If Your Water is DIRTY, you MUST remove all water damage affected materials, including the walls and insulation (complete this article). If you are affected by grey water damage or clean water damage you can simply treat the walls without completely cutting them out. This article explains how to remove a portion of the water damaged walls and affected insulation.

Below is a rough guideline for the amount of water damaged wall you ought to remove. However, remember that this is an ESTIMATE and that only a professional water damage restoration company will be able to tell you exactly how much wall is wet and how wet it is. Remember that you can find water damage companies through the links on this site!

Amount of Wall Removal:

Depending on the amount of water that you experienced, yo will want to remove at least three (3) inches of your walling. In most cases, this will be drywall. Drywall acts like a sponge, soaking up as much water as it can as fast as it can. Also, it does not dry quickly (or ever!) without the help of air cavities or air movement. In general, the walls are actually the portion of the water damage restoration that we must be most precautionary in.

Although this table is not completely accurate because I have not measured the moisture levels in your specific walls, this should provide a rough and fairly accurate outline.

How To - Water Damage Wall Removal:

1. Using a ruler, make pencil marks at the vertical distances on the damaged wall as specified in the above table. Space the pencil marks about 1 horizontal foot apart from one another.

2. Take your box cutter, load a new blade, and use the ruler to "connect the dots" between your pencil marks. While being cautious not to cut yourself, cut along the line formed by the ruler and the wall. This will not only cut the paint so that you don't get peeling, but it will also provide you with a line for which to cut on.

3. Take the flat or thinner head of your drywall hammer and puncture through the drywall, following along the line that you had cut. Once you have done this throughout the section of affected drywall you are ready to completely remove the wet section.

4. Using your drywall hammer, a crowbar, and your hands; bend, break, and remove your affected section of drywall. Do NOT punch or kick the drywall, because there may be a stud behind the area you are striking. The drywall directly over the studs will be difficult to remove but be persistent with your drywall hammer and you will be done soon enough.

5. Remove any visible insulation by simply ripping and cutting it out. Promptly dispose of it in an airtight garbage bag and move it outside immediately. Make sure to have a breathing mask on, as airborne fiberglass particles can be harmful.

6. Sweep up and dispose of all removed drywall and insulation.

7. Apply two coats of both your deodorizer and your disinfectant to the bottom three feet of your wall (or what is left of it).