How to Dry Out Water Damaged Sheetrock & Repair Drywall on Walls & Ceilings After a Leak in Ventura, CA

Drywall easily absorbs water. Once water has penetrated your drywall you only have a short amount of time to dry and treat it before it becomes too damaged and needs to be replaced. Drywall repair can be a sufficient solution if you’re able to dry the drywall quick enough. However if moisture sets in your drywall too long, it is best to replace it. For those who have detected the water damage soon enough, McKay’s Painting will share how to dry the drywall fast before any damage or mold occurs.

How to Dry Out Walls & Ceilings After a Leak

Step 1. Your first step is determining how bad the water damage is. Surface damage is obvious, but your main concern is how deep the water penetrated. Additionally, you will want to locate the source of the water damage. Sometimes the water can be fed through carpet to drywall so you may need to look for the source of the water around the carpet. To help determine how deep the water soaked into the drywall, you can use a moisture meter.
Step 2. If the water damage is minimal, in most cases you can just repair by painting the walls with flat or a semi-gloss paint. This way you reseal and protect the drywall. If the water damage is minor and near the floor, it will help speed up the drying process if you remove the baseboards. Once the drywall is dry you can repaint the wall.
Step 3. If the water soaked deep into the drywall you will need to use fans and dehumidifiers to dry and remove all of the moisture locked inside the drywall. Before you begin drying the drywall, spray the drywall down with bleach to kill any possible mold or fungus that may be developing inside the wall. You will most likely need to rent the higher grade dehumidifiers and fans to properly remove all of the moisture inside the drywall. For drywall moisture damage you will want to set the dehumidifier at 115 degrees Fahrenheit and around 14% humidity to dry the drywall properly. Place the fans near the drywall that was wall exposed to the water. When you’re using the dehumidifier and fans, you will want the room that was affected airtight. This means to seal up all windows and doors with masking tape and plastic sheets. Depending on how much water exposure the drywall received and how many walls were affected, you may need to run the fans and dehumidifiers for three days.
Step 4. After the wall appears to be dry, use the moisture meter to ensure that the drywall is completely dry. Once the drywall is dry and is not bulging or looks damaged, you can repaint the wall. Make sure to prime the wall first before applying paint over the drywall. Anytime drywall is exposed to water you will always want to prime the wall to prevent damages and mold growth.

Drywall Repair, Replacement & More in Ventura, Ojai, Newbury Park, Westlake Village, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, Agoura Hills & Santa Barbara California

If the drywall has been exposed to moisture for an extended period of time, call a professional drywall repair and clean up specialist. In most cases the drywall will need to be removed carefully and replaced. If your home has drywall damage from water or fire contact, McKay’s Painting can repair or replace your drywall as well as mud, texture, finish and paint it! Contact us today.