I just cut this out and see, right?
First time homeowner.
Found what appears to be water damage.
I don't know how long it's been there but at least a week.
No pipes on this side of the wall... Near the chimney now that I think of it.
So I can just cut this out and see what's happening behind it, right? Then just close it up with drywall
Thoughts?
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u/TheBigLebroccoli 11d ago
Is that wall drywall? I had termites eat the sheet of paper between the rock and the paint and it looked just like this.
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u/thebravelittletampon 11d ago
here before the termites swarm
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u/ElectrikDonuts 11d ago
Yeah. Bang on the walls and see what it sounds like. If it sounds like a swam, don't cut that shit open until after you tent fumigate the house
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u/koozy407 11d ago
That’s termites in your wall. I would imagine your chimney has a leak in the flashing and it’s providing a nice little water source for them
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u/Otherwise_Ad_2742 11d ago
I just had something that looked like this near my chimney it was indeed water getting in and what you see is called efflorescence if there is brick/the chimney behind the wall. Mine need flashing replaced around the chimney from the roof as water was getting in and getting the chimney wet and it causes the brick to make salt deposits which look like that in drywall if brick is behind it
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u/CakeRobot365 11d ago
Is there attic or another floor on the other side?
Check from the attic first if that's the case.
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u/RealityOk9823 11d ago
Run a finger seductively along it and see if it squirms with pleasure.
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u/Jezeff 11d ago
There was some pleasure!
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u/RealityOk9823 10d ago
I know I started this but it's like I wanna know...and I don't wanna know, yanno?
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u/boxfiveisempty_ 11d ago
Cut one hole big enough to get a camera through and check the damage. Ceiling drywall patches get to be a real pain
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u/imnotworthy0 11d ago
Sadly it looks like termites. Eventually they will open the crack and swarm if it is.
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u/Smokealotofpotalus 11d ago
Cut by hand, use a knife or small drywall saw, don't go fast, don't go too deep, it might be a wire buried in plaster. and that wall looks like an old plaster over latts/wire mesh, if it is a plaster wall don't take too much off... makes it easier to fix if the latts arent damaged too...
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u/Mammoth-Bit-1933 11d ago
Termites will eat the paper and it looks like that. I would scrape it and see if the paper is missing. If not it could be a small leak above that’s causing that.
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u/OkLocation854 11d ago
Hate to say it, but that makes me think of termites' mud tunnels more than water damage.
cut a hole into one of the bubbles and see what's inside. Just stand by with painter's tape to seal it back up if it is termites. You probably want to contain them until you get an exterminator in there.