you would probably want to take exit 5 although their directions are only given from exit 6. Here is a link to the Vermont Salvage website with a map and directions to their Manchester location: http://vermontsalvage.com/manch.html And, as they say, dress appropriately, the building is unheated. The lighting is also not the best so a flashlight can sometimes be a big help. Happy hunting! __________________ wMw Sing...Dance...Love...Live deliberately!!!

01-15-2007, 08:22 PM	#21
Sunrise Point Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Meredith Center / Winnisquam Posts: 250 Thanks: 87 Thanked 34 Times in 21 Posts	wMw, Thank you, We'll stop by there this weekend.