The House: Ceilings and Walls

Inspect the walls to see that they are of the material that you expected. There are two main types of inside wall finishes, known as "dry wall" and "plastered wall." The "dry wall" can be of plywood, gypsum wallboard, or fiberboard that is placed on the walls and taped and then painted or papered; this provides a good finish that is very serviceable.

The "plastered wall" is constructed of lath and plaster. Experience has shown that both types of wall are satisfactory if properly finished. The walls may be painted or papered, and you should inspect the finish to see that it meets with your approval.

Most of the paint used in structures built in 1950 or earlier contained significant amounts of lead. Leadbased paint has been determined to be a health hazard to children who might eat chips from the paint. Before you decide to buy any older house which has cracking, peeling, scaling or loose paint, you should insist upon arrangements being made to properly treat such surfaces so that the paint is removed or covered.

Some homes built between 1945 and 1978 may contain a crumbly, asbestos-containing material which has been either sprayed or troweled onto the ceiling or walls. If the material is in good condition, it is best to leave it alone. If the material appears damaged you may want to consider having it repaired or removed. In order to be a health risk, asbestos fibers must be released from the material and be present in the air for people to breathe. Before you decide to buy, this additional potential health risk should be given careful consideration.

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