Dealing with Water Damaged Drywall? In the unfortunate event that you have a flood or water damage within your home, acting quickly is key. One of the areas that may cause the most damage and harbor potential for mold is within your drywall. Luckily, if you are able to remove the water and moisture both quickly and efficiently you may be able to dodge a bullet and not be required to replace or repair your drywall. While in some cases you may need to hire a professional, below are 6 easy steps you can follow to achieve the perfect drywall patch/repair should it be needed.
How to Repair Water Damaged Drywall
Step 1
The first step is to remove your baseboards and inspect the drywall for any signs of water damage. This could be discoloration, smell, softness, distortion, etc.
Related: 4 Steps to Dry Out a Flooded Home
Step 2
Identify the water damaged areas and mark them clearly with a pen, you will want to inspect and mark all drywall prior to moving onto the next step.
Step 3
Cut out all the damaged areas of the drywall using a keyhole saw. You always want to cut the patches in a square or rectangle shape to allow for easier patching. Always avoid using curved lines.
Step 4
Cut out a new piece of drywall that is the same size as the hole you created in step 3. Place the new panel it in the hole with as little wiggle room as possible. Either ensure that there is a stud or nailers to fasten the new drywall to, if this isn’t an option, you can use drywall repair clips to add the needed strength.
Related: Where Mold Could Be Hiding in Your Home
Step 5
Use Mesh tape to cover the seams of the repair, this helps add additional strength and hold the patch in place.
Step 6
It’s now time to mud the patch. Once the drywall mud has dried you may then begin to sand it down to ensure you have an even surface that is flush with the rest of the walls. Once the sanding is complete you can then choose to add texture to the patch if needed to match the walls or go ahead and finish the job with a new coat of paint.
If you’ve never repaired drywall before or the water damaged area is severe, you may want to consider bringing in a professional to assess the damages prior to beginning the repair process yourself. While repairing drywall is a fairly simple task, it does require time between steps, so ensure you are prepared for the time it will take to complete the project.
If you’ve recently encountered water damaged drywall, have questions regarding repairs, or would like to set up a consultation with one of our experts, please feel free to contact one of our experts or set up a consultation.