A roof leak, a bathroom overflow or a burst pipe leaves drywall stained, sagging or soft. The repair starts only after the water source is fixed.
Drywall damaged by water is judged by condition, not just appearance. Stained but solid board can sometimes be sealed and refinished; soft, sagging or mouldy board should be cut out and replaced.
A stain on otherwise solid, dry board can sometimes be sealed with a stain-blocking primer and refinished. Board that is soft, crumbling, sagging or smells musty has lost its strength and should be replaced.
The only reliable test is inspection once the area is dry. Photos help us give an initial view before anyone visits.
Water travels. Damage behind the visible stain — inside the ceiling cavity or behind baseboards — is common, and mould can develop in damp cavities.
If there is any sign of mould, the affected material should be removed rather than covered. Tell us what you can see and smell so the right amount of board is opened up.
If the damage is part of an insurance claim, take photos before anything is removed and keep the adjuster’s requirements in mind. We can describe the drywall scope clearly for your claim.
See also: Flood-damaged drywall repair · Commercial drywall repair
After water reaches drywall, wet board is typically cut out in a straight line — commonly at 2 ft or 4 ft — above the highest point moisture has wicked. That keeps replacement to full-width sheets, exposes insulation and studs to dry, and makes the repair seam easy to tape flat.
Clear expectations. A considered plan.
A finish that brings the room together.
A close-up and a wider shot of each area, plus what caused it if you know — a leak, a door handle, settling or old plumbing work.
We confirm whether each spot can be patched or needs a section cut out, and note any moisture issue that must be fixed first.
Damaged board is cut back or backed, taped and filled in several thin coats, with drying time and sanding between each.
The repair is feathered into the surrounding wall or ceiling and checked under normal light so it is ready for primer and paint.
A closer look at each type of project. See all projects.
Tell us what needs doing and where. Prefer to talk? Call (613) 319-4768.
Once the area is fully dry. Repairing over damp material traps moisture and the damage returns. Drying time depends on how wet the cavity got.
Only if the board is dry and sound, and even then a stain-blocking primer is needed. Painting over soft or damp board does not last.
The water source — roof, plumbing or otherwise — must be fixed before drywall repair. We repair the drywall once that is done.
The repaired section is taped, finished and blended into the surrounding surface. Texture and paint affect the final match, so confirm them in the scope.
Tell us what you have in mind. Let’s talk about your drywall project.
