Experiencing water damage in your home is no picnic, whether it was a catastrophe concerning plumbing, appliances, or sewer issues or due to heavy rainfall, dealing with the aftermath can be overwhelming. The important thing is to get everything dry quickly and professional assistance can help get it done. But sometimes subtle water damage can inflict drywall. The drywall or sheetrock in your home used for the walls and ceiling is not compatible with water, so if watery leaks make contact with it, the impact can be detrimental to the structure. If drywall has had long term exposure to water, the potential mold growth is exceptionally high. Today, we at Araoz Painting & Remodeling would like to offer some tips and advice concerning drywall water damage.

Locate Water Damaged Areas

Drywall that has been damaged with water is no longer durable, and should be replaces, especially if mold has already set in; if that is the case, the drywall will emit a distinctive odor. The unmistakable smell of mold is fairly strong, and most can detect the harsh musky odor. Knowing what caused the water damage in the first place can help you effectively find all the places where the water damage ha corrupted the drywall. Check in the areas where water-based appliances, pipes, water-based fixtures, or any areas you feel might have experienced leaks with rainstorms.

Home Repairs After Water Damage

If mold is present, don’t be tempted to utilize mold treatments, they are not reliable and to guarantee your home’s well being and the investment on repairs, it is optimal to replace the drywall sections that are bearing mold or water damage. You don’t have to repair the entire wall or even the whole sheet of drywall if just a portion is in need of replacement. Instead, trace a squared, or rectangle shape, extended out 4 inches or so around the designated area, and cut out the corrupted drywall. If mold is a factor, wear protective gear, and cut your outlined drywall with a utility knife. As you cut out the contaminated area, if you discover that your initial target is more pronounced, continue extending the spot until you are confident the drywall is strong and no mold has crept into it. Any wood support behind the drywall that has minor mold can be sanded down until the mold is removed. Once your confident the mold is sanded away, use concentrated bleach in the area to confirm the spores are gone and ensure the wood is completely dry before moving on to the next step.

Sealing the Drywall

Cut out a piece of new drywall that will fit snuggly into the space that was removed. You can always trim it down as you go, but the more snug the more durable the wall will be. Tape the seam of the existing drywall and the patch drywall with drywall tape around the entire perimeter; follow up with spackle on top of the taped area.

Drywall Repair, Replacement & More in Katy, Park Row, Cinco Ranch, Jersey Village & Greater West Side Houston, TX | Harris County, Texas

If the mold or water is excessive, it might be safer to have a professional perform the repairs to the drywall to ensure the integrity of the structure and proper disposal of mold. At Araoz Painting & Remodeling, our experts are familiar with water restoration services and can repair your water damaged drywall quickly and efficiently. Call us today to get started!