View Single Post
  #10   Report Post  
Posted to alt.home.repair
SteveBell[_2_] SteveBell[_2_] is offline
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 235
Default drywall which got wet


On Wed, 11 Mar 2009 07:27:59 -0700 (PDT), RickH
wrote:

On Mar 10, 6:53*pm, wrote:
Due to a leaky shower stall ( since replaced) some of the nearby
drywall now has a 'puffy' look. *I guess the paper coating has
expanded or sumthin'. *Can I lightly sand it and paint over it?
*What would you suggest? *Thanks.


If there is no tile on it then ripping out a patch of drywall to the
studs and replacing it is just as easy as sanding it IMHO. Cut the
bad drywall out to the nearest stud centers, screw on a patch, mud/
tape it, sand, paint. Mold is a living organism and will only
multiply over time.


Around a shower you should be using BlueBoard or GreenBoard (I think
they are the same). They are a special drywall made for wet areas and
hold up better. Standard drywall is not a good choice around showers.
I would rip out all the drywall on the walls around the whole shower,
and replace it with the blue/green board. You likely got mold in
there. If you do, wash the studs with bleach water and let them dry.
Hopefully there are no tiles to replace. Patching soaked drywall will
only extend it's life, but is not a permanent solution, and if there's
mold, it's still there. (and there probably is mold). You dont have
to mess with the ceiling, unless it's damaged too.

I have a question to add to my reply. Maybe someone else can answer
this. When using blue/green board, is there a waterproof joint
compound made for it? ANYONE?????
I'd probably use the fiberglass joint tape too, not the paper!


Cement board is what you want in wet areas. The greenboard was used
there for a while, but it doesn't work much better than plain
wallboard. Use the greenboard in the _rest_ of the bathroom to fight
steamy air, and use cement board in the shower and around the tub.

With cement board, you tape the seams with mortar and fiberglass tape.

I recommend you put a waterproof membrane behind the cement board.

--
Steve Bell
New Life Home Improvement
Arlington, TX USA