Water damaged drywall is a problem that you need to address as early as you can, so here’s when to replace water damaged wall. Not all wall damages related to water ask for replacements. There are minor damages that can be dealt with, with little effort.
On the other hand, significant water damages may require a much extensive repair, and in most cases, it leads to replacement. As a homeowner, you will always strive to save money as much as possible, and knowing how to identify if a wall needs replacement can be of great benefit.
Signs Of Water Damaged Wall In Need Of Replacement
There are a couple of signs and hints of water damage in your home that you can identify right away, and there are some that require a much deeper investigation. If an inexperienced and uninformed person would do an inspection, there might be some signs that they will miss.
For you to clearly and easily identify which water damaged walls need replacement and which do not, here are the signs you need to look for to know what you must do.
1. Discoloration
Let us start from the undeniable sign to look for. Discoloration and stains are pretty obvious to see in water damaged walls.
On the other hand, significant discoloration means that the walls have been penetrated by water for a very long time. This can be a sign that you can see among others, which is pretty easy to see. Discoloration and stains also disrupt the wall’s harmony and room accent, so changing walls that have been discolored on a significant scale really warrants replacements.
2. Peeling and bubbling
The peeling and bubbling of wall paints aren’t lovely to see. When the wall has been exposed to water for a very long time, it can cause pigments to peel off. The separation of paint can also signify that there must have been a leak that you must also deal with.
Even if you repaint the wall, if the source of damage is still there, it would just continue to ruin the newly painted wall, thus making your effort in vain. Removing the water damaged wall and taking care of the source is still the best method.
3. Bulges and bumps
Prolonged water exposure can make the wall’s structure deteriorate, causing bulges and bumps to appear. These bulges and bumps can only mean that the wall structure is not sound anymore. Lumps and bumps caused by water damage are soft and can easily crumble.
Repairing walls like these can mean more harm than good, so it’s better to replace them as early as you can. Bulges and bumps can also originate from poor construction, so replacing them with a better structure is your best option. Patching them up can also ruin the wall’s appearance and the room’s ambient.
4. Major mold growth
Molds are not uncommon to water damaged walls. They can grow where there is moisture, and it can harm your family’s health.
Molds aren’t lovely to look at, so getting rid of them is something you must do. Mold-infected walls can mean a continuous water source or moisture in place, so replacing them with waterproof walls and checking for the source is a good idea.
5. Warped and disfigured walls
Who likes to see warped and disfigured walls in their homes? No one.
These unsightly damages warrant replacement as early as you can. These warps and disfigurement also indicate that the walls are already structurally unsound and can also cause incidents.
Water seeping into walls continuously causes the wall to sag and eventually be disfigured. The water weakens the wall’s structure and therefore warrants a replacement.
Does water damaged drywall need to be replaced?
Of course! Drywalls are not meant to be exposed to water for an extended period.
Prolonged water exposure can make the drywall’s integrity degrade and will eventually be destroyed. Replacing water damaged drywall and applying preventive measures is something you must always seek to achieve.
How to tell if water damage is new or old
Telling water damage age is almost identical to how you identify the age of a tree. As water permeates the wall’s surface, it leaves rings.
New water damages have wet, dark spots. Old water damages leave dry rings similar to a tree. The older the damage is, the more and broader rings it has.
Another thing is the growth of mold. Molds do not grow immediately after the wall is exposed to damage.
It can take days for it to cultivate. If the mold growth is more expansive and is already far from the source, it can only mean that the wall has been exposed to water damage for a long time.
Conclusion
The signs and hints provided will help you on when to replace water damaged wall. Walls are a very crucial part of a house and something you want to be in tiptop shape, so if you ever see the signs of water damage, act quickly and do what needs to be done.