The 10 Standard Steps to Removing Soaked Drywall

When you have a major flood or water leak inside your property, you can be sure you’ll have damaged drywall as well. Soaked or soggy drywall should be removed immediately, before mold and mildew can develop. But before you decide to take on the project yourself, it may be wise to review the basic steps you can expect the process to involve. This insight may convince you that drywall removal and installation is best left in the hands of trained and equipped professionals.

Continue reading to review the 10 basic steps for removing soaked drywall, as well as, who to trust to get the job done right, and at a fair price.

Indianapolis Drywall Contractors 317-269-7319
Indianapolis Drywall Contractors 317-269-7319

How to Remove Water-Damaged Drywall

The steps for removing water-damaged, soggy drywall are quite comprehensive and detailed. Furthermore, they ebb and flow depending on certain conditions and circumstances, both foreseen and unexpected. However, below are the basic, “skeletal steps”, so to say, for taking out soaked drywall. These will give you an idea of what the project will entail and to what extent. In order to learn how to remove water-damaged drywall exactly, you will need to do your research or consult a professional for advice.

Step ❶: Laying Down Tarps

In the first step, you will do all of your project area preparations, including placing down plastic protective floor tarps. These will make cleanup much easier, and protect floors from a big mess or irreversible damage.

Step ❷: Marking the Cut Line

In this step, you will need to locate the highest point reached by the water. This water line is where you will base your cut marks on. Cut marks should be made 6 to 12 inches above the water line using a laser level.

Step ❸: Cutting the Drywall

Now you are ready to make the actual cuts, following along your original markings from the previous step. You will do this using a very sharp utility knife that is specially designed for drywall, gypsum board work.

Step ❹: Making a Hole

In this step, you can look forward to puncturing a hole in the drywall using a framing hammer. The hole should be made in a center section of the damaged drywall, below the cut line, and between two wall studs. Furthermore, it should be large enough to fit your hand through to the other side.

Step ❺: Pulling Out the Drywall

In this step, you will have to first remove the baseboards and electrical outlet plate covers, if any. Once this is done, you will have to reach inside the hole you made (hopefully wearing work gloves) and pull on the drywall until it comes loose from the wall studs. Then you will need to use a flat bar, hammer, or flat-nosed shovel to pry it the rest of the away off.

Step ❻: Testing for Moisture

In this step, you’ll need to assess the moisture level of the exterior walls, as well as, the inner insulation. You need to remove all the drywall up to where the insulation is dry. So if you still feel damp insulation or drywall, you’ll need to go back step 2. Keep in mind, if any electrical cables, outlets, or outlet boxes have to be removed and replaced, you must hire a licensed electrician.

Step ❼: Removing Soggy Components

Drywall won’t be the only component that is soggy and water-soaked. You will also need to remove wet fiberglass insulation in this step, as well as, the drywall screws, nails, and anything else that is affected by water or that will be trashed.

Step ❽: Disposal and Cleanup

When you have cut all the soggy drywall out and removed the wet insulation, you will have quite the mess on your hands. In this step, you can look forward to carrying all the debris and scrap drywall out to the appointed dumpster or truck that will eventually take it to a landfill.

Step ❾: Ventilation

Even after taking out all the wet, damaged components of drywall, you will still have to air it all out and ventilate the affected areas. High-powered construction floor fans are needed for the job, which will speed up evaporation of moisture, and prevent condensation and mold growth.

Step ❿: Drywall Replacement

Of course, you don’t want gaping holes or missing walls in your home; so you will need to replace the damaged drywall with new material. In addition to drywall installation, you will also have to prime, sand, and paint all over again.

As you can see, the process of removing soggy drywall is tedious and exhausting. This is why it is best left to trained professionals who are fully-equipped for the job!

Indianapolis Drywall Contractors 317-269-7319

Call Drywall by Local Builders at 317-269-7319 for Indianapolis drywall repair and installation service. We are experienced drywall contractors who offer a wide range of residential and commercial drywall service, including repair, replacement, installation, new home construction, metal stud framing, custom drywall texture, grid ceilings, and much more. Call 317-269-7319 to request a free estimate, today.

