Does Wet Drywall Need to Be Replaced?

Drywall is mostly gypsum wrapped in paper. A splash dries out with little harm, but water that wicks up from a flooded floor or soaks in from a leak can soften the gypsum, loosen the paper and give mold a place to grow. The trick is telling which kind you have. If a wall or ceiling took on water, ReestorianPros can connect you with a local provider for water damage drying in Littleton who can check moisture behind the surface before deciding what to cut out.

This is general information. Turn off power to circuits in wet walls, and stay out from under a sagging ceiling.

Can drywall get wet?

Drywall handles brief, light contact with water. Water that soaks in is different. Standard drywall absorbs water through its paper face and cut edges, and gypsum loses strength when saturated. Moisture-resistant drywall, often used in bathrooms, slows absorption but isn't waterproof. It still needs to be dried, and it can still grow mold if it stays wet.

Is drywall ruined if it gets wet?

Not necessarily. The EPA's water damage table says wallboard may be dried in place if there's no obvious swelling and the seams are intact. If not, the EPA says to remove, discard and replace it, and to ventilate the wall cavity if possible.

How long can drywall be wet?

The EPA says mold usually won't grow if wet materials are dried within 24 to 48 hours. That's the working window. Drywall wet for a few hours and dried quickly has a good chance. Drywall that sat wet over a long weekend, or behind cabinets where no air reached it, is more likely to need replacing.

Drywall can also be wet longer than you think. A slow leak behind a wall may have kept it damp for weeks before a stain showed. See how to find a water leak in a wall for the signs.

What happens if drywall gets wet?

1. The paper absorbs water and may bubble, peel or stain.
2. The gypsum softens and can crumble or sag, especially on ceilings.
3. Water wicks upward from a wet floor, often well above the visible waterline.
4. Insulation behind it holds water, keeping the back of the drywall damp.
5. Mold can grow on the paper facing and inside the cavity if drying is slow.

Does wet drywall always mold?

No. Mold needs moisture, food and time. Drywall paper is food, so moisture and time decide it. Dried within 24 to 48 hours, drywall often stays mold-free. Left wet, it's a common place for mold to start, often on the back side where you can't see it. The EPA notes that porous materials with mold growth may need to be thrown away.

How to dry wet drywall

• Stop the water and fix the leak first.
• Turn off power to outlets and circuits in the wet wall.
• Remove baseboards and anything covering the wall, such as wallpaper or vinyl, which traps moisture.
• Open the cavity to air. Drilling small holes behind the baseboard line, or cutting a strip a little above the waterline, lets air into the wall.
• Pull out wet insulation. Wet fiberglass or cellulose rarely dries well inside a closed wall, and the EPA's table lists both as discard and replace.
• Run fans and a dehumidifier, with the room closed.
• Measure, don't guess. A moisture meter confirms the wall is dry before you patch or paint.

Painting or patching over damp drywall seals the moisture in. Wait for dry readings, then use a stain-blocking primer on any water marks.

Does wet ceiling drywall need to be replaced?

Ceilings are less forgiving than walls. Gravity works against wet gypsum, and water collects on top of ceiling drywall and in insulation above it.

Read water damage on the ceiling for what usually causes it and what repairs look like.

When contaminated water reaches drywall

The ANSI/IICRC S500 standard treats sewage and floodwater as Category 3 water, the most contaminated. The CDC says drywall and insulation contaminated with sewage or floodwater should be thrown out. Restorers usually cut the drywall well above the highest waterline, sometimes called a flood cut, then clean and dry the framing before new drywall goes up. Wear gloves, boots and eye protection when handling it.

Wet drywall in Littleton homes

The Front Range's dry outdoor air helps walls dry, but it doesn't reach inside a closed wall cavity. Finished basements are where most wet drywall shows up in Littleton homes, from water heater leaks, window wells and sewer backups. Basement walls often sit against concrete, which stays cool and damp, so moisture readings matter more than how the surface feels.

Small drywall patches usually don't need a permit, but larger repairs that touch framing, plumbing or electrical work might. Check the City of Littleton's permit guides, or your city's building department, before major work.

How to prevent wet drywall

• Check plumbing behind walls shared with bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms.
• Fix small leaks fast, before they soak the back of the wall.
• Keep a gap between basement drywall and the floor, so it doesn't wick water from a damp slab.
• Add leak sensors near water heaters, washers and sinks.
• Keep basement humidity below 60%, as the EPA recommends.

Related reading: Learn how to find a water leak in a wall, and what to do about water damage on the ceiling.

When should you call a water damage restoration professional?

Call a professional when:

• The drywall is swollen, soft, sagging or crumbling
• Sewage or floodwater touched it
• The wall stayed wet for more than 48 hours, or you don't know how long
• You smell mustiness or see mold
• The ceiling is sagging or dripping
• You need moisture readings and photos for an insurance claim

Wet drywall in Littleton? Call (303) 879-0950 to reach a local water damage restoration provider.