When it comes to owning a home, there are a lot of surprises. In some cases, the surprises are good and in many other cases, they are not very good. Understanding how to handle scenarios like water damage is huge for a homeowner when it comes to saving money. If you can tackle a project on your own, you will likely save yourself hundreds or even thousands of dollars. In some cases, leaks happen or water intrusion occurs in the home. Water entering the home could end up damaging your drywall. However, you might not have to worry too much. Does wet drywall always need to be replaced? That depends on how fast you can dry the drywall, and how much water gets on the drywall.
Let’s take a look below at what can happen if your drywall gets wet.
How Do I Know It Is Wet
Believe it or not, identifying wet walls due to their being exposed to water can be fairly simple. You will notice things like water stains, and possible mold growth and even the drywall feels softer. Let’s take a look below at all of the warning signs.
- Water stains or spots – you will notice some yellowing of the drywall. This usually means there was a slow leak of some sort. The darker the spot the more likely you can trace its origin.
- Peeling of paint or wallpaper – an obvious sign of water damage to your drywall is the flaking or peeling up of your wallpaper or paint.
- Bubbling – if your paint or wallpaper begins to bubble, this is caused by water soaking through the drywall.
- Discoloration – walls will be lighter if they have a darker color paint on them, and darker if they are a light color or white.
- Mold – when drywall gets wet, it becomes a breeding ground for mold to grow. The drywall is moist and attracts mold spores. You will notice a musty smell and see dark stains on the surface of your drywall. Mold on your drywall is a huge health risk and should be handled immediately.
- Crumbling walls – if your walls are breaking down, the water damage is substantial. The structural integrity of your home is affected greatly and the drywall must be replaced.
Will I Need To Replace It
Most homeowners would rather replace a piece of wet drywall than risk having issues down the road. However, in some instances, the wet drywall does not necessarily have to be replaced. Let’s take a look below at when you can save your walls.
- Drying the drywall – if you can dry your drywall in a quick manner, you can save the wall. The drywall is porous and will continue to soak up any water around it. The quicker you can dry it the more likely you can save it.
- Remove the water – the sooner you can remove the water source the more likely you can save the wall. The moment you notice there is a water leak or spill, take care of it, or you will need to replace the drywall.
- Amount of water – if you have a lot of water then it is highly likely to damage restoration will be needed. You will be replacing the water-damaged drywall if the small leaks have been occurring for a long time.
Other Recommended Maintenance
Now that you know about wet drywall and if it needs to be replaced, let’s take a look at a few other areas of maintenance in the home. One of those is caulking the baseboards. You may notice that as the home ages, the caulk is cracking or peeling so it may be time to caulk them again. It is a fairly easy process that can be completed by a homeowner.
Another area is cleaning matte-painted walls. This type of paint is great for covering imperfections or taking off crayons and other items that a child (or adult) might have used. To take off the mishap, use a sponge, dish soap, or magic eraser to name a few.
Lastly, it might be time to change out the ceiling fan to a new one. However, keep in mind that if your new ceiling fan doesn’t come with a downrod, you may need to order one from the manufacturer. Unfortunately, they are not universal.
When Do I Call A Professional
Finding a leak that causes damage to your drywall is very frustrating for any homeowner. The extent of the damage could be very costly. However, if you are handy with tools and have the right ones, you could complete your home improvement project of replacing wet drywall on your own.
If you prefer to call a professional and aren’t sure who to call, reach out to your local home inspection team. Then can conduct some thermal imaging or use a penetrating moisture meter to help find the water leak that caused your wet drywall. Also, they can recommend the right reputable contractor to complete the repairs.
Conclusion
Homeowners that take notice of changes to their walls and ceilings are going to be better off when discover that water has infiltrated the drywall. Also, the quicker you can detect an issue, the more likely you are to save the drywall. Before you call on a damage restoration team, you will want to reach out to your local home inspection team. They can inspect the entire home and locate the area where water has caused the damage. Call on House Inspection Associates to conduct a full home inspection in the Virginia, D.C., and Maryland areas.
