What Does Water Damaged Drywall Look Like

Since drywall is essentially thick layers of paper or cardboard it can be soaked through much more easily than plaster and is much more absorbent and breaks down quickly when wet.

What does water damaged drywall look like.

Mold growth tends to follow the pattern of water condensation or leak. Water damaged this ceiling and the ruined drywall was cut out so that new drywall can be installed and finished. Because it stays wet for an extended time period and the gypsum is porous dormant spores will be activated by water exposure and active mold growth will soon infect the panel both internally and on the external surface of the material. You ve already learnt how a termite damage looks like.

In some cases wood shavings may appear and wood will be left looking rather splintered. This is often confused for water damage. In cases where water damage is not obvious use of a humidity sensor and a moisture meter is recommended. Water damaged drywall also creates a very favorable medium for the growth of toxic mold.

In long term cases wood structures can begin to look warped or bent. If bacteria has had time to set in it means the water spot has been on the ceiling for at least two or three days. Water damaged drywall wood materials jute wallpaper and cardboard are prone to mold growth when damp. It may lose its structural integrity becoming soft and weak.

Outdoor wood piles or timber infested by termites will look like they ve been completely carved and tunneled through. Swollen ceilings and floors and buckling wood are common outside signs of subterranean termites. Hidden water leaks are dangerous because they can cause serious issues like structural damage and mold growth before they are discovered. Also they smell like mold or mildew.

On the other hand these species of termites get into food sources that are above the ground using mud tunnels. The wood absorbs the water into the cells within the wood. Tim carter i can clearly remember past calls from shocked customers who ve lost entire ceilings where without notice the drywall crashes to the floor. Speed is critical to avoiding mold damage though.

Depending on what category of water drywall is exposed to and how wet it got you may be able to save it. Termite damage vs water damage. Sometimes termite damage looks like water damage. While drywall is pretty sturdy when it s exposed to water for too long it can get damaged.

Water damage to a drywall ceiling like gyprock is a bit more complicated to fix than water damage to a plaster ceiling.