Can Water Damaged Drywall Be Repaired

Can Water Damaged Drywall Be Repaired

May 4, 2023 | water damage restoration

Can Water Damage Drywall be Repaired?

Can you repair water damage drywall, the answer really depends on the amount of water damage to the drywall. If the drywall is wet, but maintains its integrity, it is very possible to salvage the drywall by drying it in place. However, if the drywall has started to lose its integrity sagging from the ceiling, has been broken or busted at the seams, then it’s likely that the drywall will need to be replaced. Despite this majority there are many Cat 2 water damages where the drywall can be repaired and dried in place.

Drywall Repair Considerations

It’s a case-by-case determination, depending on the category of the water and the overall damage to the drywall, whether or not it can be safely repaired. We also must take precautions to prevent any future damages such as mold growth when repairing water damaged drywall. Wet baseboards and crown molding are usually removed, and if they are salvageable, they will be put back into place after the drywall has been repaired. It is only in a best-case scenario project where you’re able to salvage the baseboards and salvage the drywall. The overwhelming majority of projects involving residential water damage will need to have the wet drywall removed and have new drywall installed.

Water Damage Cleanup

4 Inch Drywall Repair

There are only 3 standard cuts in the water damage restoration industry, the first of which is the four-inch drywall dry. This cut is interpreted as the removal of drywall located directly behind the baseboard. When water mitigation calls for the only the removal of drywall holding baseboard in place, it is known as a four-inch cut. Sometimes the baseboard may only be 2 1/2 inches and sometimes they may rise 6 inches high, but a four-inch cut in the water damage industry it connotates the removal of the drywall located directly behind the baseboard, no matter the size of the baseboard. Making these drywall repairs is relatively easy, because of the low cut. Additionally, any imperfections will be covered by the baseboard.

2-Foot Drywall Repair

The second drywall cut is a 2-foot cut and is the most common cut in the water damage mitigation industry. Making a 2-foot cut for drywall repairs includes removing all drywall touching the floor of an effected room 2ft high above the floor. When making a 2-foot cut we don’t cut up exactly 24 inches, because that would mean that when we went back to repair/install the drywall it would not sit separately from the floor. Drywall should be installed 1/2 of an inch high off the floor. This way if there is any flooding or any water damage the drywall would be protected from damage, including mold. Surface temperature differences between the concrete and the drywall is enough to create an area with relative humidity good for supporting mold growth.

Insurance Accepted, financing Available

4-Foot Drywall Repair

The final water mitigation drywall cut is known as a 4-foot cut. The four-foot cut includes removing entire bottom half of the drywall, 4-feet high. In terms of water mitigation drywall repair, this translates into the need for a 4-feet drywall installation and repair. 2-ft and 4-inch drywall installation standards apply when making a 4-foot drywall repair. Installing drywall 1/2 inch above the surface floor help to protect it from future water damage and mold growth.

Drywall Repair Finishes

Sometime the drywall is effected above 4-foot. In these situation it is standard to remove the entire effected wall. There is no standard 6-foot cut, there is only an 4-inch 2-foot 4-foot or removal of the entire 8 foot wall. This amount of water damage requires all new drywall to be installed/repaired. The drywall installation process is invoiced to include reinstalling any wet installation that had to be removed before repairing the wall. Drywall repair is a line item including labor and materials for installation only, taping and mudding is an additional line item. Drywall tape and drywall mud are used to seal drywall repairs, which make a wall appear as one smooth piece of drywall. There are several drywall repair finishes, you can elect to have the drywall hung, or hung and prepared for paint with a smooth finish. The most common selection for businesses and homeowners is to install the drywall and prepare for paint with a nice smooth finish, but this is not always the case. Garage drywall repairs are an example of the exception.

Drywall Repair Dry Time

Once the drywall is installed and the mud has been applied to the drywall, it must be allowed to dry undisturbed. This resting or drying period can require 8 hours or longer depending on the humidity and drying time of the material. Dry time may also be accomplished within an hour. Dry time for each coat of mud must be completed before proceeding with any painting. Dry time is built into drywall repair pricing and is also reduced with the use of drying equipment such as air movers, dehumidifiers, and heaters. Most insurance companies recognize the use of drying equipment as standard practice for water damage mitigation drywall repair claims. The insurance coverage helps us do a great job and stay on schedule for our customers.

Drywall Repair Preparation

The final step of drywall water mitigation drywall repair is to paint and or install baseboards, crown mold, and any other finishing materials that’s needed to be removed. Finish materials are painted to remove any damage or to minimize the appearance of any damage or replaced if they have been too heavily damaged. Once the water mitigation drywall repairs are completed, the effected room will look brand new. Remember, drywall can suffer minor damage over time in the form of cracks and dents. These small damages need to be addressed to have the entire room match. It’s standard for homeowners’ insurance to pay for these repairs and often this means you’re getting all new drywall.

Drywall Repairs and Painting

Once the walls and finishing material are prepared, we can then paint the walls. The most common drywall paint job includes 3 coats of paint. The first coat is a primer designed to ready the walls for paint. The second and third coats are used to “color paint the walls”. Some paint jobs require more than 3 coats.

Best Water Mitigation Drywall Repair Service

Metrix Restoration is looking to gain your business and your trust as a water damage mitigation drywall repair contractor. If you or somebody you know is in need of drywall repair or reinstallation due to water damage, choose Metrix over the Matter because the Power to Change the Matter is in the Metrix.

