Should You Replace Drywall If It Gets Wet

No, unfortunately, it’s not just in Los Angeles. Water damage is actually quite common of an issue nationwide, with thousands of households experiencing some form of it every month. One of the most vulnerable parts of a property during water damage events is drywall. While quite durable overall, drywall really doesn’t get along with water. In this post, you’ll learn what to do if your drywall gets wet and how to know whether you should replace your wet drywall or not.

In a Hurry? Here’s a Quick Summary:

1. Implement dehumidifiers and fans to thoroughly dry the damp drywall
2. If the drywall is more than 1% wet, it should be replaced
3. Consult with a certified water damage restoration professional

Signs of Water Damage on Walls

Alright, let’s say that you haven’t experienced an abrupt event like a sewage backup or an appliance leak that’s pretty obvious to spot. In some cases, homeowners have a leak that’s hidden behind walls and that spills just enough water to cause damage over the long run. 

In that case, you will have some signs of water damage on your walls that you should pay attention to. Those are:

• Peeling or bubbling paint
• Stains, usually of light brown or gray color
• Cracks
• Musty odor
• Mold

If you see any of these signs right now, it’s time to raise an alarm. You can try to dry out your wallpaper, concrete, and drywall but it’s also important to detect and neutralize the moisture source to permanently resolve the problem.

How to Fix Water-Damaged Drywall

First step is to find a moisture source. Usually this shouldn’t be that hard. Since leaks cause damage around them, look at pipes which are behind those water damage signs you’ve noticed. If there’s mold, apply some mold removal techniques. 

Once you’ve identified a leaking pipe, turn off the water supply until you get it fixed. You can use a tape or you can clamp it. You can also put a slip coupling on your pipe. 

The next step is testing for drywall moisture levels. Sometimes your drywall is already too wet that putting in the hard work required to dry it out will just be a waste of your valuable time and energy. Note that you should replace a drywall if it’s only more than 1% wet. But how do you determine that?

You’ll need a moisture meter. Penetrating moisture meters are typically more accurate than non-penetrating, and they also come with more features. If you already have one, great, but if not, note that they’re pricey so, especially if you don’t know what you’re doing, we’d advise consulting with a professional. We’ll get to that later. 

You can also use a screwdriver to pry off the baseboards and poke holes in the drywall. If the drywall is soft and the screwdriver easily penetrates it, it is wet.

Wet drywall is not just an eyesore. It’s also a structural integrity threat and a health hazard. Any damp surface in your home can aid in mold development, and soft and weak drywall can further compromise your house.  

So, to avoid this, turn up dehumidifiers and fans and put them to work. Fans are great for targeting small damp areas while dehumidifiers will aid in drying the entire room. If you don’t have this equipment, rent it out or borrow it from a friend or family member. Also, tape plastic sheeting over doorways and windows to make the room as airtight as possible. Make sure you’re regularly checking the progress with your moisture meter.

How Long Does it Take to Dry Out a Drywall

It depends. It usually takes up to 3 days to dry out a drywall completely but in some cases it might take much longer than that. Factors like the extent of water damage, humidity levels, and weather conditions will all play a role in the length of your project. You should, however, see improvements within the first 24 hours. If you don’t, it’s time to call a professional.

Hire a Water Damage Restoration Company

A lot of homeowners may get stuck at a certain step of the whole process. Some might not know how to fix a leaking pipe, others may struggle with drying. Note that drying is sometimes pointless as there might already be too much damage for the drywall to be brought back to normal. If you don’t know what to do, call a water damage restoration company like Vetted Los Angeles Restorations. 

Vetted Los Angeles Restorations is the best water damage restoration company Los Angeles CA has to offer, with many years of experience and positive reviews backing us up. Our professionals will consult with you and help you learn what is the best way to go in your specific scenario.

We provide the following services:

• Water removal
• Basement water damage repair
• Sewage cleanup
• Flood damage restoration
• Fire damage repair

How Much Does Fixing a Wet Drywall Cost

It usually costs between $300 and $800 for a professional drywall water damage repair job. Read more on water damage restoration costs. 

Great job on taking the steps and doing something, way better than leaving water damage untreated. However, sometimes it’s best to leave this work to professionals who do it for a living. Call Vetted Los Angeles Restorations today at +1 (213) 410-1873!