How to Remove Water Damaged Drywall

If your property experienced an interior water leak, chances are that you have some water soaked drywall on your hands. If so, you will need to take immediate action to resolve such damage in order to preserve the structural integrity of your home or building. Waiting too long to repair water damage can lead to dangerous mold growth, electrical problems, and more.

Continue reading to learn the basic steps to removing water damaged drywall, and who to call for trusted drywall replacement services near you.

Indianapolis Drywall Contractors 317-269-7319

Indianapolis Drywall Contractors 317-269-7319


It is important that you have experience in the construction industry when it comes to removing water damaged drywall. Not only will you need to ensure your work is correct and up to code, you may also require professional assistance from a plumber and electrician before any drywall and insulation replacement can ensue. Furthermore, you wouldn’t want to accidentally take out a load-bearing wall or disturb any plumbing and electrical systems. This is especially important after a major flood or water leak. It is strongly encouraged to hire a professional company for water damaged drywall repair.

If you are confident in your construction skills, you can get the project started by removing the water damaged areas of drywall soon after discovering the leak. Below you will find a list of what you will need and which steps to follow. If you have any questions, contact a licensed Indianapolis drywall contractor for professional advice and assistance.

What You Will Need:

Replacement Insulation
Pencil or Chalk
Utility Knife
Hammer
Large Garbage Bags
Industrial Fans or Blowers
Gloves
Safety Glasses
Full Coverage Footwear
Floor and Furniture Coverings
Moisture Meter (optional)

Getting Started:

Set Up Your Work Space

First, put on all of your personal protective gear, including gloves and safety goggles. Then prepare your work space by setting up all your materials and laying down protective floor and furniture coverings where needed. To protective floors and furniture, you can use plastic tarp or old bed sheets.

Mark the Wall

Next, mark the wall. Start at the floor and make a straight line up. You want to remove all water soaked areas, but keep in mind that you will need to go farther than where the drywall is wet since water travels upward. So make your line extend up 2 to 4 feet above the visible wet drywall. Do this on both sides so that you have two vertical lines parallel to one another. Connect them at the top, making a large square around the entire affected areas.

Begin Scoring the Surface

Take your utility knife and score the drywall along your marked lines, inserting the knife only halfway through the thickness of the wall.

Remove the Damaged Drywall

Using your hammer, carefully tap out a hole in the drywall directly beneath your top score line. Then insert your fingers into the hole and gently pull back and forth on it to loosen the affected areas away from the studs behind them. Then just manually pull out the damaged drywall and fill up your garbage bags.

Remove All Wet Insulation

Now that you have your giant hole in the wall, your next step is to remove all of the water soaked insulation. Be meticulous here, and really try to remove all of the damaged insulation, soaked and mildly damp. Water soaks into insulation deeply, allowing it to travel much further than in drywall. If you are not sure whether or not the insulation needs to be removed, remove it all. It is very cheap to replace, so it is better to be safe than sorry.

Set Up Your Fans

With all the water damaged wall and insulation removed, you are ready to set up your fans and blowers. Allow them to dry the area for 48 to 72 hours, or longer if need be. This should sufficiently increase air flow behind the walls and dry out the wooden studs and sub-floors. Set up your moisture meter as well to monitor the moisture levels around the affected area.

Indianapolis Drywall Replacement

Indianapolis Drywall Contractors 317-269-7319

Indianapolis Drywall Contractors 317-269-7319

Call Drywall by Local Builders at 317-269-7319 for professional drywall replacement in Indianapolis and its surrounding areas. We are experienced drywall contractors who offer a wide range of residential and commercial drywall service, including repair, replacement, installation, new home construction, metal stud framing, custom drywall texture, grid ceilings, and much more. Call 317-269-7319 to request a free estimate, today.