Water Damaged Drywall And How To Clean It

Even in 2022,  wood is still the dominant material used in new-home construction in the USA. According to the National Association of Home Builders, nine out of ten new homes built are wood-framed with wallboard. Sheetrock, or drywall, are panels of gypsum plaster that have been pressed between two sides of heavy paper. The chemical compound hydrated calcium sulfate is like that old classroom chalk you used. It’s relatively inexpensive, available, and easy to work with. 

Water Damage Cleanup in St. Augustine

Drywall is also tough, but not indestructible. With years of wear, gypsum-board walls can get nail holes, dents and cracks. But while teenagers, dogs and careless movers can cause some damage, the biggest danger to your walls is water: roof leaks, excess condensation on HVAC units, storm waters, burst pipes, rusted out water heaters, etc. 

After any excess water is absorbed by the wall board, this water damage must be addressed quickly. Wet drywall leads to bowed walls, collapsed ceilings, structural damage and hazardous mold. So fixing the walls will be a big part of recovering from water damage. 

Simple DIY Cover Ups  

Sometimes, just a can of spackling and a small putty knife can adequately fill small holes or fill tiny dents. 

Around the window and door openings, stress cracks can appear as the home settles. A spray-on crack repair product forms a flexible membrane over the crack that can stretch and relax as the building moves. 

Depending on the texture at your home, texture sprays can sufficiently disguise your DIY project. But hiding a patch is a lot more technical than just covering it with paint. 

For Larger Areas

Sometimes water stained panels are not structurally compromised. If the sheetrock is still firm after drying out, the damaged portion can be cut out and patched. However, if the water has seeped in and has started destroying the fibers, the wall will lose its structural integrity. Water damaged walls need to be replaced. It’s for safety and for mold prevention. 

And it takes years of practice to perfect this skill. It’s a balance of art and science. For example, professional drywall tapers will fill a row of screw holes with one long stripe of joint compound, rather than filling every screw hole separately. And after water damage, you’ll want to eliminate any visual reminders of the damage.

When to Call the Water Damage Cleanup Professionals

The porous nature of drywall makes it vulnerable to water damage. Small areas can be patched and repaired but only after you resolve the underlying water problem. Restoration 1 of St. Augustine can not only help with water damage cleanup, they will also make sure that all the moisture issues are corrected.  If you also have signs of water damage to the floor, subfloor, or baseboards, you definitely need Restoration 1 of St. Augustine. More than just aesthetic damage, this indicated that your home might have unseen structural damage or mold.

Call for help in Flagler County. Water damage cleanup is a coordinated effort of procedures, tools and manpower to dry and dehumidify the affected rooms. Once the water and moisture are removed, the team will make all necessary repairs to ensure your property is safe for your return.