Can a rental property have multiple layers or sheetrock inside and is contractor right to replace it? That is this week’s question for veteran landlord, property manager and real estate investor Hank Rossi.
Dear Landlord Hank:
We hired contractor to fix big holes in the sheetrock of one of our rentals after tenant damage. It is an older house. Contractor said he found two layers of sheetrock underneath when he started repairs so it is going to cost more. Does this sound right that previous owners had layers of sheetrock? And that it will cost more?
– Sam
Dear Landlord Sam:
It seems like everyone these days has a camera built into their cell phones.
Maybe your contractor could take some photos of the problem so you can see what he is encountering.
If your rental property is older, 1950s or earlier built, the walls could originally have been covered with lath (wooden strips) covered with plaster, usually three coats.
This means of finishing interior walls is much thicker, over an inch compared to 3/8 or 5/8 drywall. The plaster walls were tougher but much more labor intensive to make.
Also, if plaster walls were damaged with picture hanging, etc., they are more expensive to repair.
It could be possible that an earlier owner of your property sheet rocked over the plaster walls to make surface repairs easier. If your contractor can’t take a photo of the area and show you what he is talking about, can you check it out for yourself?
Older properties can be more expensive to repair but I’d want to see the situation first hand, if possible.
Sincerely,
Hank Rossi
Other recent Dear Landlord Hank posts you may have missed:
If A Good Tenant Loses A Job How Long Before You Evict Them?
How Do You Raise Rent For A Long-Time Tenant?
How Do You Know When To Change Property Managers?
Where Do You Draw The Line On Normal Wear And Tear?
Dear Landlord Hank: Do You Conduct Rental Inspections? How Often?
Dear Landlord Hank: How Do I Motivate My Tenants To Conserve Water?
Is An Old Drug Conviction A Big Deal?
Dear Landlord Hank: Should I Give A Tenant More Time To Pay?
Dear Landlord Hank: Tenant’s Sewer Line Clogged With Tree Roots
Do You Call A Prospective Tenant’s Employer For Verification?
Dear Landlord Hank: Service Dog Ruined Backyard In My Rental Now What?
Do You Ask Tenants Or Maintenance To Replace Light Bulbs?
Dear Landlord Hank: Why Are Tenants Rude When I Ask For Rent Payments?
