Drywall Water Damage: What to Do in the First 24 Hours

Stop the source. Before anything else, stop the water — shut off the supply valve, tarp the roof, or put a bucket under it. Drywall can be replaced. The framing behind it can't, easily.

Open it up. Counterintuitively, you want to cut into the wet drywall to let the cavity dry. A few small holes near the floor or ceiling let air move.

Document everything. Photos of the damage, the source, and any belongings affected. Insurance will want them, and we can use them to scope the repair.

Call a drywall contractor — and a plumber if it's plumbing-related. The repair usually waits until the cavity is dry, but the assessment shouldn't.