Drywall, or gypsum board, is beneficial for several reasons. It is fire-resistant, economical, versatile, durable, noise-mitigating, easily decorated and painted, easy to repair and replace, and much more! For this reason, it is important to take good care of your walls, and keep up with routine cleaning and repairs. Although moderate to major drywall work should be performed by a trained and certified professional who is properly equipped with the right resources, there are some wall problems you can likely tackle yourself. This will save you both time and money.
Continue below to learn some of the most common wall issues, and how to solve them.
Wall Odors
Lingering wall odors are not pleasant. Worst of all, homeowners can become nose-blind to these foul smells, which can put a delay on fixing the problem. To clean walls of odor, fill a bucket with warm water and a drop or two of liquid dish soap. Using a soft sponge, start at the top of the wall and then work side-to-side on your way down. Use a step ladder to reach the upper areas. As you finish each section, use a towel to dry up any excess moisture. Then when finished, open up some windows and doors to ventilate the room and dry the walls.
Missing Studs
The most common way to locate a wall stud is to use a stud finder. If you do not have one on hand, your best option for located wall studs is to simply use your own fist. Using your knuckles, tap the wall a few times, and then horizontally move over every couple of inches and tap some more. The wall should emit a sound that implies hollowness when you tap, until you tap on a stud. When working with plaster walls, rely on your light switches. Most often, light switch plates are installed inside the first wall stud by the nearest door frame since the box that holds all the electrical wiring needs to be connected to something sturdy.
Small Holes
Large holes in the wall will require professional service, however, small ones can easily be patched up yourself. There are some basic steps to patching up a small hole in drywall. First, use a blade knife to clean up the edges of the hole; try to cut at an angle so that the interior of the hole is narrower than the hole. Next, use painter’s putty and putty knife to fill the hole. Then use the same knife to smooth out the surface, making it level to the wall. After the putty dries completely, lightly sand the area until smooth and level to the rest of the wall. Now, do these same steps, but with your spackle. Once the spackle is finished, you can paint over the spot and enjoy your accomplishment!
Sweaty Walls
If your home or commercial property has wet walls, or walls that “sweat” with condensation, then you may have a mold problem on your hands. Wet walls can be caused by several things, but mostly poor plumbing or leaky pipes. It is important to have a plumbing contractor provide professional diagnostics to determine the cause of your wet walls. Moldy wet walls will require drywall removal, drywall replacement, mold removal, plumbing repairs, water leak diagnostics, and fresh paint. All of these tasks require you to hire a professional.
Where to Find Trusted Indianapolis Drywall Contractors
Call Drywall by Local Builders at 317-269-7319 to request a free estimate for drywall repair in Indianapolis, Indiana. We offer a wide range of drywall services, for both residential and commercial properties, including new construction homes, remodels, repairs, metal stud framing, ceiling grids, and more. Request a free estimate, today.
