Water Damage: Hastings Properties Are Likely Suffering
We have all seen them, those unsightly water stains on walls and ceilings. Hopefully, you are not looking at one in your home in Hastings right now… if you are, we need to talk. Wall water damage should not be ignored, especially if it is already making itself known through unsightly water spots and stains. Why? Because what you see on the outside is only the tip of the iceberg; it is always safe to assume there is more water damage on the inside than what you can see (if you can even see anything at all). Keep reading to find out just what to look for when assessing your wall water damage and just how important the restoration really is.
Water Damage: Hastings Properties Might Suffer From Different Symptoms
Wall water damage can come from outside sources, like a leaky roof, or inside sources, like a leaky pipe. That is what is so tricky about this type of water damage, you just can’t see inside your walls. The thing with water damage though is that it will eventually begin to make itself known. Some of the more common signs that there is water damage occurring behind your walls are:
- Softened drywall
- Bubbling, cracked, or peeling paint
- Discoloration from water spots and stains
Let’s take a minute and go over each one so none of them get overlooked. First, we will focus on the one that is most often missed which is softened drywall. The reason this sign gets overlooked is that the exterior of the wall appears normal. You have to touch it to know that it is weakened or softening. When the drywall is exposed to water, it will begin to absorb as much as it can because it is a porous material. Once it has become soaked and cannot hold any more water, deterioration can begin. If you press on an area of your wall that you suspect might have water damage and it buckles or leaves a depression, there is definitely a problem. Now we don’t expect you to go around pressing on every square inch of your walls just to see if there could be possible damage, which is why we will go ahead and move on to the next sign – a bubbling, cracked, or peeling paint.
If your drywall has indeed become fully saturated by water, then yes it will be soft but eventually, other signs will begin to appear. One of the first is little water blisters that make your paint appear to have bubbles in it. This means the water that is soaking through your drywall is looking for a way out, so it begins to push through the paint. These bubbles can grow quite large (if you a bored, google photos of water blisters on walls and ceilings – kind of fascinating), but sometimes the water will just break through leaving cracks or peeling paint. What if you have particleboard or a different type of material on your walls? Well, then you should be looking for the third sign which is discoloration in the form of water spots and stains.
This sign of water damage is often associated with a prolonged problem and one that may not always be constant. For example, if you have a large water spot along the top of your wall that has changed shape, or appears like the color is darker sometimes than others, it is probably from an exterior leak. When it rains, you may notice that the spot grows or gets darker. Whatever the cause may be, if you have water spots, stains, or any other areas that are discolored, do not wait to get them inspected for water damage. Recognizing all of these signs and acting on them as soon as possible can make all the difference when it comes to a quick and successful water damage restoration. At Yellow Van, we know that our walls can’t talk, but they can show us signs that there is a problem and that they need water damage restoration. Call our team of water damage experts if you are in need of water damage restoration services in Hastings.
