Even minor water damage can leave severe stains and damage on drywall. In some cases only minor maintenance is needed. Other times you will need to completely remove the damaged drywall and replace it. Water damage can come from a bad or leaking roof or broken plumbing within the wall. It could also be from old or cracked drains. Even the smallest of leaks can leave nasty yellow stains. Repairing drywall can take some work but once water damage has occurred, it is important to do so. L.W. Winslow Painting, Inc. will share the importance of drywall repair and how drywall repairs are done.
Can I Just Paint Over Water Damaged Drywall?
Once drywall has come in contact with water it is a matter of time before mold or mildew will begin to set in. Drywall is extremely porous and traps moisture very easily. If you react quickly enough to the water exposure, you can use bleach or a mold and mildew detergent to slow down the mold or mildews development. Moisture trapped in the drywall or the sheetrock also deteriorates it and after some time the drywall will begin to crack and break down. One way to determine whether or not full replacement of the drywall is needed is to test to see if the sheetrock is still attached to the wall and that it is not bulging or sagging away from the wall or studs. If the drywall seem a bit loose but not in dire need of repair as of yet, you can tighten the drywall to the studs to buy you some more time. Make sure to screw the drywall at the strongest points first and slowly work your way to the affected areas. However, you may want to consider removing the drywall and then replacing it. You can also cut out the damaged portion of the drywall and replace it. Once the repaired or replaced drywall is secured to the wall studs, the next step is to scrape away the access mud and paint around the affected area. Scraping is done around the edges of the newly replaced drywall. It is also wise to spray on alcohol or bleach around the area in the event some water came in contact with the surrounding drywall.
How to Protect Drywall from Water Damage
After the repaired area has been sprayed down with a disinfectant, it is best to use a drywall sealer or primer to help prevent future leaks from damaging the drywall. If you are not completely replacing the old dry wall, the primer will help protect the drywall from future water damages. After the drywall has been protected, the next step is to apply a drywall compound. Most come in a pre-mixed mud or paste and others may need to be mixed. It is best to apply three very thin coats of the drywall compound to make the repaired area the same level as the rest of the wall that wasn’t damaged. Some will use either a 4 to 8 inch putty knife to apply the drywall compound on the wall. After the compound has been applied on the wall you can re-wall paper or paint the wall if the wall needs a texture. The next step will be to match the same texture with the rest of the wall before it gets repainted. You can also use the drywall primer on the outside of the wall for additional protection before the final layer of either paint or wallpaper is applied.
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L.W. Winslow Painting, Inc. provides drywall services and can assist in repairing or replacing damaged drywall. Whether the drywall has holes, cracks or water damages, we can repair it. If you need drywall repair or painting along with many of our other services, contact L.W. Winslow Painting Inc. today.