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Gypsum board and stucco

By Jim Ellis

Home Inspector with Ellis Home Inspection Services

April 25, 2008 10:35 AM

A home inspection today revealed bad news for the home. I'm sure most people are familiar with different types of stucco. For a short time in this area some builders used gypsum board (a form of sheetrock) as the exterior sheathing and installed a stucco finish coat over the outside. Typically this gypsum was used in combination with plywood or OSB board as the structural panels. As you can imagine, when it gets wet, problems arise quickly. This 8 year old property has no evidence of damage today, but I'm afraid it's a matter of time.

gypsum board

The view of this panel is from the attic.

Remember to always get a home and stucco inspection. Beauty is sometimes more than skin deep!

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Elizabeth Cooper-Golden

Huntsville Alabama Real Estate, (@ Homes Realty Group) - Huntsville, AL

Huntsville AL MLS

Jim, Is this what is known as Drivet? I"m familiar with that, if this is what it is. Not so good, from what I have heard, and good luck selling a Drivet home in my area. Too much maintenance and too many problems.

Apr 25, 2008 10:39 AM

Jean Powers

Kane & Associates call 510.908.9002 - Alameda, CA

CRS,e-PRO,HAFA,SFR Broker, Northern California

We have homes built in the thirties that are stucco, if the home is not maintained there could be a lot of rot under stucco! My addition over 30 years ago was done improperly and where the addition connected to the original building water started getting in through the stucco, after going through many contractors one finally figured it out after there was major damage in the interior of my home. It cost a fortune to tear off the entire side of my to repair it and then I had to tear out walls to the studs inside and redo all my rooms and ceilings! Stucco homes can have a lot of deferred maintenance

Apr 25, 2008 10:43 AM

Richard Perkins

R PERKINS REALTY - Stockton, CA

Wow Looks like a tough one here. keep your head up and thanks for the post Good luck

Apr 25, 2008 11:13 AM

Jim Ellis

Ellis Home Inspection Services - Pensacola, FL

The home has been well maintained, it still however, is sheetrock siding

Apr 27, 2008 04:00 AM

Scott Patterson, ACI

Trace Inspections, LLC - Spring Hill, TN

Home Inspector, Middle TN

Don't forget that some drywall is approved for exterior applications. The drywall in the picture is an exterior drywall. It is designed for exterior applications. The gypsum will be a yellow to tan color and interior drywall gypsum will be white. This is the easy way to tell the difference between the two. Also "Sheetrock" is a brand name of drywall or gypsum board, like "Kleenex" is for tissue.

Anyway whenever you find stucco or EIFS on any type of drywall it will always be a problem!

Apr 27, 2008 10:12 AM

Gypsum board and stucco

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Jim Ellis

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