How to Repair Mold-Damaged Drywall
Mold damage to drywall can occur due to different reasons. For instance, if there’s a roof leak or the vapor barrier wasn’t properly installed, the mold may begin to form on the walls. Whenever there’s constant moisture exposure, mold happens. The mold attaches to the paper facing of the drywall and causes extensive damage. Prolonged exposure to mold can contribute to serious health concerns. You should consider hiring a mold removal expert to get rid of the issue and also identify the main cause of the mold in your property.
Can you remove mold from drywall?
Very often people are wondering if moldy drywall can be cleaned. No, mold cannot be completely removed from drywall, drywall surface must be removed and replaced. If you discover mold on your drywall, it’s important to take the necessary steps in order to prevent further damage. If you consider yourself a handy person, get the necessary drywall supplies and replace the mold damaged panels. You don’t really have to replace the entire drywall. There are ways to remove the affected areas.
Why Can’t Moldy Drywall Be Cleaned?
It is very difficult, usually impossible, to adequately remove mold from porous materials, and that includes drywall. Why? Well, porous materials aren’t entirely solid, even if they appear solid to the naked eye. Materials like drywall have very tiny holes, or pores, in them, much like the pores in your skin. Microscopic mold spores can remain unseen in the pores of the drywall, even when the drywall appears free of mold. It’s similar to the way dirt or oil can be trapped in the pores of your skin, even if you don’t see it.
Much like how dirt or oil trapped unseen in the pores of your skin can lead to acne or other skin problems, unseen mold trapped in the pores of drywall can grow and spread and can also cause health problems. Since there is no effective way to remove mold from the pores of the drywall, the affected drywall must be removed and replaced.
Remove Mold-Damaged Drywall
- Mark the damaged drywall with a pencil after you determine the area of drywall you want to remove. Use a straightedge to mark lines vertically and horizontally on the face of the drywall. Whenever possible, have the lines fall over the centers of the framing members behind the drywall; this will provide backing and a fastening surface for the drywall patch.
- Confirm that there are no electrical or plumbing runs in the wall behind the marked cutout, then cut out the damaged drywall section with a keyhole saw. Wherever a cutting line intersects with a stud or a joist behind the damaged drywall, saw through the drywall at a shallower angle cutting the drywall until you reach the surface of the wood.
- Cut into the vertex of corners with a razor knife. Make corner cuts wherever the section of drywall you are removing is attached to an inside corner. Cutting the corners reduces damage to adjacent walls or ceilings as you remove the damaged drywall.
- Make a hole in the damaged drywall with a hammer. Grasp the drywall with your gloved fingers inside the hole, and pull the damaged drywall away from the wall. Remove the entire area of damaged drywall one piece at a time. Take your time and minimize any damage to the drywall adjacent to the section you are removing.
- Remove all of the drywall from the wall if the wrong type of drywall was initially installed. On rare occasions, mold damage results from using the wrong type of drywall for a particular application. The two most common causes of mold damage, not created by water leaks, are drywall installed behind tile, or regular drywall installed in a bathroom instead of mold resistant drywall.
- Remove any drywall nails or screws from the facing of the studs or framing. Often the fasteners will remain in the wood after you remove damaged drywall.
Select a mold killing cleaning agent
Ranging from mild to potent, the options are available in both chemical and natural alternatives. Depending on the severity of black mold problems, you may go for a stronger chemical if needed. The main options are:
- Baking Soda: Create a cleaning solution with one part of baking soda added to five parts of water. It will be the mildest yet safest cleanser to use.
- Vinegar: Mixing vinegar with equal parts of water can be a slightly stronger cleaning solution. It is completely natural and safe when you have pets or children around.
- Detergents: Use detergents as per the directions on the bottle. These are completely safe to use with children or pets around.
- Bleach: Not everyone recommends using bleach as its fumes can be harmful to breathe in. However, it can be a strong effective cleaner that is safe for removing mold on drywall. Mixing one part of bleach with three parts of water can offer you a strong solution.
Using A Mold Fogger
There are some occasions when there is just too much mold to remove by hand. When this happens you can either rip all the drywall out and start again or you can try using a mold fogger. Foggers produce a fine mist of Concrobium mold control that evenly covers all surfaces in the room. It not only kills mold, but also creates a protective barrier to prevent mold from re-growing.