The post Should You Replace Drywall If It Gets Wet appeared first on Water Damage Restoration Los Angeles CA.

from Water Damage Restoration Los Angeles CA https://waterdamage-losangeles.com/should-you-replace-drywall-if-it-gets-wet/

Should You Replace Drywall If It Gets Wet

No, unfortunately, it’s not just in Los Angeles. Water damage is actually quite common of an issue nationwide, with thousands of households experiencing some form of it every month. One of the most vulnerable parts of a property during water damage events is drywall. While quite durable overall, drywall really doesn’t get along with water. In this post, you’ll learn what to do if your drywall gets wet and how to know whether you should replace your wet drywall or not.

In a Hurry? Here’s a Quick Summary:

1. Implement dehumidifiers and fans to thoroughly dry the damp drywall
2. If the drywall is more than 1% wet, it should be replaced
3. Consult with a certified water damage restoration professional

Signs of Water Damage on Walls

Alright, let’s say that you haven’t experienced an abrupt event like a sewage backup or an appliance leak that’s pretty obvious to spot. In some cases, homeowners have a leak that’s hidden behind walls and that spills just enough water to cause damage over the long run. 

In that case, you will have some signs of water damage on your walls that you should pay attention to. Those are:

• Peeling or bubbling paint
• Stains, usually of light brown or gray color
• Cracks
• Musty odor
• Mold

If you see any of these signs right now, it’s time to raise an alarm. You can try to dry out your wallpaper, concrete, and drywall but it’s also important to detect and neutralize the moisture source to permanently resolve the problem.

How to Fix Water-Damaged Drywall

First step is to find a moisture source. Usually this shouldn’t be that hard. Since leaks cause damage around them, look at pipes which are behind those water damage signs you’ve noticed. If there’s mold, apply some mold removal techniques. 

Once you’ve identified a leaking pipe, turn off the water supply until you get it fixed. You can use a tape or you can clamp it. You can also put a slip coupling on your pipe. 

The next step is testing for drywall moisture levels. Sometimes your drywall is already too wet that putting in the hard work required to dry it out will just be a waste of your valuable time and energy. Note that you should replace a drywall if it’s only more than 1% wet. But how do you determine that?

You’ll need a moisture meter. Penetrating moisture meters are typically more accurate than non-penetrating, and they also come with more features. If you already have one, great, but if not, note that they’re pricey so, especially if you don’t know what you’re doing, we’d advise consulting with a professional. We’ll get to that later. 

You can also use a screwdriver to pry off the baseboards and poke holes in the drywall. If the drywall is soft and the screwdriver easily penetrates it, it is wet.

Wet drywall is not just an eyesore. It’s also a structural integrity threat and a health hazard. Any damp surface in your home can aid in mold development, and soft and weak drywall can further compromise your house.  

So, to avoid this, turn up dehumidifiers and fans and put them to work. Fans are great for targeting small damp areas while dehumidifiers will aid in drying the entire room. If you don’t have this equipment, rent it out or borrow it from a friend or family member. Also, tape plastic sheeting over doorways and windows to make the room as airtight as possible. Make sure you’re regularly checking the progress with your moisture meter.

How Long Does it Take to Dry Out a Drywall

It depends. It usually takes up to 3 days to dry out a drywall completely but in some cases it might take much longer than that. Factors like the extent of water damage, humidity levels, and weather conditions will all play a role in the length of your project. You should, however, see improvements within the first 24 hours. If you don’t, it’s time to call a professional.

Hire a Water Damage Restoration Company

A lot of homeowners may get stuck at a certain step of the whole process. Some might not know how to fix a leaking pipe, others may struggle with drying. Note that drying is sometimes pointless as there might already be too much damage for the drywall to be brought back to normal. If you don’t know what to do, call a water damage restoration company like Vetted Los Angeles Restorations. 

Vetted Los Angeles Restorations is the best water damage restoration company Los Angeles CA has to offer, with many years of experience and positive reviews backing us up. Our professionals will consult with you and help you learn what is the best way to go in your specific scenario.

We provide the following services:

• Water removal
• Basement water damage repair
• Sewage cleanup
• Flood damage restoration
• Fire damage repair

How Much Does Fixing a Wet Drywall Cost

It usually costs between $300 and $800 for a professional drywall water damage repair job. Read more on water damage restoration costs. 

Great job on taking the steps and doing something, way better than leaving water damage untreated. However, sometimes it’s best to leave this work to professionals who do it for a living. Call Vetted Los Angeles Restorations today at +1 (213) 410-1873!

