| Case of the Colored Stains |
| The color of stains can often help you track down their source. |
From "Finders Fixers"
episode DFFX-108 |
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Home inspector Wally Conway solves the mystery of the first colored stain by opening up the ceiling at the stain site. His find is unusual--and is homeowner Michelle Killian’s good fortune. She learns why the stain is green, and Wally Conway teaches her, among other things, how to install insulation on an AC refrigerant line and patch and match texture on her drywall ceiling.
Replacing Insulation and Repatching DrywallMaterials:
drywall saw
2x4, cut to length
safety glasses
gloves
polyethylene foam insulation
tape
carpenter’s square
measuring tape
drywall sheet
drywall tape
joint compound
utility knife
cordless drill
screws
scraper 1. Using a drywall saw, cut through the ceiling drywall to expose the cause of the stain; in this case, the stain is caused by condensation from the air-conditioning refrigerant line (figure A). 2. Remove old insulation. Measure a new piece of polyethylene insulation and cut it to size. Secure to the refrigerant line with tape (figure B).
3. With the pipe properly insulated, repatch the hole in the drywall. After squaring off the hole, install a 2x4 cut to length into the existing ceiling. The 2x4 will provide a base for attaching the drywall patch (figure C) (figure D).
4. Measure the new section of drywall and cut it to size with a utility knife. Slide it in place and secure with screws (figure E). 5. If the ceiling is textured, use a scraper to scrape off the stucco finish around the seam (figure F). 6. Tape off the seams with drywall tape and apply a first layer of joint compound. Allow the first layer to dry, sand smooth and apply a second layer. Repeat as needed (figure G). 7. Finish the patch by matching the stucco pattern on the ceiling and painting with a matching ceiling color.
| ALSO IN THIS EPISODE: | | Case of the Colored Stains |
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