Signs Of Water Damage In Your Walls

Although many features of your house are designed specifically to keep water either inside pipes or outside your home entirely, situations may still arise in which water finds its way into your walls and ceilings. A leaky pipe, for instance, could slowly release water into hidden areas within your walls. Your roof may fail at times, as well, allowing water to drip onto your ceiling during heavy rain. When water accumulates in areas where it should not be, your home may suffer serious consequences. Consider a few signs you can look for to spot and respond to water damage as soon as it occurs.

Bubbling or Flaking Paint

When water drips down a wall or trickles through your ceiling, it may stop at the layer of paint covering the interior aspects of these surfaces. This may cause the paint to raise up as the liquid forms a bubble. Bubbles that burst may leave areas of cracked, flaking paint in their wake. If you notice these sorts of changes in the paint on your walls or ceilings, it is best to check for water damage right away.

Stains

When water reaches your walls, it may also lead to discolouration of the paint. These stains may be light brown in colour and generally stem from the minerals in the water that dry in place. These spots of discolouration are especially common on ceilings where rainwater, or even the water of an upstairs neighbour, could seep through to the surface you see. Importantly, the size of a stain does not necessarily reflect the amount of water that reached your walls. There could be a lot of fluid that simply didn’t surface on the paint layer in this way.

Weakened Drywall

Though some types of drywall can withstand moisture better than others, none of these varieties is intended to be saturated with fluid. When too much water collects around your drywall, the paper-enclosed material may become soft and squishy. A simple way to test the strength of an area of drywall is to push against it with one hand to see if it gives at all.

The Water Damage Repair Process

One of the most important things to remember when dealing with water damage is that the problem tends to grow larger over time. For one thing, water may continue entering your walls. Even if you fix the initial leak, the moisture that is already present could mold, potentially causing health issues for you and your family. Water can also lead to structural concerns as it may leave drywall unstable and could even allow electrical components to corrode. 

Because it is so difficult to gauge the extent of the water damage within your walls, it is best to reach out to professionals as soon as you notice a problem. Experienced technicians can use dehumidifiers and other special gear to thoroughly dry out your home. Additionally, if any major repairs need to be made, these professionals can handle them right away.

How We Can Help

When you’re looking for home repairs after a bout of water damage, reach out to your local Handyman Connection. We offer reliable drywall services in Brantford, in addition to a number of other services that may help you recover from water damage. Whether you need help with your plumbing system, electrical system, or wall framing, you can count on us. 

At Handyman Connection, our goal is to provide both superior customer service and long-lasting results to each of our clients. Our experienced technicians will guide you through the home repair process so you can start enjoying your space again as quickly as possible. Give us a call today to receive a consultation and estimate.