by Sue A. Sponte

Created on: March 13, 2011   Last Updated: March 14, 2011

When a leaky roof or a burst pipe results in water flooding into wall spaces or ceilings, more often than not the sheetrock will be damaged enough that it needs to be repaired or replaced. Depending on the location and the extent of damage, this can turn into a major project. But for many such repairs, it is within the ability of an average DIY-er to make those repairs without calling in the pros.

The first step, regardless of whether you are dealing with damaged ceilings or damaged walls, is to find and fix the source of the water damage. If the roof is leaking, no amount of repairing drywall can stay ahead of the increasing damage that is coming in the future. Likewise, if a leaking pipe or inadequate caulk is allowing water to seep into walls and floors, that source of intrusion must be stopped first.

Damaged wall sheetrock is the easier repair to make. First, determine the extent of the damage, and plan to repair or replace an area slightly larger than the damaged area. Once water has gotten into sheetrock, there is no reliable way to return it to its original strength and texture, and the area will become a breeding ground for mold. It will need to be replaced. Using a claw hammer or other hand tools, remove the entire area of sheetrock that will need to be replaced. Be careful using power tools, because there is no guarantee that wiring, plumbing, and ventilation run in straight lines behind the walls, and a moment of inattention can lead to new repair bills. Once the damaged sheetrock is removed, give the area time to dry, and spray with a mildew and mold inhibitor to prevent any long term mold problems in the wall once the repair is made.

Sheetrock comes in 4’ x 8’ panels. If your damage was confined to just one panel, then a complete replacement will fix the problem. If the problem was confined to just a portion of one sheet, then use a drywall saw to get a clean edge along the parts that will remain after you have removed the damaged area. Measure the resulting hole that needs to be filled, and mark the appropriate measurements on the replacement drywall sheet. Drywall can be cut either with a saw or by scoring the paper on one side and snapping the drywall along the score.

Once you have a replacement piece prepared, either because it is a full sheet or because you have cut a sheet down to the size that you want, you are ready to hang the drywall. This is ideally a two-person detail. While holding the replacement sheet in place, use drywall

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