30

June

3

By W P / in drywall water damage, water damage experts /

12 Drywall Water Damage Tips
By: 911 Water Damage Experts

Most people ignore water damage on drywall.

And this is a huge mistake.

The longer you wait to fix water damage the more expensive it can get.

So if you happen to find drywall water damage around your home, here are a few helpful tips that you should take before it spirals out of control.

Let’s get right into it.

Drywall Water Damage Tip 1: Know what type of water you are dealing with

It might be difficult to follow, but there are three types of water.

The first one is the clean water that comes from leaky pipes, rain, condensation etc.

It is harmless and you should be perfectly safe cleaning it up yourself.

The second type is grey water and this is a bit dirtier. This is water from washing machines, dishwashers, clean toilets etc.

It is the type of water that may be contaminated.

Now if you want to clean it yourself, then you should know that you need to wear protective gear and completely cover yourself.

The third type is black water.

This is the water that comes from flooding from nearby rivers or sewage water and the water you want to avoid.

It contains bacteria and you should not try to clean it yourself as it might cause some serious health issues.

Drywall Water Damage Tip 2: Check for mould

Mould is considered to be a serious issue, so before starting the process of cleaning up, inspect the damaged materials.

Remember, the mould can start growing within just 24 hours.

If you find mould and mildew, you need to be careful about how to remove them.

Some types of mould can be toxic and you should not try to remove them yourself.

If a large area is involved, the best way would be to call up a professional and have them remove the mould.

Drywall Water Damage Tip 3: Dry the area

It is of utmost importance to dry the area as soon as possible since the extent of the damage can increase.

If you are dealing with a small leak, then this should not be an issue, but if you are dealing with a larger area, then make sure to get some reinforcements!

Any large fans and dehumidifiers can be of assistance, and this way you can dry out the wood, carpet, and other materials.

Make sure you leave no moisture behind.

Drywall Water Damage Tip 4: Remove the damaged material

Any fabric, carpet, insulation, and other material can become damaged.

You may need to cut them out, remove them and throw them out if they have been in contact with water.

It is most likely that the water will do some permanent damage to them, and the mould will further damage them.

If your favourite piece has been affected, you might want to try to dry it out and save it, but if you feel like it has come to the point of no return, we are afraid you might need to dispose of them.

Drywall Water Damage Tip 5: Disinfect the materials you plan to keep

Once you have removed all of the damaged materials, before you start working on it, make sure you thoroughly disinfect it.

You can try plenty of homemade solutions, but the best thing to do is a bleach solution.

Spray lightly on the affected areas and wipe them out.

This is how you will protect your surfaces from mould.

Drywall Water Damage Tip 6: Prioritize and fix the ceiling damage first

Because of gravity, the damage to the ceiling should be the first thing you tend to do.

You should do this if you want to avoid your ceiling from collapsing.

To find the source of the leak, take your time to thoroughly go through the ceiling.

Make sure the water has not affected the structural integrity of the rafters and the beams.

If you are uncertain of how to approach this issue, call for some help from a professional.

Drywall Water Damage Tip 7: Replace the wood that is damaged

All of the wood that has developed mould and mildew should be removed and replaced.

Once you remove the wood, make sure to clean beneath it before replacing it.

Also, if the wood is the structural bit of your home, then you should be extra careful when replacing it.

The structure needs to have the right support while you are working on the replacement.

Drywall Water Damage Tip 8: Sealed floors are an excellent replacement

When it has become more than obvious that the water damage has affected your floors, it is time to see the extent of the damage.

If you are not certain about the approach, one of the first things you need to do is make sure that there is no damage underneath it.

The lower levels beneath the surface are usually very susceptible to becoming mouldy, so they should be removed immediately.

The upside to this is that you get to choose your new floors!

Engineered wood materials, ceramic tiles, or high-end vinyl can be your choice.

And if a leaky toilet has damaged the floor underneath it, you should be able to replace that yourself!

Drywall Water Damage Tip 9: Replace the drywall

You can cut out the drywall and repair the affected portion.

However, if you see that the drywall is sagging and is swelled about 3/8 of an inch or more, then you need to replace the entire thing.

Don’t forget to check the insulation behind the drywall too.

Drywall Water Damage Tip 10: Replacing and inspecting the external siding

The water damage can cause some issues to your external siding too!

One of the biggest dangers here is the damage the water can do to the material that is behind the external siding.

You need to make sure to replace the siding quickly before the damage becomes too big.

Also, the water can easily be set behind faux stone and some other external walls in the home.

Drywall Water Damage Tip 11: Paint and caulk

When all the materials have been replaced, it is time for painting!

Either put on an entirely new coat or just do a touch-up.

Seal and caulk the new materials, and minimize the damage if any future water issues occur.

Drywall Water Damage Tip 12: Check your insurance

As the last bit that you need to do here is to check your insurance just to know what type of water damage repair is covered with it.

Note that it is more likely for some sudden accidents to be covered than a slow leak that has been happening over some time.

Remember, you would only be able to make a claim if you act really fast.

If you have any questions about drywall water damage and water damage restoration feel free to call us at 1-833-WE-DRY-IT or chat with us in near real-time on our Facebook fan page.

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