Water splashed onto drywall while washing garage

[quasi_accurate]

Hi all, I was prepping my garage for epoxy application and didn't think to mask the drywall while I was cleaning the concrete. Water got splashed onto the bottom few inches of of the drywall, like so:

Will this be a problem?

 

[Chandos]

Depends on how much water penetrated the plaster, which may swell and become crumbly. I'd sure as heck get a fan on that ASAP. You can pick up a small drying fan at the big boxes for $50 or so. Mine works real well for what I paid for it, and it'll dry a floor quickly, even in the Tidewater's humidity.

Good luck!

Chandos

 

[quasi_accurate]

Depends on how much water penetrated the plaster, which may swell and become crumbly. I'd sure as heck get a fan on that ASAP. You can pick up a small drying fan at the big boxes for $50 or so. Mine works real well for what I paid for it, and it'll dry a floor quickly, even in the Tidewater's humidity.

Good luck!

Chandos

Thanks, I went back to touched it (looks nearly dry after an hour) and it feels the same as parts that didn't touch water. So I think it's just superficial. I bought two 1200cfm box fans and cracked the garage door open a bit. Going to run the fans all night. I'm kicking myself now. Hopefully there is no permanent damage!

 

[cburnscrx]

That looks pretty wet for "splashed". I hope it works out for you. If not, just cut the bottom 2 feet and redo it. In this particular case hanging the drywall horizontally may help you as it's below the bottom seam if you do need to replace. Fortunately this is a garage, not the living room. Good luck!

 

[ddawg16]

I think I would have painted the walls before doing the floor. If you have big plans for the garage, the floor is one of the last items you do.

I see lots of opportunities for lights....outlets....etc.

And....had you painted those walls, the splashing would have been a non issue

So....get some primer on those walls and then cover it with a coat or two of semi-gloss exterior paint. Go with a lighter color and you will be amazed at how much it improves the lighting.

 

[Gary S]

As you just found out, drywall in a garage equals wetwall, and wetwall soon equals crumbling plaster. That is the main reason I would never consider using drywall in a garage.

 

[quasi_accurate]

That looks pretty wet for "splashed". I hope it works out for you. If not, just cut the bottom 2 feet and redo it. In this particular case hanging the drywall horizontally may help you as it's below the bottom seam if you do need to replace. Fortunately this is a garage, not the living room. Good luck!

How do I know if it needs to be replaced? As I mentioned, it feels the same as other parts of the drywall on touch.

I think I would have painted the walls before doing the floor. If you have big plans for the garage, the floor is one of the last items you do.

I see lots of opportunities for lights....outlets....etc.

And....had you painted those walls, the splashing would have been a non issue

So....get some primer on those walls and then cover it with a coat or two of semi-gloss exterior paint. Go with a lighter color and you will be amazed at how much it improves the lighting.

No big plans (at least not yet). I'm having the whole house custom painted next week, including garage. Going with red, black, and white paint, with stainless steel base molding. I'm trying to get a lot of projects done in less than a month before I move into the new house.

 

[Nowater]

Touch it for firmness, first. If it becomes soft replace the bottom two feet or so as suggested above. Make sure it dries and does not mold.

Consider the comments above about another wall covering in a garage. Plywood, OSB, and even Hardie Panel would all work well and provide some impact resistance. Paint would make it easier to keep clean. Good luck.

 

[pattenp]

If the paper just got wet and you didn't soak it don't worry about it. It will dry and be okay. And ignore all the nay saying about drywall in a garage. Just get the walls painted to help protect them in the future when you wash out the garage. I suggest at least a semi gloss paint.

 

[SteveCh]

You will know if it needs replacing. The paper might start to come loose. The gypsum might start to crumble or might swell a bit, easy to see.

However, I have gotten drywall wet before and unless it remains wet or is wetted a number of times, there has been no lasting damage. The problems I mentioned above will likely not happen with one wetting episode. The paper might show a discolored area where it was wet, after it dries, but painting will take care of that. I have had to put two or even three coats of paint on a discolored area but it will work. I am betting you are ok and just get it protected with paint before it happens again [and it will in a garage].

 

[Richard D]

Where's all your wall outlets????

 

[tcianci]

fuhgettaboutit

 

[pattenp]

I see at least two.

Where's all your wall outlets????

 

[brucer]

after you get the floor done, cover the walls up like 3 or 4ft with metal siding.. that would look great and be quite functional and fairly cheap..

 

[Richard D]

I see at least two.

Exactly.I have two or three eight-ways on each wall, still wish I had more! Six on all four corners of of my work table, barely enough.

 

[Daniel Dudley]

Electric heater.

 

[quasi_accurate]

Thanks all. I went back today to install epoxy coating and the walls seem fine. No softness or mushiness. Paint is going in next week (3 colors, primer + 2 coats, semi-gloss), after that's done I'm installing metal base molding. So this should be a one off incident.

Yeah unfortunately there are only two outlets in the garage. Not my choice, but it is what it is.

 

[RMR&C]

As you just found out, drywall in a garage equals wetwall, and wetwall soon equals crumbling plaster. That is the main reason I would never consider using drywall in a garage.

Guess it depends on how wet you get it.......I have drywall (painted) on my spray booth walls. It gets sprayed down with a hose regularly to clean. Been doing that for ten years, not even a bubble on the drywall.......
I would not hesitate to use drywall in a shop/garage.

 

[cburnscrx]

Thanks all. I went back today to install epoxy coating and the walls seem fine. No softness or mushiness. Paint is going in next week (3 colors, primer + 2 coats, semi-gloss), after that's done I'm installing metal base molding. So this should be a one off incident.

Yeah unfortunately there are only two outlets in the garage. Not my choice, but it is what it is.

Metal base molding?

 

[quasi_accurate]

Metal base molding?

Yes, aluminum or stainless steel.