Always start by ensuring the cause of the water has been fixed. Remove any access water you see, followed by removing furniture and other items from the room. Blot the wall. Use fans, ventilation, or a dehumidifier to dry the drywall as quickly as possible. The faster you manage to dry the drywall, the less severe the damage will be. Always check for mold.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n In this blog post, I will explain the best way to dry the drywall. This involves more than actual drying. I will also answer some of the questions I get about wet drywall, but first I will start with how you can sport if your drywall has water damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are many signs that tell you your drywall has water damage. Some are obvious and easy to see, and others take some time to show up. If you notice standing water near your drywall, there\u2019s a good chance it has water damage. But also when you do not see any water present, the water can be behind the drywall, and not visible from the outside. Here are some other signs to look for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the most apparent signs of drywall water damage is discoloration. It may appear as brown or yellow stripes down the wall, circular stains, or large sections can appear discolored. The longer the water sits and the more severe the damage, the darker the staining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The best way I have found to cover this discoloration is with a good primer and some paint. I recommend always using a suitable primer. If not, the stains and dis-colorization will most likely return after a short while. Keep in mind that you will only be able to paint over the discoloration if you can dry and save the drywall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bubbling occurs when the water gets trapped between the drywall mud and the paper cover. The bubbles can be small or large. They may remain filled with water, or the water may be absorbed back into the drywall and just leave the paper pushed out. The bubbling should subside as you dry the drywall, but the paper may need to be replaced or repaired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes you can smell water damage before you can see it. If you walk into a room and notice a musty smell, it could mean your drywall is wet, or there is a leak somewhere in the room. If you can smell this musty odor, it\u2019s a good idea to check for a leak or standing water. You should also inspect your drywall to see if there are any minor signs of water damage that you may not have noticed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the water causes the drywall to swell, it can cause the paint to peel from the wall. You may notice large sections starting to bubble or come free from the wall. You may also see small pieces peeling from the corners or the sides. If you do notice peeling paint, you may be able to sand down your walls and repaint after the drywall is dry, and you have determined that you can save it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sagging can be a sign of severe water damage. The drywall can fill with water due to its high absorbency rate. This makes it heavy and causes it to come loose from the frame. You will notice it starting to sag away from the top, or it may even sag and break off into large sections. This can be a problem because it can also pull on the drywall sheets nearby that may not have water damage. I find it easier to remove these sections rather than trying to repair them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Depending on how long the drywall was exposed to water, it can take up to three days for the drywall to completely dry out. This is because drywall is extremely absorbent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The longer it is exposed to water and the more water it is exposed to, the more it can absorb. If you allow the drywall to air dry, it will take longer than if you use fans, a dehumidifier, and other things to dry it out. You should find the source of the leak or flood immediately and remove the water from the drywall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mold can start to grow on drywall within 48 hours. Using fans and dehumidifiers can help prevent mold growth and help the drywall dry out faster. Once mold starts to grow on the drywall, it may not be salvageable. You may want to call in a professional mold remediator to remove the mold and make sure your home is safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I don\u2019t recommend trying to deal with a mold problem on your own or trying to save any drywall that shows signs of mold growth. If mold is not removed entirely and correctly, it can easily spread to other areas in the home and cause health problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.waterandmoistureexpert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Dry-Wet-Drywall.-Tips-From-Professionals.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<\/a>How Can You Tell If Drywall Has Water Damage?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>\u25cf Discoloration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>\u25cf Bubbling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>\u25cf Musty Smell<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>\u25cf Peeling Paint<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>\u25cf Sagging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>How Long Will Drywall Stay Wet?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n