Dealing With Water Damaged Walls
How To Deal With Walls Damaged by Water
Walls can be one of the parts of a home structure that can be severely affected by water damage or flood water inundation. For one, dry walls, can absorb water and immediately be a good place for mold growth. It can rot easily as well if left untreated.
So what should a homeowner do when their home walls get water damaged?
The North Dakota State University website published information on how homeowners can deal with water inundating their interior walls. In their write-up, they emphasized that a water damaged wall can be repaired.
“The drying time will depend partially on the amount of dry air that can circulate through the studding and wall materials. Plaster and paneling often can be saved, but you need to get air circulating in the wall cavities to dry the studs and sills. Remove drywall, laminated paneling and plaster to at least the level the floodwaters reached. You may need to remove more drywall and paneling because it can warp above the water level. You may be able to drain plaster walls adequately by removing the baseboard and breaking out plaster and lath at the bottom of the wall. The baseboard can cover the openings later. You may salvage some paneling if it is allowed to dry slowly. Remove the baseboard from the paneled walls and pry off individual sheets of paneling. Prop the sheets against the wall to dry. However, don’t let them dry in sunlight because they could warp.”
Act immediately
A water damaged wall should never be left untreated. In its website, WikiHow came up with a guide on dealing with water damaged home interiors. One of the points they emphasized is to remove moisture from the walls and ceilings as soon as it is safe to do so.
“Remove moisture from walls and ceilings. If the wall has been water damaged by a flood, you will need to remove all of the wet material, including insulation, wood by-products, and anything else porous. (1) Drywall is incredibly porous and should be replaced at the soonest sign of water damage. (2) Remove the wallboard to a foot above the watermark. (3) You can drain walls by removing the baseboard and drilling holes into the floor. (4) Make sure to check the interior of the wall for any hidden mold growth.”
What to do with water damaged walls
Water damaged walls are not just an unpleasant sight – it is also something that should immediately be addressed as it could undermine the structure, and prompt mold growth. The procedure is basically the same if the cause is a leak in the roof or ceiling, or a huge flooding that has soaked an area of the wall.
University of Wisconsin’s National Safety Database has provided homeowners some tips on how to deal with the matter. In their guideline they specifically mentioned that nothing should be done until the electricity and the water sources have all been turned off from its main source.
“Wash out mud, dirt and debris as soon as possible with a hose and mop cloth or sponge. Start cleaning from the top floor or upper limit of flooding and work downward. Remove wallboard, plaster and paneling to at least the flood level. Wallboard acts like a sponge when wet. If soaked by contaminated floodwater, it can be a permanent health hazard and should be removed. If most of the wallboard was soaked by clean rainwater, consider cutting a 4- to 12-inch-high section from the bottom and top of walls. This creates a “chimney effect” of air movement for faster drying.”
The rest of the instructions can be found here.
Step-by-step procedure
Home improvement website The Family Handyman meantime walked homeowners through tips on dealing with any type of water damage inside their home. One of the tips they mentioned in their online article is dealing with a water damaged dry wall. Read about indicators of water damage behind walls.
“How much drywall should you replace if you have drywall water damage? Generally speaking, if drywall has swelled or sagged 3/8 of an inch or more from the baseline, then you need to replace the entire sheet. Otherwise, you can cut out and water damage repair the water-stained portion. And remember to check the insulation behind the drywall for damage as well.”
The rest of their tips can be found here.
How to Fix a Water-Damaged Wall?
Repair the wall ASAP
In its official blog, home improvement store True Value mentioned how important it is to immediately address water damage on walls. In their write-up they mentioned that homeowners should never put off working on the walls as it can affect the structure of the home.
“Water can be destructive. When it meets the drywall that makes up your interior walls and ceilings it can make them look unsightly — or worse, it can damage wallboard enough that it collapses and falls apart, which can cause huge homeowner headaches.”
Check out the full article they published here.
When unsure as to how to proceed with repairing the water damaged walls, it is important to immediately get in touch with a water damage restoration specialist. This way, further damage can be prevented, and the damaged area can be professionally restored as soon as possible.
Dealing with stains on the wall
FamilyEducation.com also published in its website its share of tips for households who may be dealing with water damaged interiors. In their write-up they mentioned that water damage can also cause stains on the walls. In this light, they shared some ways on dealing with this discoloration.
“Water damage typically causes streaks and blotches on walls and ceilings that range in color from dark yellow to brown. They’re caused by substances in the drywall or plaster that have leached to the surface. If the surfaces themselves aren’t damaged, you can paint over these stains. But you’ll need to seal the area first to prevent further leaching. Wash the area with either a detergent solution or a product designed for cleaning paint. Trisodium phosphate or TSP works well. (For more on TSP, turn to Dealing with Mold). Try to remove as much of the stain as you can without soaking the surface. Let the area dry for a couple of days. Next, apply a stain-blocker primer or sealer. You can find it at paint, hardware, and home improvement stores. When it’s dry, go ahead and paint.”
Water damaged walls should be treated immediately to avoid further damage and repair expenses. If the damage is extensive, or if unsure of how to go about the repair, it will be best to seek the help of restoration professionals.
San Diego Water Damage Restoration
If you recently experienced flood damage or water damage, the team at Mighty Dry is here to help. Contact us today to get started restoring your home or business.
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