NCjohn
join:2009-07-02
Candler, NC
| wallpaper underlayer in basement Hello everybody.
We're removing wallpaper from our basement walls, and underneath is something I've never seen before. It's a white layer of pretty thick "something" that looks like plastic until you tear it, then you see all these fibers that look like fiberglass. It was applied in horizontal strips about 18" wide. It was applied on top of 1/4" thick wood paneling, which was put on top of furring strips attached to the concrete block walls with styrofoam between the furring strips.
I assume this is a moisture barrier, but I'd like to know what it's made of, and what it may have been applied with, because the first time we pulled a little of it off the wall we got a little lightheaded. (That was a few months ago, and we haven't had any problems being in the basement since then.) Also, it wasn't applied to the entire wall, only the part where the wallpaper was. (That is, below the suspended ceiling. Above the ceiling the paneling was exposed.)
The house was built in 1977. We assume they waited at least a few years before covering the paneling, but other than that we have no idea when the wallpaper went up.
FYI, there is no sign of moisture problems in the basement at all. The flooring is carpet, it's never felt damp. There doesn't seem to be any mold anywhere on the wallpaper or backing, just a little gunk that looks like dried glue. I've also done the trick of taping a large square of plastic to the wall and never had any condensation behind it. I did that on the paneling and also on two spots on the bare concrete wall. (There was a would-be bathroom that never got finished on the same exterior wall.)
Whew! Information overload! So, does anyone have any idea what this stuff is?
Thanks very much. | |
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nunya
SEE ROCK CITY 475 MILES
Premium,MVM
join:2000-12-23
O Fallon, MO
clubs: | Re: wallpaper underlayer in basement Is it pliable or rigid? If rigid, it could be FRP. | |
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frednova
join:2001-03-12
Gardner, MA
| I wonder if this is nuwall. I used this stuff over plaster in my son's bedroom. Works very well going over plaster. It has a mesh fiberglass material you cover with a plastic like coating.
»www.spec-chem.com/nuwal/index.htm | |
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NCjohn
join:2009-07-02
Candler, NC
| It is pliable.
At first, after checking the nuwall site, I thought that was it. But nuwall says it makes a continuous surface. This stuff peeled off in rolls, just like it apparently went on. In other words, even though they covered virtually the whole wall (below the suspended ceiling) with it, when I pulled it off, the sections I wasn't pulling on stayed on the wall. From reading the nuwall site, I got the impression that wouldn't happen. From your experience, what's your impression of that?
But, you know, the paneling has grooves, of course. Maybe they put that stuff on just to keep the grooves from showing through the wallpaper. (And not as a moisture barrier.)
Thanks for the responses. | |
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NCjohn
join:2009-07-02
Candler, NC
2 edits | These photos don't look like much unless you look at them as big as they can get. I peeled a section of it back to try and show the fibers, but I don't know if this really helps any. Bottom photo shows wallpaper on the left, peeled away from the "stuff." | |
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 | NCjohn
join:2009-07-02
Candler, NC | Re: wallpaper underlayer in basement Fiber "felt" sounds like roofing felt, which is pretty thick. But I can't really find a definition of fiber felt. This stuff is probably about twice as thick as the vinyl wallpaper that was on it. Do you know what fiber felt is? | |
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dolphins
Miami Dolphins
Premium
join:2001-08-22
Westville, NJ
 ·Comcast
| Re: wallpaper underlayer in basement I was just looking up asbestos vinyl wallpaper but can't find any pictures. Does it look as though this material could have been the wallpaper backing?
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Prevent Malware | |
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| | | NCjohn
join:2009-07-02
Candler, NC | Re: wallpaper underlayer in basement No, actually, the wall paper was applied in vertical sheets as usual. This stuff was in horizontal rows. | |
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dick white
Premium
join:2000-03-24
Annandale, VA | It is probably wallpaper liner. Google it. It is a way to make a rough wall surface, such as paneling or concrete block, smooth enough to hang wallpaper. It's not likely to be a health problem, just a PITA to remove.
dw | |
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dolphins
Miami Dolphins
Premium
join:2001-08-22
Westville, NJ
·Comcast
| Re: wallpaper underlayer in basement Yes, it most likely is wallpaper liner but the age of the product is what I would be worried about. Given the approximate age there's no way of knowing what it's made of? It may just be fiberglass but you have to admit, it does resemble white asbestos.
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Prevent Malware | |
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NCjohn
join:2009-07-02
Candler, NC
| Yeah, from the weird width (20 1/2") I'd say it's wall liner. I searched and searched for asbestos wall liner and couldn't find any mention of that at all.
Because it's already off the wall, I think I'm going to treat it as if it were asbestos and just be very careful getting rid of it.
Thanks for all the replies. | |
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