The post Should You Replace Drywall If It Gets Wet appeared first on Water Damage Restoration Los Angeles CA.

from Water Damage Restoration Los Angeles CA https://ift.tt/LAHF4cj

What Happens if Water Damage is Left Untreated

There’s a few possible scenarios you may be going through if you’re asking this question right now. You may have experienced water damage and your budget is tight, leading you to wonder if you could possibly delay the repairs for a while without any additional consequences. 

Or, you ought to not be physically present at your property for days, weeks, or even longer after the incident, and you can’t possibly delay that travel to repair water damage and there’s nobody to be at your house while you’re away. 

Regardless of whether you belong to the first or second group, or you’re simply just lazy, this post will help you understand exactly what happens after water damage and how bad it can really get. Without any further ado, let’s jump right in.

How long does it take for water to cause damage?

It takes anywhere from an hour to a full day before water damages your home’s infrastructure. Affected furniture or drywall will show bulging, cracking, and swelling. Your paint will begin peeling off or bubbling, and mold will start developing around the damaged surface. These are just some signs of water damage you might notice. 

In case water damage has JUST happened to you, make sure to waste no time. Try stopping more water from entering the property on your own. If you can’t do that – perhaps there is a sewage backup or a leak you can’t DIY fix – call in a professional like Vetted Los Angeles Restorations.

Does water damage get worse over time?

The simple answer is YES – water damage does get worse over time. The answer to the followup question – how worse will water damage actually get – depends on many factors, including the extent and severity of the damage, types of materials affected, and where the damage happened, just to name a few. 

To give you an example, basement water damage can obviously cause much bigger problems than kitchen water damage, given the location of the problem in your home. Flooded basement can cause cracks in your foundation and wooden beams rotting, among other things like mold which will eat up much of your organic materials in the basement. 

This can lead to altering of your entire home’s structure, which is something that can be irreparable in many cases. 

Of course, kitchen water damage shouldn’t be overlooked, but given the circumstances, you should have a much higher sense of urgency in the first scenario. But, for the sake of it, let’s also explain what could happen in your kitchen. 

Your wooden materials – which is probably most of your kitchen – would get soaked up, along with your drywall (which has to be replaced if it’s only more than 1% wet), and the mold would likely start growing quickly, given the humid conditions and also presence of many organic materials, one of which is food.

Will water damage go away by itself?

Another straight answer – NO. While the water itself may dry out on its own if the conditions allow it, the damage it caused won’t fix itself. Your peeling paint won’t just repair itself. Your damaged drywall won’t replace itself. And mold won’t stop growing on its own either. Also, since nothing was done, the water might return at some point because the moisture source was not fixed. You need to take action.

It’s easier said than done, we understand. You might not know where to start, so here’s a few helpful tips on what to do immediately after water damage.

What to do immediately after water damage?

1. Evacuate your family and your pets out of the flooded room(s).
2. Pick up the items you can’t afford to lose. However, only do this if you can physically carry them and make it out on time without risking your health.
3. If you have to leave the house, call a neighbor or a friend to help you.
4. Reach out to your insurance company and try to get coverage
5. Contact a Los Angeles water damage restoration company to start the cleanup. In an ideal case, they should also deal with insurance on your behalf. 
6. If you’re DIY-ing, make sure the home is thoroughly dry and inspect for mold. If you’re working with a professional, they’ll take care of this.
7. After the damage is fully restored, which usually takes 1-2 weeks in most cases, you can move back in. You may be able to move back in while the restoration process is being carried out too, it just depends on whether the conditions will allow it.

Professional Water Damage Restoration Company Los Angeles

Water damage is no joke. You can get seriously sick if exposed to a lot of contaminated water. We definitely do not recommend any delaying of water damage restoration. Instead, we suggest – and almost demand – that you take the right steps and start dealing with the damage right away. It will only cause more problems down the line if you don’t. 

Vetted Los Angeles Restorations has the know-how required to tackle all types of water damage. One room or entire floor, contaminated or not, minor or severe – we can do it all. Call us at +1 (213) 410-1873 to experience the best water damage restoration service Los Angeles CA has to offer.

