Discovering drywall damaged by water is never happy occasion. In almost all cases, the solution will be to replace the damaged area, because simply trying to repairing it after it has been weakened will likely end up costing more in the long run. This is in terms of both money and time. If you catch damage early on, then you have the best chances of being able to employ a quick repair method opposed to something more extensive.
It doesn't matter where in the house your drywall water damage is located, the first step is always to locate the source of where the water leak is coming from. In most cases, you will discover this to be a leaking pipe or perhaps a roofing problem which is allowing rain water to enter the house. There is no point in going to all the work of repairing damaged drywall only to have problem reoccur, because it was never properly handled to begin with.
Once you have taken care of the original leak you can begin to get to work on dealing with the water damaged drywall. The first step is to try out the area completely. You can use a high powered fan and/or a dehumidifier to assist with this process. The bottom line is you want to get rid of all moisture completely. This is very important and can not be stated with enough emphasis. If the area is not dried thoroughly, then dangerous molds can begin to grow in as soon as 24 hours. It may be necessary to cut a hole in the drywall to ensure that proper air circulation can be achieved. However this shouldn't be necessary for just a small crack.
If you are only repairing a small crack, then this can be relatively simple to fix. Just applying some spackling compound with the putting knife. If leaking water has caused extensive damage, then you will be forced to do more structural repair work.
If you are faced with a large portion of drywall damage due to water than the first step is to get rid of all of the affected material. If necessary use a handsaw or other tool to make the job easier. While doing this, be very observant to spot, any mold or mildew. If you find any then this material must be removed immediately as well. When you are done, thoroughly clean all surfaces.
After you have completed this, check for any moisture in the area that you may have missed earlier and make sure that it is completely dry before you begin any patch work. If you are replacing a large hole then you will need to use a plywood backing board. This is to give the new drywall somewhere to be fastened to. After the patch has been secured, you can begin with applying drywall tape, and drywall mud. After the mudding has dried finish it off by sanding which will leave the surface both flat and smooth. Now it is ready for painting.
While it is tempting to want to just clean up the damaged drywall., you are far better off ensuring that the plumbing or roofing leak has been taken care of first. A problem like this will not resolve itself and is well worth taking the extra time and money to ensure that, you are not faced with a larger expense or project later on. If you are unable to find the source of the leak your self, please do not hesitate to get professional help.
For further details on drywall water damage repair and other tips and tricks, be sure to visit http://waterdamageadvisors.com.
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