Drywalls suffer from water damage due to several reasons. It may be due to a leaky roof, flood, or condensation from your air conditioning system. The reasons may be different, but the result is the same: you get damaged drywall, which can lead to more big problems if not fixed on time. The ceilings and walls of a house should be sturdy and strong, and if they become worn out due to water damage, they look bad and start to crumble. If you ignore the problem for a long period, the water may seep into the foundation of your walls which can be disastrous.
The process of repairing drywall that has suffered water damages may be a mess and complicated, but it is necessary, so a little patience should be exercised while doing it. If you don’t want to repair your drywall yourself, then you can hire a professional handyman to do it for you. However, if you have the confidence that you can pull this off yourself, you can follow the simple steps mentioned below to repair your drywall that has suffered water damage.
1- Take Necessary Precautions
Before you start repairing your water-damaged drywall, taking the necessary precautions is always considered good. Some old drywall compounds contain asbestos; therefore, you must wear a face mask when removing drywall to protect your respiratory system. Also, unplug unaffected electrical outlets before repairing or removing the drywall. First, turn off the circuit breaker and if you see that the outlet is submerged in water, remove and discard it.
2- Find the Water Leakage Source
Sometimes you can easily figure out the source of the water leak that caused damage to the drywall. Most of the time, the water is leaking from behind the walls or from the top of the ceiling. Common signs of leakage on the walls include moisture, water dripping from the surface, and compromised structural integrity. Before doing any repairs, the cause of the leak must be determined. It can be frustrating, but repairs are useless until you first address the cause of the water leak. Whether it’s a leaking roof, a broken pipe, or a leaking toilet, pinpointing the cause is often challenging. Water can travel away from leaks and cause damage in unexpected places. Therefore, you can take the expert guidance for it.
3- Dry the Wall
Once you figure out the source of the leakage and fix it, the next step is to dry the inside of the wall. Open the windows and doors and use high-efficiency blowers. Use a fan to increase airflow behind the wall and let the rack and floor dry completely for at least two days.
4- Repair the Wall
Use a joint sealer or mortar to repair water-damaged drywall. The finished mix is ??not stiff enough, and there is a risk of repeating moisture. Remove the foaming sealant and damaged product with a spatula. Trace the tape to the edge of the broken part and use a drywall cutter to cut it properly. Vacuum the scuff dust and prime the affected wall panels with a primer to mask the stain and seal the surface. Replace missing tape and allow guides to dry before patching. Once the sealant is completely dry, use the bubble paint repair process to repair surface roughness and damage. Reseal all exposed drywall joints with fiberglass bonding tape and use the crack fixation method to close and complete the tape joints.
5- Paint the Wall
Use light strokes to paint from bottom to top and ensure even coverage on the repaired drywall. If the surface of the paint is smooth, it does not need to be mixed. Otherwise, blend the paint again repaint the surface with one-way, overlapping, non-diagonal strokes. By Columbus restoration professionals use a small angled brush to paint on walls where the roller won’t reach, such as corners, near doors, windows, and moldings. If a second coat is necessary, use the same technique from the start. If you wait for the paint to get completely dry, the results will be better. However, waiting for a long time between the coats is not necessary.
The steps mentioned above should be followed properly and with extreme care if you want to repair your drywall in the best possible way. If at any point you don’t seem to handle the procedure, then make sure to hire a professional person to repair your drywall for you.
.webp)
