As one of the cheapest and easiest to use construction materials, drywall is pretty much everywhere. Most modern construction is done with drywall because it’s light, easy to handle, shape and overall use in finish work.
However, there are some things that drywall is not as good at and those things are being resistant to moisture, heat or surface damage. In this article we’ll be discussing the limitations that standard drywall has and how to deal with sheetrock water damage.
Is Drywall Ceiling Water Damage Dangerous
As gravity pulls down on the ceiling, one of the most important things that every builder does is secure the ceiling drywall to the studs which run the entire span of the room. This is done with drywall screws and glue which provide enough tensile strength to withstand the weight of the drywall itself.
This retention strength is dependent on the strength of the drywall itself and whenever it gets wet it loses quite a lot of its structural integrity. Standard drywall does not have any sort of moisture or water resistance and whenever there is an issue with moisture in the wall, the sheetrock will soak it up.
What happens when moisture enters into the drywall sheet can be summarized in these points:
- Gypsum in drywall is absorbent and expands when it reaches water;
- The expansion cracks the drywall weakening it further;
- The paper of the drywall loses strength;
- Screw holes lose their retention strength.
All of the weight of the drywall being pulled down by gravity is now held only by a few screws, with the damaged parts further weighing down the entire sheet. This is quite dangerous and needs to be addressed by professionals immediately.
Cost to Repair Drywall Ceiling Water Damage
The cost to repair a drywall ceiling from water damage depends on the extent of the damage itself. One of the biggest concerns when dealing with ceiling damage is also related to the electrical system.
This issue becomes even more apparent when water starts dripping from a light fixture, which makes the flooded environment even more hazardous.
Generally, water damaged drywall is not restored but replaced entirely. The issue with drywall is that even when it dries, its crystallized internal structures start to crack and will no longer alight properly, meaning the drywall’s strength is compromised.
This means that the cost to repair water damaged drywall is related to the removal of the moisture beneath the drywall as well as:
- The cost of labor;
- The removal of the damaged drywall;
- The replacement drywall sheet;
- Discarding of damaged constriction materials in a lawful way.
Luckily there is universal homeowner’s insurance coverage which covers the repair of water damaged drywall and other home surfaces as long as the client complies with the rules of the insurance provider.
How to Repair Water Damaged Drywall
The only way to repair water damaged drywall is to remove it and replace it with a new sheet. If the segment of drywall is not structurally important, meaning it’s not holding up something, it can be replaced with a fresh new cut, most commonly using the Californian Patch method.
