Things You Need to Know About Drywall

If you’re a homeowner, you know the important role that drywall, also known as plasterboard, sheetrock, and wallboard, plays in your home. After all, drywall is commonly used in buildings as a construction material. Typically, it’s used as a labor and time-saving alternative to lath and plaster for interior walls and ceilings in a building. Unfortunately, like anything we use as a construction material, it is susceptible to damage—especially water damage.

Mr. Handyman knows that unforeseen events happen all the time Like when you come home one day to find your basement has flooded and soaked your drywall. Or a leaky pipe that causes water damage to the walls and floors of your home. 

If the drywall in your home gets wet, it can create major problems for the structural integrity of your home, including mold and general decay. If you want to learn more about repairing wet drywall or if your home has suffered water damage that requires wet drywall repair services, this article will help you understand what you need to do to minimize the damage.

What Happens When Drywall Gets Wet?

Wet drywall can cause a lot of problems in your home because once it’s wet, it can expand up to ten times its original size, During expansion, it also loses strength. This makes repairing drywall water damage as soon as possible an essential task for any homeowner.

If drywall is exposed to water long enough, it will eventually lose its structural integrity, causing it to become soft and weak. Water-damaged drywall won’t be able to provide your home with the structural integrity it needs. This could cause the drywall to fall, break off, or cave in, causing serious safety issues for you and your family.

In addition to these structural problems, mold can also develop both behind and on the surface of the wet drywall, creating an unsafe environment for everyone in the home. Water-damaged drywall can hold moisture for a long time, which will cause it to weaken and eventually grow toxic black mold. If your drywall has been exposed to water, and you need help figuring out what to do, contact Mr. Handyman! We are experts when it comes to wet drywall repair and replacement.

Should You Replace Wet Drywall?

When drywall gets wet, many homeowners wonder whether repairing drywall water damage or doing a complete drywall replacement is the best option.  To help answer this question, we recommend testing your drywall for moisture. This can be done in a few different ways. For example, non-penetrating moisture meters can be used to get an idea of how wet your drywall is. You can use a screwdriver to test moisture levels. 

This method requires pushing a screwdriver against the drywall. If it easily penetrates the drywall, then the moisture levels are fairly high. You should act quickly to have the drywall replaced. You can test the interior of your wall with a penetrating moisture meter. This will help you understand just how much moisture has penetrated the drywall. This test will also check the surrounding insulation for moisture.

If there is a considerable amount of moisture present, wet drywall repair replacing your drywall and insulation is the best way to avoid any issues in the future.

How Long Does It Take to Dry Out Water Damage?

The length of time it takes to dry out water-damaged drywall can depend a lot on the drying methods you use, as well as on the climate where you live. For example, if you use a quality dehumidifier and live in a desert climate, things will dry out much faster than if you live in a damp, humid climate.

You can accelerate the drying process by removing baseboards, sealing up the room, and running industrial fans and a high-quality dehumidifier. The time required for wet drywall repair can vary, especially if there is mold growth, which will require mold removal and remediated service.

How Do You Fix Drywall That Got Wet?

When it comes to drywall repair for water damage, the extent of the repairs is often determined by the amount of water and exposure time. If the exposure to water was minimal and moisture hadn’t gotten too deep into the material, the drywall repair for water damage shouldn’t be too extensive.

Drywall that has experienced minimal exposure to water can be repaired by cleaning the area, clearing and scraping any flaking paint, and then sanding it until it's smooth. You can then prime and paint the surface of the drywall to cover any imperfections. While this can solve minor moisture exposure, this type of repair won’t do for drywall with extensive water damage. A complete replacement will be needed to ensure you don’t have any issues later. 

Is Repairing Drywall Worth It?

If your drywall has been exposed to a good amount of water (gallons) and/or exposed to water for more than 30 minutes, then replacing it rather than trying to repair it is the best option. If your drywall does need to be replaced, hiring a professional who is experienced with drywall removal and replacement will ensure you don’t run into problems later. . If mold is present, a professional will know how to remove the damaged drywall without spreading mold spores throughout your home, which could cause health problems for you and your family.

If your drywall has been exposed to water or damaged and you’re not sure what to do, call your local Mr. Handyman for help. We are experts at wet drywall repair and replacement. Our professionals are experienced in  dealing with all sorts of drywall problems, from minor damage to full-scale wall replacements. We can also do crown molding and baseboard installation and repair, as well as any other handyman work you need around the house. One call to Mr. Handyman can really put a dent in your project to-do list. And with our Neighborly Done Right Promise™ you have the peace of mind knowing all of our work will be done to your complete satisfaction. Give us a call or  request a free estimate online today, and find out why thousands of homeowners in your area trust Mr. Handyman with their home repair projects.