Water Damage Walls Plaster

When salts from the masonry substrate come in contact with water they migrate to the surface of the plaster appearing as dry bubbles or efflorescence.

Water damage walls plaster.

The damage that water causes to plaster walls depends largely on the. First technicians determine the extent of the water using a range of water damage restoration tools. Call a water damage remediation specialist and leverage their expertise experience and equipment. Flaking paint paint and water are insoluble and an easy way to identify if plaster is water damaged is looking for flaking paint or air bubbles that burst and flake.

Plaster applied to a masonry wall is vulnerable to water damage if the wall is constantly wet. The second step in this guide on how to repair water damaged plaster walls is to remove the damaged plaster. Take away all material that is bubbling flaking or peeling using a putty knife. One choice is a non invasive moisture meter.

Dry the wall surface with a fan heater then tape some kitchen foil tightly over the affected. Plaster walls are uncommon in newly built homes but if you live in an old house some of your walls may be made of lath and plaster. Water damage effects may be minor isolated to the surface layer of the wall or it may penetrate the whole 3 coat structure causing crumbling brown and scratch coats that fall off the lath. In some cases the lath may also be damaged showing rotted wood or rusted metal under the plaster coats.

Use the steps in my post how to. When you hit lath stop the bit won t go through wood pull out the bit and drill another hole about 3 inches from the first and about 2 inches from the crack. Try to be as gentle as possible but if the damage is deep you ll need to get the blade in to dig out any soft material. The plaster can now be applied to the wall.

Patch plaster to repair the damaged sections. Bubbling plaster bubbling plaster. As such water is a plaster wall s enemy. The source of the moisture must be eliminated before replastering the damaged area.

If you re not sure of the cause of a damp patch on a wall try the foil test. Over time water can be wicked up from foundation masonry or inward from exterior stone walls and damage any plaster applied to it. Using a 3 16 inch masonry bit drill a hole in the plaster about 2 inches from the crack. Wait a couple of minutes for the water to soak into the wall.

To make plaster walls plaster is applied wet to a wooden lath wall structure and allowed to harden. How to repair plaster walls 1. This meter uses radio waves to. Drill into the plaster photo by david carmack.

Once the water damage becomes severe then the plaster will begin bubbling and bulging. You may reach this stage without any noticeable water stains but when this happens a portion of the plaster will have to be removed and patched.