Water is essential for life but can also be highly destructive. When water comes into contact with the drywall of your interior ceilings and walls, it can make them look ugly, damage the wallboard, and be a breeding ground for mold. Here are some tips you can use to repair drywall damaged by water.
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Tip 1: Find and Fix the Leak First
Finding and fixing a leak is an essential part of water damage restoration. It can be obvious that you have a leak from your roof or a leak behind your wall. You will see signs of moisture, reduced structural integrity, or dripping water. When drywall panels on your ceiling get wet, they can start to sag or crumble. Or you might see coffee-colored stains that grow over time.
Before repairing the drywall, you must identify the source of the leak. If you don’t fix the leak, doing repairs is pointless. The leak may come from a broken pipe, a leak in your roof, or a leaky plumbing fixture. It can be a challenge to identify the source of the leak because water can travel far from the source of the leak and produce damage in an area where you would not expect you might need to do a little bit of investigation, including removing the damaged drywall to identify the source of the leak.
Tip 2: Remove Damaged Sections of Drywall
Before you remove the damaged sections of drywall, put down a drop cloth or tarp so that you can catch wet, crumbling pieces of drywall, including its dust and debris. This makes cleaning up and protecting the surface from dust and debris easier.
Examine the pieces of fallen drywall to see how much they’ve been damaged. You will know if a lot of water has infiltrated the drywall because it will sag and crumble when you touch it.
You want to be thorough during the removal process to ensure that all compromised drywall has been removed. If some pieces of drywall have not been structurally compromised but only have water stains, you might be able to cut out the affected section using a keyhole saw and then make a patch to replace the removed piece. It’s recommended that you wear safety goggles and a mask for dust protection while removing drywall.
Tip 3: Make Repairs to Damaged Sections
After you cut out the damaged section of the drywall, measure the square or rectangle area of the wall from which you removed the drywall. Use these dimensions and cut a piece of drywall at least 2 inches longer and 2 inches wider than the whole left where you extracted the drywall.
Then, place the replacement drywall face down on a flat surface. Measure 1 inch from all four edges using a pencil and a straight line. Cut the replacement piece of drywall with a straight edge and a utility knife to the correct size.
Use a putty knife to remove the backside paper. You need to be careful not to tear the front-facing paper. If the patch you cut is not a perfect fit, you can place it against the hole you created in the wall and use a utility knife to trim it to the correct size.
With holes 6 inches or less, place a thin layer of joint compound around the hole. Then put your replacement piece in the hole. You can use a putty knife to feather the edges of the joint compound around the replacement piece.
Once the replacement piece dries, sand it with fine-grit sandpaper. Use a second layer of joint compound. You might need two or three layers of the joint compound when building up the patched area. Make sure that each layer is dry before you apply another.
When replacing sections larger than 6 inches, you must create a support system until the joint compound completely dries. If the damaged area is larger than 12 inches, you may need to replace the entire panel so you can adequately anchor it to the wall or ceiling.
Keep Your Denver Home Looking Its Best
You have invested a lot of money in your Denver home. Don’t let water damage ruin your home’s appearance or structural integrity. If you act quickly, repair the leak, and replace the damaged drywall, you will be able to keep your home looking its best for years to come. If you can’t handle the issue yourself, it is best to call the professionals. Contact Restoration logistics, the best services for water damage restoration in Denver.