Flooding, melting snow, a leaky roof or windows, burst pipes – there is no shortage of ways water can cause damage to the inside of your home or business. No one ever plans for this sort of disaster, and so many people end up overwhelmed and frustrated by the cleanup and restoration process.

If you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, the first and most important thing you should do before you attempt any sort of restoration to the damaged area(s) is to contain and repair the source of the water. A leak may require some structural repairs or waterproofing, and burst pipes will require replacement and reinsulating. To make these repairs, you will have to call out a professional. Someone like Paul The Plumber is more than capable of repairing these problems so that restoration can get underway. In the case of substantial flooding, it is highly recommended that you contact a water removal company.

The good news is once you’ve contained the source of the water damage and given the damaged area time to dry out, whether it be basement water damage or elsewhere (we recommend running fans and/or dehumidifiers as soon as possible and for as long as needed), the repair process is fairly straightforward. The following applies to both wall and ceiling discoloration to otherwise undamaged drywall. Here’s how to fix water damage on painted wall:

The Four Steps to Fix Discoloration from Water Damage

  • Step 1 – Scrape any loose, crumbling, or deteriorating compound material or flaking paint.
  • Step 2 – Patch as necessary with fresh compound material.
  • Step 3 – In the case of a water stain halo/paint discoloration on walls, the wall MUST to be oil or shellac primed – there is NO substitute for this! If you are concerned about the odor of shellac primer, low odor oil primer options are available.
  • Step 4 – Once primed, the surface can be top-coated like a normal paint job.

In some cases, sections of drywall may need to be removed if you find that it is has softened even after drying, or remains soggy. This is most typically found around window casings and in ceilings where substantial water has entered the structure.

If you’re not comfortable cutting out the damaged drywall, measuring for and hanging the replacement piece don’t worry – this is something that pros like the Arch team can do for you quickly and easily. In fact, any time we are called in to repaint walls or ceilings damaged by water the first thing we do is check to see if the drywall needs to be replaced. There’s no point in trying to fix a problem that is past repair! If you would like a professional who is trained specifically in restoration, and you would feel more comfortable contacting them, you may go for this idaho restoration company or ideally one that is closer to where you live. Check out your local tradesmen to see who you can use.

Discoloration on an acoustical ceiling can also be easily remedied as long as the tiles aren’t crumbling or sagging. The process is different than the one mentioned above, as it requires spraying to ensure the porous surface gets evenly coated. If you are in our service area give us a call, or contact a local, reputable painter for pricing.

At Arch, we are fully licensed general contractors and experienced to handle water damage repairs to your walls or ceiling, but if you are thinking of tackling these repairs yourself and you’re not sure about any part of the process please do not hesitate to reach out to us and ask. One of our expert Project Manager will be happy to help you in any way they can, even if that means coming out and taking a look to see if it’s something you’d be better off having a professional handle.

Of course, do not begin any repairs or repainting any interior wall discolorations if you’ve found yourself facing a mold problem. Mold is not something you want to ignore, and not something you should try to abate yourself. Arch Painting teams with some of the best abatement companies in the area and are happy to refer you to them should you find yourself faced with these circumstances.

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