Any sort of flooding event causes water damage to your home. Whether you’re dealing with structural damage, wet carpets and floors, or ruined personal items such as clothing and books, the one thing you now have to concern yourself with is mold growth.
Mold is attracted to all sources of moisture and because mold can find a food source in a wide favorite of items, it’s highly likely your house looks like the perfect place to set up shop.
The first step to take after a flooding event is to dry out any area affected by the moisture. However, this can be trickier than expected if you’re dealing with water or moisture inside your drywall.
In this article we dive into how to thoroughly dry out your drywall after a water event and how to keep mold at bay.
Drywall Water Damage – First Steps
To minimize damage and hopefully lower the cost of repairs in the long run, drying out the area is the first step everyone needs to take. You need to remove any paintings, photos or other types of decor from the walls to allow as much air to get to the walls as possible.
This is where I bring you somewhat bad news. If the room where the flooding occurred has wallpaper on the walls you’ll need to remove it completely. Like your artwork, the wallpaper allows a space for moisture to collect. This step is crucial to preventing mold and can be time consuming, but you will need to work quickly as you try to dry out the area as soon as possible.
It’s also necessary, to remove any molding or baseboards along the walls in case moisture has gotten behind them. This is a prime spot for mold growth as moisture can accumulate without the homeowner being aware.
Finally, open any windows in the room to get fresh air circulating through the room and giving the drying process a boost. If the weather isn’t suitable to have open windows, it’s a good idea to move fans and dehumidifiers into the room to accelerate the drying process.
Drywall Water Damage and Mold Growth
Mold has the ability to grow inside your drywall which is why you should be certain the area is dry before re-applying wallpaper or hanging any artwork. There are certain tools professional mold remediation services like ourselves use that can give you a definitive answer on the amount of moisture left in your home. A moisture meter will give us a reading that shows where the moisture is residing and this can help give you a better idea of where to focus your drying efforts.
Contacting the Professionals
If, unfortunately, you’ve already discovered mold growth in your home and feel like the problem is too big to tackle on your own, we can offer a hand. Our team of professionals will answer any questions you have about the situation. Don’t risk the health of your family or the structure of your home. Contact us today!