We’re experts at:

• Water removal
• Basement water damage restoration
• Sewage cleanup and restoration
• Storm and flood damage restoration
• Fire damage restoration

The post What Happens if Water Damage is Left Untreated appeared first on Water Damage Restoration Los Angeles CA.

from Water Damage Restoration Los Angeles CA https://waterdamage-losangeles.com/what-happens-if-water-damage-is-left-untreated/

What Happens if Water Damage is Left Untreated

There’s a few possible scenarios you may be going through if you’re asking this question right now. You may have experienced water damage and your budget is tight, leading you to wonder if you could possibly delay the repairs for a while without any additional consequences. 

Or, you ought to not be physically present at your property for days, weeks, or even longer after the incident, and you can’t possibly delay that travel to repair water damage and there’s nobody to be at your house while you’re away. 

Regardless of whether you belong to the first or second group, or you’re simply just lazy, this post will help you understand exactly what happens after water damage and how bad it can really get. Without any further ado, let’s jump right in.

How long does it take for water to cause damage?

It takes anywhere from an hour to a full day before water damages your home’s infrastructure. Affected furniture or drywall will show bulging, cracking, and swelling. Your paint will begin peeling off or bubbling, and mold will start developing around the damaged surface. These are just some signs of water damage you might notice. 

In case water damage has JUST happened to you, make sure to waste no time. Try stopping more water from entering the property on your own. If you can’t do that – perhaps there is a sewage backup or a leak you can’t DIY fix – call in a professional like Vetted Los Angeles Restorations.

Does water damage get worse over time?

The simple answer is YES – water damage does get worse over time. The answer to the followup question – how worse will water damage actually get – depends on many factors, including the extent and severity of the damage, types of materials affected, and where the damage happened, just to name a few. 

To give you an example, basement water damage can obviously cause much bigger problems than kitchen water damage, given the location of the problem in your home. Flooded basement can cause cracks in your foundation and wooden beams rotting, among other things like mold which will eat up much of your organic materials in the basement. 

This can lead to altering of your entire home’s structure, which is something that can be irreparable in many cases. 

Of course, kitchen water damage shouldn’t be overlooked, but given the circumstances, you should have a much higher sense of urgency in the first scenario. But, for the sake of it, let’s also explain what could happen in your kitchen. 

Your wooden materials – which is probably most of your kitchen – would get soaked up, along with your drywall (which has to be replaced if it’s only more than 1% wet), and the mold would likely start growing quickly, given the humid conditions and also presence of many organic materials, one of which is food.

Will water damage go away by itself?

Another straight answer – NO. While the water itself may dry out on its own if the conditions allow it, the damage it caused won’t fix itself. Your peeling paint won’t just repair itself. Your damaged drywall won’t replace itself. And mold won’t stop growing on its own either. Also, since nothing was done, the water might return at some point because the moisture source was not fixed. You need to take action.

It’s easier said than done, we understand. You might not know where to start, so here’s a few helpful tips on what to do immediately after water damage.

What to do immediately after water damage?

1. Evacuate your family and your pets out of the flooded room(s).
2. Pick up the items you can’t afford to lose. However, only do this if you can physically carry them and make it out on time without risking your health.
3. If you have to leave the house, call a neighbor or a friend to help you.
4. Reach out to your insurance company and try to get coverage
5. Contact a Los Angeles water damage restoration company to start the cleanup. In an ideal case, they should also deal with insurance on your behalf. 
6. If you’re DIY-ing, make sure the home is thoroughly dry and inspect for mold. If you’re working with a professional, they’ll take care of this.
7. After the damage is fully restored, which usually takes 1-2 weeks in most cases, you can move back in. You may be able to move back in while the restoration process is being carried out too, it just depends on whether the conditions will allow it.

Professional Water Damage Restoration Company Los Angeles

Water damage is no joke. You can get seriously sick if exposed to a lot of contaminated water. We definitely do not recommend any delaying of water damage restoration. Instead, we suggest – and almost demand – that you take the right steps and start dealing with the damage right away. It will only cause more problems down the line if you don’t. 

Vetted Los Angeles Restorations has the know-how required to tackle all types of water damage. One room or entire floor, contaminated or not, minor or severe – we can do it all. Call us at +1 (213) 410-1873 to experience the best water damage restoration service Los Angeles CA has to offer.

We’re experts at:

• Water removal
• Basement water damage restoration
• Sewage cleanup and restoration
• Storm and flood damage restoration
• Fire damage restoration

The post What Happens if Water Damage is Left Untreated appeared first on Water Damage Restoration Los Angeles CA.

from Water Damage Restoration Los Angeles CA https://ift.tt/HwmdBWN