Water Damage
A big question homeowners often ask is “does wet drywall always need to be replaced?” and the answer is almost always yes. Water stains, discoloration, bubbling, peeling paint,. and softened areas are all signs of water damage and are not nice to look at.
Yes, usually water damaged drywall can be repaired by using a paint scraper to remove all the peeling paint, then sanding the wall with increasingly small grit. Finally, prime and paint the drywall and wait until it's dry.
"You can't just coat over a water stain, because it will bleed through—you must first use a water or oil-based primer." A stained area that is soft or saggy to the touch means that the drywall has been impacted and needs to be replaced prior to painting, notes Lacroix.
If you paint over wet wall texture, you risk harming the texture, smudging the paint, or damaging the finished project. There are some people and professionals who choose to paint over wall texture before it's fully dry. In the sections below, I will share several reasons why I think this isn't the best idea.
If you don't replace water-damaged, moldy drywall, it could end up compromising the structure of your home. It's also a health hazard, and in some cases, the only way to get rid of toxic black mold on drywall is to remove the affected panels completely.
If your home has experienced heavy flooding, chances are your drywall has absorbed a significant amount of water. In that case, it's almost impossible to revert your drywall to its original condition. If left untreated, heavily soaked drywall can deform or even collapse.
With the damage scraped away and drywall sealed, you'll have a clean surface to patch with drywall mud. Apply in thin layers and allow each to dry thoroughly before sanding and applying the next coat. As you make this repair to water damaged drywall, the first coat of drywall will fill hollows and holes.
On average, it takes three days to completely dry wet drywall.
To cover the stain, you will need a specialist stain blocker (such as the Zinsser Cover Stain) or an oil-based paint. This creates a waterproof barrier that the water stain won't be able to penetrate. If you already have an oil-based undercoat or gloss at home, you can save yourself money by using these.
The 24-hour drying time recommendation can be applied to nearly all factors. Some manufacturers will bring down that number to 12 hours if a few shortcuts are applied to help speed up drying time without affecting the finished product.
Mold From Water Leaks
Leaking water doesn't just happen when something big like a pipe bursts. Something as simple as a dripping faucet going unnoticed for months can cause a leak. While the water damage won't always be apparent. It can still cause mold to grow inside walls or under flooring.
The 48-72 hour window is critical to prevent mold growth as it usually takes 24 to 48 hours for mold to germinate and grow. Once fungus gets a hold on a drywall surface, it can be the breeding ground for thousands of spores and quickly spread in the air around the wall with every passing hour.
Even though drywall is pretty sturdy, it can be significantly damaged if it gets wet for too long. If moisture damage isn't handled right away, the drywall's structural integrity will be compromised, causing it to become soft, weak, and mold-prone.
Regularly check the dehumidifier's collection well, and reposition the air movers as necessary throughout the process to be sure to get everything. Use your moisture meter to track your progress. It takes around 3-5 days to completely dry wet drywall, so patience is key, but you should be seeing consistent progress.
Use Borax To Scrub Away The Mold.
You'll want to use 1 cup of Borax for every gallon of water you use. Take a vacuum and remove as much freestanding mold as you can. Then scrub the mold with your Borax solution until the signs of it disappear from the drywall.
While it's tempting to think interior house painting or exterior house painting will solve the problem, it sadly won't. Painting over mold is a waste of time and money because it'll reoccur if you don't treat the actual cause; excessive moisture.
It's possible to clean surface mold from drywall but you'll most likely need to remove the area with mold on the drywall because it typically spreads to the back of the drywall, too.
Mold discovered on the interior walls of a rental is an environmental hazard that can cause concern among tenants. Not only does it look unpleasant, but exposure to toxic mold is a health hazard that could cause health problems such as respiratory issues, rashes and chronic fatigue.
Are unsightly water stains building up? If so, you might be wondering if you can just paint over them. Well, as long as the drywall is not structurally damaged, you're in luck. With proper cleaning and repair, adding a fresh coat of paint will make your walls like-new without breaking the bank.
Applying paint onto wet drywall mud will likely cause the mud to dislodge. While gently dabbing paint might not harm the mud significantly, it's highly likely that the paint layer itself may come off eventually, creating an unsightly effect.
Apply a waterproof seal
It's good practice to apply a coat of damp seal paint before adding your chosen colour. Not only does it give you peace of mind, but it also helps prevent any dampness from seeping into your walls.