How do I fix wet drywall from a roof leak?
Related Discussions
How to get rid of mice?
We seem to have some unwelcome Mickeys and Minnies in our house. What is the best way to get rid of them?
How to remove popcorn ceiling with asbestos?
I want to remove my popcorn ceiling, but it has asbestos in it. How do I go about this safely?
How to caulk baseboard gaps?
How do I fill gaps at baseboard, should I caulk? If so, does anyone know how to caulk baseboards?
How to fix squeaky hardwood floors?
How do I fix squeaky hardwood floors?
"How do I fix a plastic shed roof 10 x 12.5 that is leaking?
I have a plastic shed from Home Depot that is 13 years old. A branch had punctured the roof several years ago. Have tried spraying it with a rubber spray in certain s... See more
How do I fix a ceiling that has puckered from a leak?
A vent in my roof was not sealed properly and it caused water to get into Sheetrock in bathroom and it puckered. Vent has been redone and sealed properly but now I’... See more
Needs to be replaced. Even though it will eventually dry out, it can start a mold issue which is nothing to fool around with. If it is wet, remove and replace is your safest option. Shall we assume the roof leak has been repaired?
If the drywall is soaked through, you will probably need to replace it. You can try thoroughly drying it by using a high velocity fan on it. Make sure it is dry all the way through, not just on the surface. This can take several days depending on the size of the damage and the temperature in your room. Once you believe the drywall is dry, if it is smooth and not warped or wrinkled, you can prime and paint it. If it is a small area of damage, you can use drywall spackle to smooth out the area. Then prime and paint. If the area is badly damaged you will need to cut out the area (a square or rectangle section works best) and replace with new. You can find instructions for this on YouTube
Roof fixed first? Wet Insulation in the attic must be replaced, not dried out.
While you are in the attic, you need to assess if the ceiling joist have been damaged by the leak. You’ll also need to assess how badly damaged the drywall is from the attic. You may need to put a fan in the attic for three days.
Consider that mold in drywall makes for sick building syndrome. Drying it out will not stop the mold spores from living in your house, if it’s already molding.
I would rip out a section of that drywall after removing the wet insulation & shop vac’ing the attic side of the damaged area, so that the attic dirt doesn’t fall into the room.
This is going to require lots of tarps and taping a curtain wall of plastic from floor to ceiling, 360 degrees around the removal area.
Replace the drywall, tape w/ fiberglass take & mud. Sand, prime & paint to match.
Replace the insulation.
All of this is cheap compared to getting sick from mold poisoning.