Steps to repair water damage Clean the area. Before starting a project like this, thoroughly clean the area damaged by water. Clean and scrape off any peeling in the area. Holes larger than 6 inches, up to 12 inches, require a slightly different process because the patch needs more support.
Using a drill, create two small holes through the replacement plate piece. Pass a piece of string and tie both ends to the middle of a stick. Leave about 8 inches of rope between the board and the stick. The side of the board will be the front side.
The cane will be used to hold the patch in place. Rotate the rod to apply pressure to the back of the board. This will stabilize it in the hole. Apply a soft layer of cement adhesive around the edges.
Insert the patch into the hole and position it so that the cement adhesive adheres firmly to the solid area around the back of the hole. Turn the rod clockwise, turning the cord and increasing pressure against the connecting plate at the back of the hole. This will keep the board firmly in place until the cement adhesive dries. You should also scan the area you are repairing to see if there are any damaged, broken, or very loose pieces of drywall that need to be replaced.
Sometimes, water creates “bubbles” in the paint when it goes under the drywall paper, he says. If this is the case, you'll first need to remove the loose, flaking paint with a scraper. Then, sand the damaged drywall with medium-grit sandpaper and apply a patch to the area if needed. Finally, you'll be ready to apply a coat of primer and continue painting, he says.
It can take one to two weeks for a professional to completely repair a room that has suffered water damage. You can repair water-damaged walls and ceilings as long as you have the right knowledge and tools to make the necessary repairs. Painting the surfaces in your home after they've been damaged by water is a lot different from a standard job. Water damage is the worst because it means you have to fix two things: what leaks and what is damaged.
According to Christian Lacroix, owner of Texas-based Handyman Connection of McKinney, the main difference between covering water damage and a traditional project involves preparation work: if a leak occurs or a damp stain is found, you can expect more. If the drywall only shows water stains but is not structurally compromised, it can be repaired by cutting the damaged part. This will help prevent the wall from being damaged again by water and will allow the paint to adhere better to the wall. In some serious cases where there is serious water damage, you may need to call in a professional contractor to repair the source of the leak or to repair damaged walls or roof.