Water Damage Repairs and Plumbing 2023

Water Damage Repairs and Plumbing 2023

May 2, 2023 | water damage restoration

Metrix Provides Water Damage Repairs

The best water damage restoration companies provide complete water mitigation services including repairs and plumbing. Metrix Restoration is always working to develop our organization to better serve our customers. The quality of our organization has evolved as water mitigation contractors. Flood Metrix now provides not only water removal and mold remediation services, but we also provide water damage repairs and plumbing.

Most customers prefer the convenience of hiring a water mitigation contractor who can also complete repairs. The simplicity of making only one phone call for water removal and repairs reduces the need to involve multiple contractors, which can lengthy water mitigation repair delays. Water mitigation often involves the removal of drywall and flooring; most customers can bear finding a flooring contractor, but many homeowners are annoyed by the idea of waiting to repair the holes in their walls.

Water Damage Drywall Repairs

Drywall installation is one of the first water damage repair services we started to offer. This includes replacing and repairing wet or damaged baseboards, doors, and door trim, but not to exclude other finished materials such as crown molding. Finish materials are easily affected by water damage and are often unsalvable and need to be replaced. Of course, completing a drywall repairs project includes removing and reinstalling any wet insulation and painting the walls.

Water Damage Cleanup

Water Mitigation Floor Repairs

Homeowners who have water damage and need repairs often can “look on the Brightside of their situation” and turn the misfortune of water damage into a positive by getting around to some repairs they had been putting off. Water damage will inspire a homeowner to make improvements that they’ve been putting off such as flooring upgrades. Homeowners will proceed with plans to remodel kitchen and bathrooms, living rooms and family rooms alike, because the timing is now perfect. A major part of the water mitigation repair process is new floor installation. This is why Metrix Restoration provides floor installation for water damage projects. By adding floor installation, we can provide more of our customers’ needs and to get them back to whole after the experience of a water damage.

Water Damage Repairs and Plumbing

Our mission is to move a customer from stress to satisfaction and we want to add value in as many ways as possible. Water damage and Plumbing go hand in hand, which is why we have teamed up with Perfected HVAC and Plumbing to add plumbing services to our catalog. We can now work to prevent water damage by catching the leak early and prevent leaks with proper plumbing. Sometimes it’s too late and the damage is done, and in those situations, Metrix has you covered. There’s often no sign to indicate when a pipe is going to bust or when an appliance will fail, but when it happens Metrix is your number 1 choice to get you up and back to normal again.

Insurance Accepted, financing Available

Water Damage Repairs Project Co-Ordination

Providing more water damage restoration services under one company allows us to better coordinate mitigation repair projects and reduces time wasted. The added convenience of mitigation, plumbing and repairs from the same company also reduces the inconvenience experienced by a customer after water mitigation. Metrix Restoration didn’t always provide water mitigation repair services, we started by simply focusing on water mitigation. Being able to demo, decontaminate, and dry out is still our bread-and-butter business.

It was out of the need and desire to serve our customers more completely that we expanded into mitigation repairs. So many customers wanted us to at least put the drywall back in place once the home was dry. However, we didn’t want to begin offering services without being able to ensure a masterful level of service to minimize the risk to our reputation as water damage mitigation and plumbing professionals. Doing a great job on the water mitigation repairs is equally important to the water damage restoration project.

Water Damage Repairs Quality Assurance

We had to take our time to develop and get our standard operating procedures established so that we could do just as good a job in installing the drywall as we do the water removal services. This also applies to putting down flooring, installing a bathroom vanity or installing a new sump pump or water heater. We need to be able to provide these services to our customers without error. Metrix is now in position to bring that high level of quality service and masterful execution to our customers in need of water mitigation repairs.

Metrix Offers Water Damage, Plumbing and Mold Remediation

Regardless of the previous water damage, the fact that there is a new leak with a new plumbing issue means that this homeowner is entitled to coverage with their homeowners’ policy. The homeowner’s insurance would be responsible for covering the water damage and mold remediation repairs but would not cover the mold remediation line items associated with the project. The reason being is that obviously there was pre-existing water damage which were never addressed; therefore, homeowners’ insurance is not responsible. However, homeowners’ insurance would be responsible for all damages associated with the new water damage including structural drying, retiling the bathroom tub and drywall repairs associated with the water damage. No portion of the plumbing would be able to be billed back to water damage claim.

Water Damage Repairs and Customer Satisfaction

The advantage of offering water damage mitigation repairs is that most water damage restoration companies don’t provide repairs. Less than 60% of water damage contractors in Northern Virginia provide repairs, leaving 60% or more water mitigation customers left to find another contractor for water damage repairs. The Metrix customer experience is superior to others with the added benefit of being able to take care of the mitigation repairs with one contractor. Our unique ability also allows us to establish better customer relations. This is important because at Metrix, residential water damage is 60% personal and 40% business.

The relationships we develop by offering water mitigation repairs allows us to optimize our reputation in the community. Offering repairs allows us to market services people need more commonly. By offering plumbing services we are able to fulfill our customers’ needs from the time that the first water loss occurs, to stopping the leak, water removal, and water damage repairs. If you or somebody you know needs water damage repairs choose Metrix over the Matter, because the Power to Change the Matter is in the Metrix.

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