How to Repair Water-Damaged Drywall

If you've ever experienced water damage to your home, then you know how difficult the situation can become. Water can get into crevices and cracks, causing many different issues. Drywall isn't an exception. If your drywall is damaged by water, it is essential to fix it as soon as possible. Learn more below about how to repair damaged drywall affected by water.

Damaged drywall from water can lead to many issues, such as cracks and holes in the wall or drywall, growth of mold and mildew, and swelling and buckling in the wall. Based on the nature of the damage and the location where water is intruding into the drywall, it must be completely or partially replaced.

Signs of Drywall Water Damage

Look out for three primary signs of water damage in drywall. The first indicator is a noticeably discolored wall with water.

Take a second inspection of the walls for any evidence of mold. Mold is likely to develop in kitchens, bathrooms, attics, and basements. Check any wallpaper that might look unusual.

A final indication of water damage could be visible on the floor. In many cases, moisture leaks through the subsoil beneath. So, any holes or cracks in the floor must be examined.

Things to Know Before Repairing Water-Damaged Drywall

If damp drywall results from floods from overhead, your ceiling could fall. So, your safety and personal safety could be in danger regarding ceiling water damage from drywall. In this instance, it is recommended to consider having your home's structural integrity assessed by a reputable restoration firm like Southeast Water Restoration.

Additionally, if the damage to the drywall resulted from a water leaking, it is best to call experts certified to make repairs immediately. This type of job requires using biohazard cleaning protocols and safety services that often exceed the capability of the average homeowner.

Before fixing the damaged drywall, identify the source of the water. Take out the water that is standing and dry the affected area. The longer that water is left to sit, the more damage your drywall will have.

How to Repair Water-Damaged Drywall

The problems will only worsen if damaged drywall isn’t addressed and repaired. The positive side is that repairing damaged drywall with water is fairly simple. Here's how you can repair water-damaged drywall:

• Clean the area. Get rid of water-soaked furniture, as well as building materials. Also, remove the wet carpets and padding or, at a minimum, push them back, allowing the floor to dry out.
• Be sure to take the necessary safety precautions. When removing drywall, put on respirators since certain older joint compounds for drywall have asbestos in them. Also, remove non-affected electrical outlets before cutting out the wall material. Turn on the circuit breakers before. If the outlets are overflowing, you can remove and dispose of them.
• Get rid of damaged materials. Begin by deciding the amount of drywall you want to remove. If the water level was less than 2 1/2 feet, cut the wall material to an elevation of at least four feet. This will help when installing full sheets of plasterboard. If the water level was higher than two-and-a-half feet, take the wall to an eight-foot height and the roof junction, depending on which one is the higher. You can inspect the wall if you aren't sure of the water level.
• Get rid of any cracked, crumbling, or sagging drywall. If it's damp and the source is clear (e.g., a burst pipe inside your home), you can likely dry it. In the event of water damage, you may need to remove damaged flooring, wall studs, cabinets, ceilings, and floors.

The next step is to cut off the damaged areas of the drywall.

How to Cut Drywall

1. Draw a straight line across the wall -- over the point at which the water stopped wicking with the chalk line.
2. The chalk line should be cut approximately one-half or three-quarters across the drywall. Make use of a utility knife.
3. Take off the damaged area with care. You can make a small cut in the damaged wall using a Hammer to facilitate the removal. Make use of this hole to serve as a hand to pull the drywall back gently.
4. When you've cut the hole and removed the drywall, remove the insulation (fiberglass mineral wool, wood fiberboard, cellulose, etc.). If it appears wet, it is probably. If its insulation is made of foam, you can leave it in place and let it dry.

After the damaged drywall has been removed, you can begin drying the wall and within the wall. Use high-efficiency blowers and dehumidifiers and open the doors and windows. Make use of fans to improve airflow behind walls. Leave the machines running for a minimum of two days so that the floors and studs are completely dry. Do not make holes in walls. This method doesn't help the wall to dry faster. Additionally, it can make it difficult to repair the wall.

Use a chemical cleanser to keep bacteria and mold from growing on walls. Avoid bleach because it does not stop the growth of mold. You can use an ozone machine to eliminate severe odors and let it run for at least 8 hours. Clean the area when the machine is in operation.

How to Replace Water-Damaged Drywall

It's time to put up the new drywall. The first step is to measure the diameter of the hole so that you determine how much to cut out of a brand-new sheet. Install four drywall clips around the hole, and secure each by using a screw for the drywall.

Then, place the drywall pieces and secure them to the drywall clips. Don't tighten too much the screws on the drywall. Use drywall tape or the joint compound to blend it with the existing wall. In the end, sand the surface multiple times to create an even wall.

The painting of the drywall that has been restored is the last step. The first step is to ensure that your joint is dry, as it will be a good source of moisture. Paint the wall using a primer to make sure the joint is sealed. Then you coat the whole wall to ensure the colors are uniform across.