Sometimes know as sheetrock or gypsum board, drywall is used to for finishing walls and ceilings in homes and other buildings. If you have a drywall water damage repair job due to a burst pipe, a flood or other cause you need to give it immediate attention. Early treatment will give you the best chance for making a complete restoration.
First identify the extent of the water damage by inspecting the area for stains and softness. You also want to pinpoint the source of the problem. Find that leaking pipe. The dripping water may be coming from quite a distance away and is certainly an indication of a much greater problem.
If you know there is water leaking, but you can not find the source yourself, then you should get professional help right away. These types of problems only get worse the longer they are left untreated.
Once the scope has been established, cut away the water damaged drywall and to start getting air through the area. You will want to use an industrial fan for this as well as a dehumidifier to pull moisture away from the water soaked wall. If moisture can still be detected after twelve hours then you will need to remove more of the wall to allow for greater airflow. Your main concern at this point is the development of mold, which can for easily if all of the excess moisture is not extracted. Mold creates a much more expensive problem as well as serious health risks.
Once the area is clean and dry, it is time to put up new drywall in the area that you cut away. Try to make as tight a fit as possible. You may need to attach a piece of wood to the surrounding studs or joists so that you have a surface to screw the drywall to. After the drywall is fastened, finish by taping and mudding the seams. Follow up by sanding and painting.
The big concerns with drywall water damage repair, is being absolutely certain that you are not overlooking the true extent of the damage. Sagging or wet drywall is easy to identify and cut away. But there may be greater structural damage or moisture left in the surrounding area. Even if you plan to do the bulk of the drywall yourself, you may sill wish to call a water damage specialist to ensure that the structural integrity of the walls has not been jeopardized and that there is no mold that has formed or will form. While nobody likes to be told that a repair job is more expensive or bigger than they had first thought, if you don’t fix it completely now, it could turn into an even greater and costlier problem some time in the future.