Water Damage on Drywall - Service Restoration

During the past years in water damage repair, we have come across many shocked homeowners, when they come to find their whole ceiling cave in without notice. This is almost always due to a leak or flood that was not taken care of. The sheer weight of all the water breaks apart the drywall panels and causes the structural integrity to be compromised.

Water leaks are very common throughout our homes. Almost all of us have experienced a water leak at some point in our lifetime. You may not even notice a water leak, but keep in mind, a little water can also wreak havoc on your home.

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If you suspect ceiling water damage, be sure to look out for depressions around the drywall fasteners. As the water saturates the drywall, it will start to bow down towards the floor, causing mini upside down craters to be formed around the screws that hold them in place.

  • Be sure to move all of your belongings away from the area and prepare for the ceiling to collapse.
  • Test out the ceiling by poking the area with your finger. If it seems soggy at all, it will need to go.
  • Cut all around the damaged areas all the way until you hit the hard drywall. This will ensure you recover all the water soaked spots.
  • Minor leaks located on your walls will usually only leave minor damages such as paint discoloration or slight bowing.
  • Even if minor, it is always best to pull out a piece of drywall were affected, and see if there is any standing water. If so, this will result in another whole problem….mold.

Check out our article on how to identify black mold. Also if you plan on removing it yourself, be sure to read our 7 DIY removal techniques.

  1. Any severely damaged drywall will most likely encounter massive bulging of the panels or bubbling to the joint compound.
  • This type of damage will most likely need a full replacement of the drywall, possibly water extraction, and mold remediation.

Calling a professional service restoration company will make things go a lot smoother. A full service restoration company will have all the expertise and equipment to quickly fix any home disaster.

Note: When dealing with water damaged walls, it is best to resolve the issue quickly before mold is able to start growing. If not, it may add a lot of unwanted expenses, and health concerns.

Repairing Water Damaged Drywall – Minor Damages

Almost anyone can handle small drywall repairs. Here are the materials you will need:

  • Joint compound
  • Drywall saw
  • Scrap Drywall (same thickness)
  • Primer
  • Paint and roller
  • Spray texture (if your wall is textured)
  • Scrap wood and screws
  1. First identify the damaged drywall and cut a square around it. Squares are usually a lot easier to patch on.
  2. Next measure the hole and cut the scrap drywall to size.
  3. Depending on how close the hole is to a stud, you might need to use a piece of wood to hold the drywall in place.
  4. Once the new piece of drywall is in place, start covering the edges and any defects with the joint compound.
  5. Once the compound has dried, give it a light sanding and apply as many coats of compound until the piece is levelled and flush with the wall.
  6. Once dry, apply your spray texture and let dry.
  7. Apply primer, and then your coat of paint.

Repairing Water Damaged Drywall –  Major Damages

Dealing with major water damaged drywall is similar to dealing with minor ones, although there will be some extra steps.

Here’s a list of materials you will need:

  • Joint compound
  • Drywall saw
  • Drywall Panels(same thickness)
  • Primer
  • Paint and roller
  • Spray texture (if your wall is textured)
  • Sheet rock screws
  • Mudding
  • Wet vac
  • Possible protective gear if dealing with mold outbreaks.

Steps

  1. First identify the damaged drywall and remove as many needed until you reach a studs on both sides.
  2. Figure out how many drywall sheets you need
  3. If there is water in between the wall, make sure to remove all of it with a wet vac.
  • It’s also a good idea to get rid of any moisture in between the wall before adding the new drywall.
  • If there is any mold at this point, stop what you’re doing and begin mold remediation.
  1. Next screw on the appropriate amount of sheets to cover the wall.
  2. Once the new drywall is in place, start covering the edges and corners with joint compound. Be sure to countersink your screws and cover these dimples as well.
  3. Once the compound has dried, give it a light sanding and apply as many coats of compound until the piece is levelled and flush with the wall.
  4. Once dry, apply your spray texture and let dry.
  5. Apply primer, and then your coat of paint.

At any point, if the task seems to daunting or beyond your level of expertise, be sure to call a full service restoration expert. They will be able to handle everything from the water damage, to the mold remediation in no time.