A common result of when you have a plumbing problem or a leak is water damage to the drywall in your home. However, because water damage will not simply go away, it is a home repair project that should absolutely take priority on your agenda.
Trying to spot water damage? Look for bulging, cracks, sagging and discoloration in the drywall.
Water can easily run and drip along interior pipes, so you should look not only on the walls but also the ceilings when trying to spot water damage. You should not be surprised if you find water damage occurring in a place nowhere near where the leak or plumbing issue is. If you become aware of water damage, it is vitally important that you immediately address the problem. Once drywall has become wet, it will become the ideal environment for mildew and mold to grow and fester, complicating what would normally be a quick fix.
If the damage that you find is only small cracks in the drywall, then the damage from the water will likely be an easy fix. You can buy a ready mixed compound for spackling for this purpose, and they are easily applied using a simple plastic putty knife. You can use a piece of fiberglass mesh tape to provide a better structural patch for the area and then apply the putty over the time. More structural work will be required for larger repair needs.
When you are dealing with a larger portion of drywall that has been water damaged, the first thing that you need to do is to remove all of the material that has been compromised. You should use a drywall hand saw or a jigsaw to remove the damaged areas of the drywall. Drywall that has mold or mildew is not capable of being saved and should simply be thrown away. Use a high intensity fan to air out the area, drying the remaining damaged areas out. The area should be allow to dry for a minimum of twelve hours in order to make sure that the leak has been fixed properly and to ensure that the area is completely free of moisture before continuing with the repairs.
Drywall that has been damaged by water is capable of being repaired using a patch, which is a replacement drywall piece that has been fitted and carefully blended into the existing drywall in order to appear unnoticeable. There are now water resistant forms of drywall, which make the best option when it comes to repairing areas damaged by water. Simply cut the drywall patch and fit it into the area that was previously removed. Fasten the patch with screws or nails to hold it into place, then tape the joints together with fiberglass or paper drywall tape and use drywall mud to cover everything up. Let everything cure for approximately 24 hours, then sand the joints to make sure that the wall surface is completely flat and ready for repainting or retexturing.
Photo Credits: sevensixfive
Originally posted 2009-05-27 13:51:56. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Related Posts -
Fixing a Leaky Faucet At best, a leaking faucet is more than capable of being annoying. At worst, a leaking faucet is capable of being extremely wasteful. The sound of water as it continuously drips into a sink can be completely maddening over time. Luckily, the fix required for repairing a leaky faucet is...... -
5 Ways to Keep Stucco Looking Fresh When it comes to exteriors for your home, stucco is one of the best to have. It's insulating, easy to take care of and compared to other materials, very cost effective. However, after a few months in some areas or years, it can tend to look a bit dingy. Here...... -
6 Ways to Keep Your Basement Dry A leaky basement is a nightmare. Mold and mildew build up and can be hazardous to your health. In addition, many of us store things in the basement and we don't want to risk having them ruined. There are a few techniques that you can use to make sure that...... -
Home Maintenance Given that buying a home is the biggest investment that people make, home maintenance is an important part of owning a home. One hopes that their investment is worth as much as it can be, and to ensure that maintenance has to be done. Preventative maintenance avoids very costly repairs...... -
What’s In Your Crawlspace? Most of today’s homes have crawl spaces, but few of us ever venture up there. No one really likes to think of crawling up into that tight space, but there may be a few reasons to consider it. It is important to schedule an annual checkup for your crawlspace, since......
Related Websites -
Entire removal of odour nuisance Not only after major incidents like fire damages odour nuisance is a consequential loss. Even after small water damages a mouldy odour can disturb your interior climate and also be harmful for your health. There can be an odour nuisance because of dead gnawers or small birds in openings of...... -
How to Upkeep Your Snowboard During the snow season, it is especially important to keep your snowboard in top shape. However, you should be maintaining your snowboard all year long if you want to get the most out of it when the slopes are covered in fresh powder. Here are a few quick and vital...... -
Bully - Scholarship edition bug. unfinite loading solution Bully Scholar ship edition has a known bug that causes an infinite loading screen in the beginning of the game before visiting the principle's office. The solution is simple. Just upgrade the game using the last patch from Rock* and the loading will completely go away. The patch can be...... -
Water Features in a Country Garden There are so many different sizes, styles and types of outdoor fountains that are available these days, you should have absolutely no difficulty finding one that is going to suit your garden, no matter how large or how unique your garden actually is. The sights and the sounds associated with...... - Preparing for Financial Disasters with Flood Insurance, Hurricane Insurance, and Wind Damage Insurance Everyone wishes they had a crystal ball and could tell when disaster is going to strike. Wouldn’t you love being able to tell when something unpleasant is about to happen? You could protect your family and belongings; you could also adapt your schedule to make time for dealing with the......
- Hot Cold Water Dispensers Kitchen Plumbing Fixtures Home Improvement
- Water Filters Kitchen Plumbing Fixtures Home Improvement
- Larger than 9x12 Rugs, Carpets Antiques
Categories:
Drywall, Handy Man, Repair, plumbing
Tags:
0 comments ↓
There are no comments yet...Kick things off by filling out the form below.
Leave a Comment