Masonite walls!! Now what do I do??

wMw · 01-07-2007, 12:01 PM

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.

01-07-2007, 12:01 PM	#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.