Repairing Walls After Water Damage

8/1/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Mandarin Provides Tips for Repairing Water Damaged Walls.

If your walls and ceilings show signs of water damage, such as discoloration or stains, it's possible that you had a broken pipe or a leaky roof. While you may be able to repair minor drywall damage on your own, more serious damage may require professional assistance to ensure proper and prompt repairs. It's important to address water damage promptly to prevent further damage, mold growth, or structural issues. Seeking professional help can ensure that repairs are done quickly and correctly, helping to protect your home and your family.

The first step in restoring your walls and ceilings is to stop the problem that caused the damage in the first place. If you don’t take care of the source, you’ll constantly be dealing with water damage. This is obvious for large leaks, but don’t let small leaks fool you.

Drywall is very porous and excess moisture can cause it to lose its structural integrity very quickly. While you can repair some drywall, you can’t salvage drywall that’s blistered or sagging. In these cases, you may need to replace large portions of the drywall. When you remove damaged drywall, it’s important to make sure that the insulation and studs behind the drywall are dry. You may need to let the inside of the wall dry out for a few days before replacing the drywall.

When you start to tackle water damaged drywall, you need to watch out for mold. If the drywall is structurally sound but mold is present, you’ll need to kill the mold by scrubbing it off.  A diluted bleach solution will kill the mold, but it won’t damage the drywall.

If you plan to cover water stains in the drywall, again, you need to make sure the water leak has been identified and corrected.  Then you can begin the process of covering the stains. Start by scraping off any loose paint, then sanding the area until it’s smooth and free of imperfections. You can then cover the stain with paint.

Making minor repairs to drywall can be a simple do it yourself project and will give you a feeling of pride in your handiwork. Major repairs are another matter altogether.  When the water damage that you’ve suffered has affected large sections of walls or ceilings, you need to contact a professional.

At SERVPRO of Mandarin, our goal is to restore your property to its pre-damage condition, making it look "Like it never even happened." As a locally owned and operated company, we prioritize providing exceptional customer service. We offer 24-hour emergency services to the Jacksonville and St. Johns County beach areas, and our team has the necessary training and expertise to handle all your restoration and cleaning needs.

For additional information about our company, visit our website or call us at 904-636-0044.