Those who want to know how to tell if drywall is water damaged should check out this article that’ll tell you the common signs that your drywall is damaged. Also, this worthwhile read will offer you some tips to avoid the same problem again. Ensure to stay until the end of this read!
3 Signs That Your Drywall Is Damaged
When you have wet drywall, it’s usually because of natural causes like typhoons, storms, or the pipe must’ve burst. If this problem’s not addressed, this can cause damages to your drywall, like having molds.
Here’s a list of signs that your drywall is damaged after some water emergencies. Use this as a checklist to inspect your wall for problems:
Discoloration
It’s a common sign of water damage. If you inspect for damages, look for streaks that run down the wall coming from the ceiling.
This streak can be short or long-running down to the floor. The discoloration is usually combined with softened drywall. You should feel for soft spots throughout the discolored area of the wall.
Softened drywall
This sign’s usually disregarded and missed by many people, who should also be prioritized. Having a softened wall happens when the backside of the wall gets soaked, but the exterior looks normal.
It’d help if you pressed it against the areas of the drywall that might have some water damage. If it becomes depressed or buckles, you might have unseen water damage.
Note: Stay vigilant for foul smells caused by rotting, and once this happens, call for a professional to resolve the problem.
Bubbling or cracked paint
Bubbles happen when the water collects right behind the paint, and pools stretch the paint on the surface. If you are looking for signs, this is usually easily distinguished, but there is no indication of how much water damage occurred behind the scene.
When you see large or small water bubbles, it would be best to leave it alone and call for a professional to accomplish your problem since they have the proper tools and equipment for the trapped water and minor insurance damage.
Note: If you do these things alone and don’t know how to handle this problem, there’s an excellent chance this could lead the drywall to create molds.
Tips to avoid water damage
Step #1. Inspect for severe issues
Observe if there are damaged materials for mildew or mold. When there’s a mold, it can grow in the right conditions for about 24 hours.
For the long term, like mold caused by condensation. If you find mold and mildew issues, you need to be careful since these materials can be toxic to humans and damage materials like an infestation. For small molds, cut out the affected material, place it in a plastic bag and throw it away.
Note: Mold can be found in hidden areas (inside walls or under the floor)
Step #2. Dry out the damaged area
If there’s moisture from your water damaged drywall, get rid of it right away since this moisture causes more damage to your wall. For small leaks, this is not difficult, but should for this instance, you should still be thorough.
We highly recommend that you use a fan to circulate air to the affected area. Consider renting a giant dehumidifier for more significant leaks to dry out the wall and other materials if you don’t want any moisture left in your water damaged area.
Step #3. Remove and throw out damaged porous materials
When you have porous materials (fabric, insulation, carpet, and similar items), cut them out and throw the materials away. Since the water that affects the porous material causes it to warp and shrink, and will severely be damaged.
Note: Unsealed cement, wood, and drywall are also porous materials.
Step #4. Replace damaged wood
When your wood’s warped, rotting, and has developed mildew or mold problems, it will need to be replaced. Pry apart the damaged wood and clean it before replacing them.
Note: Be careful when you replace the wood while doing this procedure to avoid water damage.
Step #5. Measure and replace drywall
When you’re about to replace it, you will need to cut out the water damaged portion and remember to look for damage behind the drywall.
Step #6. Inspect and replace exterior siding
Look for water that seeps in behind your wall that causes permanent damage to your vulnerable materials. You will need to replace the siding of the drywall before the rot settles in.
Step #7. Paint and caulk
You need to paint or stain for the final touch and apply some nice coat. It is an essential step for new materials to minimize future water damages in the future.
Conclusion
We’re glad we can help you on how to tell if drywall is water damaged. Ensure to have a checklist of signs that your drywall might have.
We highly recommend that you call for a professional so that it doesn’t become a huge issue in the long run. They can also address water emergencies that will save you money and time.