Wall Repairs And Water Damage Cleanup in Savannah
Water is a destructive force. When harnessed, dams can power plants. Over time, It carved the Grand Canyon, created glaciers, and in Savannah, it even floods Tybee Island every few years. And almost every homeowner has a story about when water disasters have caused a need for emergency water damage cleanup.
Water Damage Cleanup in Savannah
When a leak, broken pipe, or rainstorm collides with the drywall that makes up your interior walls and ceilings, it can make them look terrible. Sometimes it can damage the wallboard enough that it crumbles, collapses or disintegrates. And it doesn't have to be a ton of water to cause big problems. Since drywall acts like a sponge, it will soak up water off the floor. The liquid can climb several feet up the wall. Before making any repairs, you need to find and fix the source of the water problem first. Then address the walls before they get weaker.
Signs Of Water Damaged Walls
Water damage can occur slowly or out of sight, which is why it’s important to watch for signs before the water damage cleanup gets too extensive. Look for outward signs of damaged walls:
- Yellow, orange, or brown stains come from a consistent leak
- Brown streaks indicated water from the ceiling above
- Bubbles in paint or wallpaper occur on the paper front when the gypsum board is soaked
- Larger amounts of water will cause walls to sag, buckle or even crumble. In most cases, replacing the drywall is the only option.
Patching and Repairing
Harper Special Services will dry water-damaged walls as quickly with high-volume fans and dehumidifiers designed for structural drying. Then each area will be inspected to determine if it can be repaired. In many situations, the bottom few inches can be cut away and new drywall can be patched in. If you're lucky enough to have historic plaster walls, they can sometimes be saved from needing water damage cleanup. We’ll use special fans to dry the brittle and fragile plaster. Once dry, they use a brush to scrape away weak plaster and then make repairs.
Replacing
Wet drywall will lose its structural integrity, it may be hard to tell if you can save it. More often than not, wet material l is going to have to be replaced because the sheets need to be anchored to wall studs or ceiling joists. So depending on where the damage is located, you may have to replace the whole drywall panel. Some of the factors are:
- Amount of water (the more water involved, the less likely it is to save wet drywall)
- How fast the standing water can be removed
- How effectively the area can be dried
Prime and Paint
To make sure that the new walls match seamlessly with the undamaged walls, they will be printed and painted. If your original walls have faded, it might be necessary to paint over the other walls in the room to keep a consistent color.
Clean Up
Beyond removing the water and throwing away damaged items, fixing water-damaged walls requires thorough clean-up. A HEPA filter vacuum will pick up all the dust and debris. Our team will use plastic sheeting and carpet protectors to make sure none of that mess gets tracked around.
Stay Safe From Mold
Depending on how long the leak has gone unchecked, mold spores may already be taking hold in the drywall. Studies have shown it could be as little as 48 hours until it starts in your home. Since there are mold spores in the air at all times, all they need is a wet food source. If the affected area is an interior space of more than about ten square feet, you should get some professional mold remediation. Water damaged walls, floors, cabinets, and whether you are looking for repair service by itself or a company that can provide you with the full package of emergency services, debris removal, shoring, board-ups to restoration, trust Harper Special Services. Our team is fully licensed for water repair, cleanup and restoration services.