Water damage and moisture problems are the number-one reason for having to replace drywall. Once it gets wet it is no good. It has to be replaced. Wet drywall will crumble. It will also grow mold, especially black mold, which can be toxic and make your family ill. The first thing to do is to take care of the moisture problem, and repair whatever is leaking. If you don't, the new drywall you install will soon also become wet.
Instructions
1. Remove all of the wet sheetrock by removing all visible screws with a cordless drill. Use a claw hammer to make a hole in the center of the area that needs to be replaced if you cannot remove or find all of the screws. Use a sheetrock saw to cut the entire damaged and wet area out, cutting from stud to stud width-wise, as high as the damage goes. Use a utility knife to cut ½ inch of drywall off of the studs so that you will have stud exposed to secure the new drywall to.
2. Use a tape measure to get an exact measurement of the damaged area, where the old drywall has been removed. Measure both the length and the width of the spot, then use a straightedge, marking pencil and tape measure to measure and mark a new piece. Make clear, dark lines.
3. Cut the new drywall to size using a sheetrock saw.
4. Hold the new drywall in place on the wall. Use a cordless drill and 1 ½-inch sheetrock screws to secure the drywall to the studs in the wall, inserting screws every 4 inches vertically along each stud. Countersink the screws 1/8 inch.
5. Use mud tape along all seams where pieces of drywall meet. Apply sheetrock mud over the seams and over all screws that have been countersunk. Allow the mud to dry for 12 hours.
6. Use an electric hand-held sander and fine-grit sandpaper to sand the mudded spots on the drywall. Do this to remove all bumps, ridges and burrs in the mud so that when you paint it there will be a flawless and smooth finish.
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