Wet Drywall Repair
Find The Source
The first step to repairing your drywall is tracking down the source of the water leak. If you don’t find the source right away, it’s probable that no matter how much you repair your drywall, it will continue to have water damage problems.
The source needs to be located before the repairs can begin.
Remove Damaged Sections of Drywall
If you haven’t found the source of the water leak, this next step can be helpful in spotting it. Remove any sections of water-damaged drywall and continue your search for the leak. It should be a lot easier to find with the affected area gone.
When you remove the water-damaged drywall, you may find mold growth in the area, which can be potentially hazardous. Removing the mold should be handled professionally to avoid any dangers to your safety.
Repair The Leak
Once the source has been found, it can then be repaired. How to do this will depend on what the source of the water damage is. It’s a good idea to call a professional to do these repairs, as they can be complicated and require a wide range of tools, as well as training.
Replace With New Drywall
Once the damaged drywall is removed, you can start working on replacing it. This is an incredibly involved process, starting with measuring the new drywall so that it fits impeccably.
Then, take out any drywall screens that were anchoring the old sheets to the studs. If the new section is an abnormal shape, you can use a utility knife or drywall saw to cut it based on your measurements.
Line up the new panel with the studs and secure it using drywall screws and a power driver. Then, use joint tape to cover up the seams where the panels meet.
Apply joint compound over the tape with a putty knife and let it dry. Finally, you can sand the compound down until the seams match the drywall panels.
