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07/30/2006 03:08:26 PM · #1 |
I'm in the middle of building a home. Contractor has been great and there have been no problems. My wife is a detail freak who feels we are being "ripped off". I say she is not acting rationally.
Story:
Sheetrock was put in home about 2 weeks ago. In one of the rooms there was about a 6 inch gap left in the middle of the room between the windows. The air condition unit is outside the wall. The gap exposed a "pipe" for the air running from about 5 inches above floor to the celing connecting to units in attic.
We call the builder and asked that when would the pipe be covered. He said about a week. Well now it is covered and there is a bludge where the pipe met the sheetrock.
As you can see in the pictures, it is un-noticable when entering the room. You can feel it when you run your hand against it. See the photo with the wood and you can surely see that there is a gap and a bludge. (The wood was square and not warped) so I know it is the wall.
Wife feels sheetrock will have to come down and something done with the pipe. She feels the builder knew this a will try to pass it off as minor and able to cover with furniture. I myself feel that the sheetrockers must have known about this and carpenters will fix it another way..."as they start to trim the molding." I'm possitive that the builder will acknowldge and problem and offer solutions.
I will speak with the builder on Monday and meet him Tuesday on this. As of now he hasn't seen the buldge.
In your opinion, is the sheetrock going to have to come down and pipe fixed or is there an alternative?

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07/30/2006 03:22:16 PM · #2 |
It's not very often that you're going to find a house with perfect drywall. However, if the wall is so far out of whack that it bothers you, then you should make them fix it. It's much easier to fix it now than later too. Be aware that when the base molding is applied it will probably be much more noticeable.
We built our home a few years ago, and there are a couple of spots where the drywall isn't as flat as it should be. I didn't notice it until it was too late to have the installers fix it though. Fortunately, they're in out-of-the-way places and barely noticeable.
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07/30/2006 03:32:22 PM · #3 |
The "sheetrock workers" aka known as drywallers install drywall and nothing else, unless something is truly amok. Since I don't have the dimensions of the pipe in relation to your wall the only thing I can do is speculate.
From my experience, I have found that on occasions, plumbers, AC contractors and the like will install pipes and not check to see if the pipe is protruding beyond the studding, with the ensuing results being that you have a situation such as that which you are experiencing.
If you run a straight edge over that portion you have a problem with, that will give you a very good indication of just how big a bulge there is in the wall.
The site supervior should have noticed this and I would strongly recommend that you bring this to his/her attention immediately. It is much easier to fix at this stage than later. They may be able to rectify the situation by setting the pipe a tad further back into the wall or using a smaller pipe, assuming of course the this process does not have a negative impact on the A/C unit.
Considering the cost of the average home today, you have every right to expect that things will be done properly and to your liking.
Hope this helps a bit.
Ray
Edited to add: " I should have looked at all the images... that is one substantial bulge. I definitely would call the builder on this one and have that fixed, since it WILL be VERY much something you will notice.
Message edited by author 2006-07-30 15:38:15. |
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07/30/2006 03:36:57 PM · #4 |
Thanks for for the replies.
Like I said, the general contractor has been to the house since sheetrock has been up. He felt all was ok. However, he didn't put a straight edge on each wall! Without doing that, this buldge is not noticable. But...as you can see from one of the shots below...there is a buldge that will make a gap in trimming.
I will speak with contractor Monday and meet him out there with "goals" in mind.
I'll let you know what happens.
Any others may reply also!
Thanks again,
Originally posted by RayEthier: The "sheetrock workers" aka known as drywallers install drywall and nothing else, unless something is truly amok. Since I don't have the dimensions of the pipe in relation to your wall the only thing I can do is speculate.
From my experience, I have found that on occasions, plumbers, AC contractors and the like will install pipes and not check to see if the pipe is protruding beyond the studding, with the ensuing results being that you have a situation such as that which you are experiencing.
If you run a straight edge over that portion you have a problem with, that will give you a very good indication of just how big a bulge there is in the wall.
The site supervior should have noticed this and I would strongly recommend that you bring this to his/her attention immediately. It is much easier to fix at this stage than later.
Considering the cost of the average home today, you have every right to expect that things will be done properly and to your liking.
Hope this helps a bit.
Ray |
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07/30/2006 03:47:14 PM · #5 |
I neglected to mention in my answer that if they can't fix the problem by setting the A/C pipe further back into the wall, or by using a smaller pipe, then you are looking at some major alterations.
The problem would have to be rectified by taking the sheerock on that wall down and adding strapping to the stud work to give you the added space for the pipe, then re-installing some sheetrock, taping, mudding and the rest of it.
If you think you might have problems, do yourself a favor and borrow a straight edge and check anything and everything you think might be amiss. Another thing you can do (if your builder allows unescorted entry) is to go in after dark with a single light source and check you walls for defects and uneven screw holes and mark these with a pencil...never use a pen or marker because these will "bleed" through the paint and the painters will have to use a special primer to fix this... at an added cost to you.
Hope you can fix your problem the easy way... namely pushing the pipe further back.
Ray
Message edited by author 2006-07-30 15:51:20. |
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07/30/2006 03:48:22 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by kenskid: But...as you can see from one of the shots below...there is a buldge that will make a gap in trimming.
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Not really, molding is pretty flexible, especially the MDF stuff used now-days. With just a bit of caulking I'd reckon you'd never see it. I am suprised they left THAT much of a bulge though.
However, if it bothers you (or your wife) do talk with the contractor about it.
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07/30/2006 04:51:59 PM · #7 |
I had a similar condition in my old house where the pipe chase in our upstairs bathroom was not framed out far enough to accomodate the joint in the cast iron vent pipe. There was a bulge in the plaster over the joint where the plaster was put over the pipe. Finally, I tried to fix it when we were re-doing the bathroom. I discovered that over the years, it had been haphazardly repaired several times. Moisture had been condensing on the outside of the iron pipe and was being absorbed by the plaster, resulting in a mushy mess of wet plaster. I had to tear out the whole mess, frame out the wall another inch and re-plaster. A tremendous P.I.T.A. that could have been avoided, had the original builder done his job right in the first place.
I'd show it to the G.C. and tell him you want it fixed and you shouldn't have to pay for it.
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07/30/2006 04:58:24 PM · #8 |
if the A/C condensates..which it WILL if not VERY WELL insulated..as in WRAPPED where touched sheetrock...eventually you'll get mold..now or later ...fix it now..LOL |
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