This is a new one on me and I'm looking for advice. My house (1960) has wood paneling on the walls (1/4" sheet stuff). In the process of remodelling and started pulling it apart to see what's going on back there. Much to my surprise I found all the walls have 3/4" T&G behind the paneling? The house is brick veneer and has some sort of MDF (very weak and brittle) between the outside of the studs and the brick. I'm wondering if the T&G might be structural? Never seen this before. Even the interior walls are T&G so it has me confused that much more. Is this common for this era?
Luke is what your calling MDF black. At my house they have a black insulation board, no house wrap, and the aluminum siding nailed right to that! Only plywood on the exterior is the corners of the house!
hmm, I am not sure about structural, I can call my grandfather if no one here can help, he was a contractor all his life. I do not want to tell you if it is structural or not, hard to say without seeing it. But if know one chimes In I will make a phone call for you tonight! So you have t@G, studs, insulation board, then brick correct!
I really don't think it is, but I'm not sure and I don't want to under-structure the house. Considering leaving it as-is and going over the top with 1/4" drywall. Thanks, BW, for the offer. I will take you up on it.
which way is the T&G running?? is it T&G plank 1x6 or chamfered/beaded edge beaded/chamfered=cosmetic 1x material up, down=non structural diagonal=maybe horizontal=maybe most likely it is not structural at all
T&G runs horizontal. After stripping some interior non-bearing walls last night it has 1x nailed up to the studs. I know that's not structural (truss construction). Looks like reclaimed wood so they most likely just used it as a backer to the wall panels because that's what they had available.
In my state code requires 1/2" sheetrock or 3/4" solid wood on the interior of all walls. Either of these would have to be installed under the 1/4" paneling. The 3/4" might have been the cheaper option or could have been the original finish before the paneling was installed.