5 Things To Do When Walls Are Water Damaged

You can use a number of materials and chemicals and yet, water can infiltrate your ceilings and walls. Once water damage is done, you suddenly have two things to worry about. The first is to stop the leakage and the second one is to fix whatever is water damaged. Water damage repair isn’t as daunting as you would think though. You can take steps to get rid of water damage inside walls by yourself or you can connect to a contractor to get the damage fixed. Here are five things you should do when walls are water damaged.

Find the Leak

This is crucial because irrespective of what you do to fix water-damaged walls, a leaky pipe or outlet will eventually ruin it as well. Start from the basics, i.e., finding the water leak. Walls may get water damaged due to water leaking either from the ceiling or from behind the walls. You can spot visible signs of leaks such as dripping water, moisture, or failing structure. Drywalls usually get sagged due to the weight of the water. Water damage over time turns into coffee-color stains.

Locating the source of the leak isn’t easy all the time. Remove the drywall and check what’s wet or dripping. Beware of the mold; some types of molds can be toxic if present in large quantities and require professional help to clean it. You must always wear a dust mask, gloves, and protective goggles as a precaution.

Dry Out

Moisture can cause more damage over time. It is advisable to use dehumidifiers or fans to get rid of the moisture. Once you clear the moisture, you can proceed with removing the damaged portion to carry out water damage repair.

Remove the Water-Damaged Portion

Now that you have located the area of water damage and cleared the moisture as well, it is time to remove the part of the wall that is affected. In case of a small leak, check whether the drywalls are structurally sound. For anything else that is damaged extensively, you can use a hammer or a wrecking bar to remove it. Depending upon the material used and the location, there are a few other types of equipment you can use to remove damaged portions of the wall.

Replace the Damaged Portion

Now it is time to replace the damaged portion. If little portions of the walls are damaged, you piece off the drywall that fits the section you removed. If a large portion of the wall is damaged, consider replacing the wall entirely. There are a lot of nitty-gritty things to consider here and if you are confused or don’t seem to make the most of the information available on the Internet, simply hire a contractor to get it done.

Prime and Paint

After you are done diagnosing the water damage inside walls and repairing/replacing it, now it’s time to prime and paint it. Priming involves applying a preparatory coating on the wall to ensure adhesion. You can pick the color of the walls during the painting phase. Note that all these tasks are strenuous before you can jump right in.

Get in Touch with a Contractor

You can repair leaks or water damage inside walls using DIY methods but not everyone is up to the task. Different scenarios require different approaches that you might not be aware of. That is where iPaint Painting comes into the big picture. From repairing drywall to painting the house or a commercial property as well as water damage repair, contact them to take care of everything.