Drywall is a building material used to make walls and ceilings. Whether it’s from a flood or a leak, wet drywall can cause a myriad of problems and could result in some pretty costly repairs.
Read on to learn what you should do if your drywall is wet and tips to help you choose the best drywall repair service.
Try to Dry Out Your Wet Drywall ASAP
Drywall can soak up water like a sponge, and the damage can spread quickly if it isn’t stopped. If your wet drywall is from a leak or burst pipe, turn off the main water source to your home as soon as possible.
You can speed up the drying process by opening all of the windows and doors in your home. Use ceiling and box fans to move air around the wet walls, and use a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture from the air.
Remove all baseboards and molding to keep moisture from getting behind the trim. Store them in a safe, dry place until you can get everything repaired. Remove paintings and artwork from your walls so they don’t get damaged.
It takes time for drywall to become completely dry, so be patient as you wait for everything to dry out. A moisture meter can help you determine just how wet the drywall is.
How to Fix Wet Drywall
When it comes to wet drywall repair, it’s best to call in the professionals. The process to fix wet drywall requires skill and patience, and a lot goes into making things right after your drywall gets wet.
The drywall repair service will determine the extent of the damage by using a moisture meter that can test for the presence of water. Some companies may also use an infrared camera to find any water that might be hidden behind the walls.
If the walls are not insulated, high capacity air movers will be placed along the wall every few feet to remove water from the surface. These tools evaporate the water from drywall so that it can be restored.
If your walls are insulated, all of the insulation will need to be removed and replaced. In some cases, the repair technician may be able to cut away the bottom portion of the drywall and just install new sections where the damage affected the material.
Staying Dry
The most important step in drywall repair is to monitor the walls for any remaining moisture. Use a moisture meter and check the walls at least once every day until the meter reads zero.
Complete removal of the wet drywall should eliminate the problem. However, if just a small section of the drywall is replaced, mold and moisture have the potential to spread to other areas.
Protect Your Walls with Drywall Repair
There are lots of reasons why you might end up with wet drywall. Do your best to dry it out as much as you can, then contact the pros to help you make things right.
For more information about our services and how we can help, contact us today.