Your home’s drywall can get wet in a variety of ways. Often times pipes that run behind them can burst or spring a leak. Then there’s the flooding issue. A roof problem can also cause a leak that runs down through your ceiling down into your drywall. So, drywall is vulnerable to water damage. The question then becomes, ‘Can I dry out drywall, and if so, what’s the best way to do it?”
Makes sense. There is one rule of thumb that you need to keep in mind when it comes to wet drywall. There is a point of no return. If, after your drywall has dried, it continues to sag or warp, then you will need to replace that drywall. In essence, the structural integrity is permanently damaged. However, depending on the degree to which your drywall is damaged, it is possible to dry it out and save it.
Using Fans To Dry Out Wet Drywall
As with any water damage or flooding situation, you want to create as much air circulation in the affected room as possible. If you can, open doors and windows. If you have a ceiling fan, turn it on. It’s also good to get a couple of box fans blowing directly on your wet drywall immediately. Remember, when it comes to controlling water damage in your home, reaction time is critical. If you choose to call a professional water damage company, be sure to choose one who guarantees that they will be there within an hour or less. That way you know that you’re giving yourself the best shot at saving your property. Wet drywall is no different. So begin by setting up those fans and increasing circulation in the room.
Blotting With Dry Towels
After setting up the fans and increasing air circulation, you might want to try dry blotting the walls. But do so carefully. Because wet drywall is already more weaker than normal, even a small amount of pressure can cause you to punch a hole through it. So, if you choose to blot dry the drywall, do it gently, applying pressure along all affected areas. Use less pressure as you move away from the baseboards and where they drywall intersects with the ceiling. It’s stronger in those areas.
Further Measures For Wet Drywall
If you’re really handy and you know what you’re doing around the house, you can remove the ceiling sheetrock. This will expedite the drying process and make it more thorough as well. However, the reality of this situation is:
- If the drywall is so wet that you have to remove the ceiling sheetrock, it is most likely beyond repair.
- Drywall can absorb only so much water. You will be able to tell easily if your wet drywall is a lost cause.
Annual Home Inspections
It’s always a great idea to schedule an annual home inspection that includes thorough plumbing, leak location and detection and water damage inspection points. Doing so can save you a lot of money and stress.