Kingston, Ontario · Member since 2017 · 21 posts · 2 votes
I have taken drywall off all the exterior walls but left the inside walls. The drywall is a bit bumpy, smelly and in need of some repair. The electrician suggests i take out all drywall but thats more demolition cost, more dumpsters and more drywall installation. However, will the old drywall look awful next to the new beautiful drywall? Should i just do it all over?
I have never gutted a house to the stud. Personally I leave drywall and plaster unless I find a need to remove it. In your case "bumpy" can usually be fixed by a good taper/mud guy. If the majority of the walls are rough and need to be coated, it is probably worth removing it all. Also if the smell you describe is into the sheetrock, then it might be worth it to demo it all as well.
Keep in mind, electricians almost always "ask" for the drywall to be removed. It makes their lives a whole lot easier when running wires.
To date I almost 100% gut my kitchens and baths to the studs. I leave most of the other rooms in tact, unless I have work to do behind the walls (framing, rot, etc..) and spot patch as needed.
Its not too much higher but enough that the water and snow has nowhere to go. The sill is rotten out so we are lifting the house a bit and putting cement in instead of wood for the sill and then a big O around the house.
I'm so sick of dumpsters I just can't bring myself to take out another wall but I admit when most of it is out is seems silly to keep a few walls in. The house foundation and the wood in it are from 100 years ago but there was a fire and it was rebuilt. Probably the 40's. The house was full of smokers and people with anger management issues (lots of holes in the walls) I imagine the smell is in the ceiling as well. Perhaps a good scrub!
Unsolicited advice to people buying fixer uppers in rural areas! Especially in older small towns. Learn all about new septic system regulations. Some yards don't have enough space for the number of bedrooms that duplexes etc. Have and you will have to reduce the number of bedrooms! Also learn the distances you need from houses (including the decks) you might have to loose your deck! (Or worse)