Need Help!

[Jarber63]

We have water damage from our bathroom into our hallway. So today we cut the plaster board and boy we have a heap of water damage. We don't know where to start to fix it.

 

  

[EricL]

Hello @Jarber63 

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us and thanks for sharing your question about your water damaged wall. 

It appears that the other side of the wall has been damaged as well. I suggest replacing that section of plasterboard as well to prevent mould from infesting the walls. The good news is that it appears that the stud wall has not been severely affected and looks to be in good shape. I propose leaving the stud wall to dry off and removing any mould that has latched on to the timber surface. I suggest using Selleys 750ml Rapid Mould Killer Remover to clean the surface of the timber stud.

However, should you find sections of your stud wall severely affected and compromised, I recommend replacing that section with new timber. You'll need to do a thorough inspection of the area to make sure that any area affected by the flood has been repaired. Skipping any section could result in mould and mildew infestation. It is possible to accelerate the drying time by using a dehumidifier in that section of the house. Please note that excessive use could result in over drying and negatively affect timber surfaces.  

Once the room has been repaired properly and all sources of water leaks have been addressed, you can then begin to re-line the room with plaster board. 

Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1 and @Nailbag for their recommendations.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

[Nailbag]

Hi @Jarber63 

The first job if you haven't already is to establish the source of the water ingress and have that repaired.

Based on the level of damage, I would open more of the wall up to either side. As with @EricL concerns, I would replace the damaged sections of wall to both sides. And personally I would replace the bottom plates and lower sections of mould affected studs, over any treatment. It's an easy fix when both sides of the walls have been removed.

Nailbag

[Dave-1]

Good Eveing @Jarber63 

Welcome to the Bunnings community page and Woooo you have a doozy to start off with! Easy to fix once its dried out tho.

I would also be removing that mould coated plaster, it looks like its been wet and absobed a lot of water and the mould will be hard to get rid of. What is on teh other side of the wall? Definently you are onthe right track to remove the first side, its just a bit bigger project to do both. I would pretty much be following the same instructions @EricL has suggested in the checking of the timber once dried.

Id take a bunch of photos as it is a pretty nice project, it would be nice to see the project unfold and complete

Dave

[Jarber63]

Thank you this is a great start and Yes, it's going to be a big bigger than we thought. As on the other side is our shower so we will need to take off the tiles and etc.

[Jarber63]

Thank you! 

It's going to be bigger than we thought as on the other side is our shower.

So Today we are going to open the other side wall of the shower which is in our bedrooms our showroom is in the corner.

[Jarber63]

Thank you! Yes, a bigger project but hopefully not as expensive as a new bathroom. 

The other side is our shower.

Our shower is in the corner so Today we will open the side to our bedroom.

Yes, we will upload photos as we go.

[Dave-1]

Morning @Jarber63 

Have you had the water damage assed by your insurer? 

Depending on the age of your house I would check the material that the bathroom wall is made of, Asbestos may have been used so wiser to have it checked before you start.

 As soon as you start pulling tiles off and yeah they do need to come off that damaged board then it will effect whatever waterproofing is left in the room. 

Dave

[JacobZ]

Hi @Jarber63,

As @Dave-1 has mentioned, it would be worth contacting your insurer for their assessment as water damage is often covered.

It is also worth having the fibre cement sheeting tested to confirm it is not asbestos. With plasterboard, you should be fine, but if you start having to remove fibre cement sheeting, there is a possibility that it could contain asbestos.

Keep us updated on what you find when you remove the plasterboard in your bedroom.

Fingers crossed that the water damage doesn't extend to more costly areas.

Jacob