How to Fix Mold in Drywall

Mold in drywall can be a serious health and structural hazard, resulting in sickness and even death. Repairing it is crucial to good home maintenance and safety. It's not enough to simply spray bleach on the problem to keep it maintained, because, in most cases, drywall that is displaying mold is worse on the inside than what can visibly be seen. Mold is a big problem and should not be left to deteriorate. Thankfully in most cases the remedy is simple, and you can complete it in less than a day.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Dust mask
• Gloves
• Hammer
• Drywall planer
• Tape measure
• Scraps of wood
• Drywall screws
• Drywall
• Putty
• Drywall tape
• Drywall taping knife
• Sanding block
• Texture (optional)
• Paint

1. Take steps to ensure safety. Mold is serious business. As soon as you disturb the mold, spores will fly. Black mold especially can be exceedingly dangerous. Open any windows to the outside, and remove children and pets from the immediate work area. Before you proceed, put on a dust mask to prevent breathing in the particles, and wear gloves to prevent getting mold into unknown cuts and scrapes.

2. Use your hammer to rip out any drywall with mold on in back to just beyond the mold line. Once you have gotten inside the wall, you may find the problem that created the mold in the first place. It may be caused by something you fixed before you endeavored to repair the mold damage, but, if not, you will need to repair the underlying issue before proceeding. Otherwise, the problem will come back after the drywall repair. Note: If its not dry inside the wall, there is a problem.

3. Use your drywall planer to sand the chopping pieces of the drywall to make flat edges for your repair piece. If feasible, expose the studs on each side of the repair for screwing the replacement piece in. If that is not an easy option, don't worry. It can be repaired regardless. Whichever option you select, keep in mind that your goal with the planer is to create the closet possible approximation of a perfect rectangle as you can.

4. Measure the dimensions of the rectangular hole, and cut a piece of drywall to fit as tightly as possible, flat into the hole. If you have exposed the studs on both sides, the tighter the fit, the less putty you will need to use for filling.

5. Attach your new piece of drywall to its new place in the wall. If you have exposed the studs, this will be easy. Simply use your drywall screws to attach the piece to the stud. If you have not exposed the studs, insert your scrap of wood through the hole and, using screws, screw through the existing drywall into the new board behind, securing the board as a base on which to mount your replacement drywall.

6. Fill the cracks surrounding the broken piece, making sure to leave enough excess filler on which to stick the drywall tape. Attach your drywall tape over the cracks, plaster over the top with your drywall tape and smooth the mud over the area, working out from the point of origin to feather out any changes in topography. Allow the mud to dry for 24 hours.

7. Use your sanding block to sand the now dry and excess drywall putty until the wall is smooth to the touch. If necessary, apply texture. If not, you are ready to paint.

Tips & Warnings

• Keeping your knife clean during the taping and mudding process for each pass across the mud will ensure a smoother work product. Wiping it off on a second knife or on the bucket edge will serve in this effort.
• Do not leave repair jobs untaped. The tape serves to bridge the gap in a way that keeps the repair from cracking along the outside edges of the replacement piece.

References

• Mold Repair

Resources

• Home Depot on Drywall Repair