ABOUT JENKINS RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL CAREERS TRAINING & CERTIFICATION OUR WORK BLOG LOCATIONS How to Tell if a Drywall is Water Damaged Drywall water damage is a common problem in homes. The drywall absorbs water and can cause mold to form, which damages the drywall further. Whether your drywall water damage is from a roof leak, air conditioner, flooding, or something else, repairing the water damage must happen quick. This will show you the process of identifying water damaged drywalls and how to fix them in your home so you don’t have to worry about it getting worse! Signs of Drywall Water Damage The first thing that you need to do when trying to identify if your drywall has been affected by water damage is to look at the color. You should be able to see a water stain discoloration on the wall where there was once white paint. Next, take a good look around for signs of mold growth. Mold grows best in damp areas like bathrooms, kitchens, basements, attics, crawl spaces, etc. It also likes to grow under wallpapers as well. Look closely at the area near the ceiling and walls. There may even be some visible mold growing right above the surface of the wet drywall. Finally, check out the flooring. Any cracks or holes could mean moisture seeping through the subfloor below. Check for dry rot anywhere where the flooring meets a wall. If there is any dry rot, it needs to be replaced with new wood ASAP! Causes of Water Damage in Drywall There can be many causes of water damage to your drywalls, among these include flooding, hurricanes, a burst pipe, condensation from your air conditioner, sink overflow, or even a roof leak. Identifying the cause First, you’ll want to inspect the exterior of your home. Check for broken shingles, missing siding, cracked foundation, and other things that might indicate potential water intrusion. Also, check for standing puddles outside. These are usually caused by rainwater leaking down the gutters. Standing pools of water can lead to rot and mildew issues. Checking drywall for damage After you’ve identified the source of water intrusion, it’s time to inspect your drywall. The first thing you’ll want to do is remove drywall screws from drywall that may be damaged. In order to prevent further damage, make sure there are no standing pools of water present before removing or replacing drywall. Difference Between Sheetrock and Drywall Drywall and sheetrock are essentially the same thing. They’re panels made of gypsum plaster that have been pressed between two sides, often with a heavy paper backing for stability or sound absorption in ceilings; both can be found as wallboards on homes around America today. Sheetrock is a US Gypsum Company brand of drywall. Does Wet Sheetrock Need to be Replaced? Yes, sheetrock water damage needs to be repaired. In fact, this type of material is very susceptible to water damage. Once exposed to water, the paper backing becomes saturated and begins to swell. As soon as this happens, the panel starts losing its structural integrity. At this point, the only way to save the sheetrock is to replace it entirely. Waterproofing Drywall: How Does It Work? There are several different ways to protect against water damage to drywall. The most common method involves using a special coating called “primer”. This product helps keep moisture from penetrating the interior of the wall. Another option is installing fiberglass insulation between studs. Fiberglass will stop water from getting inside the wall cavity. Finally, another popular solution is adding polyurethane foam to the top layer of drywall. Polyurethane foam creates a barrier that prevents moisture from entering the wall. Drying Wet Drywell If the moisture is more than you can simply wipe up, consider renting drying or air moving equipment. You can use high-volume fans and dehumidifiers to dry out your home quickly. Your local hardware store should have these items available for rent or sale so that they’re always on hand when needed most (and ready at affordable prices). If your home improvement store doesn’t have what’s needed for a quick fix, then there are other options available that should bring things back into balance quickly! Drywall Water Damage Repair Repair drywall that has been water damaged as soon as possible. The longer the drywall stays wet, the more likely it will warp and buckle. Water damage can also cause mold to start growing inside your drywall so preventing further moisture from entering is essential for you home! When repairing your drywall, follow these steps: First you are going to want to remove any loose items, such as pictures or mirrors from the wall. Next, you’ll want to thoroughly wash down the area where the water was coming through. Use soap and hot water to scrub the affected area until no visible stains remain. You should repeat this process twice daily for about three days. Finally, after washing the area, allow it to dry completely. When the area appears dry, you’re finished removing the stain. Now comes the fun part, installing the new drywall! Replacing Water Damaged Drywall This is one of those jobs that requires some practice. Start by measuring the size of the hole carefully. Remember that once you cut holes in your wall, you cannot go back and fill them up again. Also remember that you don’t want to put screws directly into the studs because they could weaken the framing. Instead, try drilling pilot holes into the studs first. These little marks help guide the screwdriver while keeping the wood stable. Next, drill a starter hole slightly smaller than the diameter of the screw being used. Using a tape measure, mark around the outside edge of the hole. Remove the screw and set aside. Then use an awl to poke two tiny holes along each side of the original hole. Turn over the piece of drywall and place it onto the wall. Make sure that all four corners line up before driving the screw. Once the screw is firmly attached, turn it clockwise to tighten the joint. Repeat this procedure for every other screw. Once you’ve installed all of the screws, apply primer generously to both sides of the entire patch. Allow the primer to dry overnight before applying final coatings. Water Damage Restoration Services If you’ve suffered from water drywall damage or stains, contact Jenkins Restorations. We have years of experience in the industry and our goal is to provide you with the best service possible. As a result, we want to create a safe environment for your home where it can be rebuilt back into its original state without any worries about safety hazards that could be present before restoration services are completed. FAQ Does wet drywall always need to be replaced? You may ask yourself, “Does water damaged drywall need to be replaced?” But more often than not – the answer is yes! Wet and mold-filled wet walls will lose its structural integrity. Its insulation between your home’s studs means an unhealthy and dangerous living space. Can you paint over water damaged drywall? You can’t paint drywall until it’s completely dry. It may be difficult to match the existing color when painting only a small stained area affected by water, so you’ll have make sure all of your walls are covered in at least one coat before moving on or else risk having an uneven job that will show every time someone walks across it. How long for mold to grow on wet drywall? Mold can form within forty-eight hours on your wet drywall. What does water damaged drywall look like? Water damage can be seen in the color of the drywall. Look for streaks running down the wall from the ceiling. These streaks can be short or long, and they can run to the floor. How to repair water damaged wall studs If they are allowed to dry properly, wood studs and sills don’t need to be replaced. Is drywall ruined if it gets wet? Drywall is a pretty tough material, but it can’t withstand water for long periods of time. If moisture builds up in the wall and isn’t dealt with quickly enough, then structural integrity will be compromised causing drywalls to become soft or moldy depending on their condition at that point. Are You Dealing With a Water Damaged Drywall in Your Home? After water damage, make sure to call Jenkins Restorations to get your home – and your life – back to normal again. Get Help Now Get Help Now! Fill out the form below or call us at 888.450.6580 to get help after fire, water, or storm damage! Name * Phone * Email * Zip Code * How Can We Help? * Get Help Now! 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