We hear the question repeatedly about whether plumbing leaks or flooding will destroy the drywall in our house? The short answer is that it will. Water damage to drywall is a typical result of plumbing leaks and floods.
Drywall is understood by many various names. It could be called gypsum board because of the main ingredient, gypsum. It may also be called sheetrock, which is really a product name. Shetrock was developed as an alternative to plaster walls around 1933, principally because the housing industry was growing quickly after the war.
Drywall is made from gypsum which has been turned into a powder form. Tiny bits of paper, cotton, fiberglass and other chemicals are added to the powder to enhance its strength and add fire or mildew resistance.
This powder is then blended with water. After it has been applied to its paper backings and pushed into shape, it is heated in a cooker. Some water content remains in the drywall for pliability and fire resistance.
When the plumbing leaks and the drywall becomes filled with water, it begins to crumble and get worse, rendering it unusable. Then the drywall will literally crack up. To make things worse, the paper outer coverings also start to mildew, leading to the expansion of bacteria and other health hazards.
The amount of drywall water damage depends on how quickly the plumbing leaks are discovered and fixed. Water-damaged drywall cannot be repaired; it’s got to be replaced. Sometimes the damage is from a roof leak or from environmental flooding; in this example all the damaged drywall will most likely have to be replaced. The inside studs that it’s attached to is the load bearing structure, so drywall removal will not weaken the structure.
Plumbing leaks located nearer to the floor may only damage the base of the board; thus removal and replacement of just the damaged section may be possible after the leak has been fixed.
Anyway, drywall water damage must be handled quickly to prevent air and surface contamination and the ensuing health dangers that are possible.
Jason Smith, a licensed Florida plumbing contractor is the owner of Total Plumbing Orlando. The company provides expert repairs of plumbing leaks and can even fix the drywall damage due to a leak.
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Tags: Jason Smith, Plumbing Leaks, Total Plumbing Orlando, Water Damage, Water Damage Restoration