Brown or yellow stains
Rings on ceilings under bathrooms, attics and roofs, often darker at the edges where the water dried.
Leaks, floods and stains
Water-Damaged Drywall Repair in Fort Collins
Water ruins drywall faster than almost anything else, and the damage you can see is rarely all of it. Fort Collins Drywall Pros has repaired water-damaged walls and ceilings in Fort Collins since 2011, after burst pipes, roof leaks, overflowing tubs, failed swamp coolers and flooded basements. Water jobs are some of the most common calls among our 1,300-plus completed projects across Northern Colorado.
We work for homeowners, landlords and property managers, and alongside plumbers, roofers and water restoration companies. The plumber stops the leak, the restoration crew dries the structure, and we rebuild the walls and ceilings. When we leave, the room should look like nothing ever happened, down to the texture on the ceiling and the corner bead at the doorway, with the new board primed and ready for your painter.
Our rule is simple: we never close up a wall until it is dry. We check with a moisture meter, cut back to sound board, replace wet insulation, hang the right panel for the room, often a mold-resistant one, and match the finish. You get an itemized written estimate with photos and measurements, which is also exactly what your insurance adjuster will ask to see when you file the claim.
What to look for
Signs of water damage behind drywall
Bulging or sagging
Wet gypsum loses strength and bows between framing. A sagging ceiling can hold standing water, so keep clear of it.
Peeling tape and paint
Water breaks the bond under paint and joint tape, so seams lift and paint bubbles near the source.
Musty smell or soft spots
Board that gives under your thumb or a damp, earthy smell usually means moisture has been there a while.
Why we wait
Dry first, then rebuild
Closing up wet framing with new drywall traps moisture in the wall, and that is how mold starts. Before we hang anything, we take moisture readings in the studs, plates and surrounding board, and compare them with dry areas of the same house.
On larger losses, a restoration company dries the structure with air movers and dehumidifiers following the IICRC S500 water damage standard. We coordinate with them so we arrive when the readings say the wall is ready, not a day before.
- Moisture meter readings before any new board goes up
- Wet insulation removed and replaced, never left in the wall
- Coordination with plumbers, roofers and restoration crews
Local causes
Where water damage comes from in Fort Collins homes
Frozen and burst pipes
Sub-zero cold snaps split pipes in exterior walls, crawlspaces and garages. The damage often shows up days later as a ceiling stain below.
Hail and roof leaks
Northern Colorado's hail season damages roofs every summer. Leaks travel along rafters before they drip, so the stain may be far from the hole.
Evaporative coolers
Many older Fort Collins ranch homes run roof-mounted swamp coolers. A cracked pan or a missed winterization can leak straight into the ceiling below.
Basements and window wells
Clogged window wells, sprinkler lines near the foundation and sump failures send water into finished basements. See our basement drywall page for how we rebuild below grade.
Our process
How we repair water-damaged drywall
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STEP 01
Document
We photograph and measure the damage and moisture readings for your records and your insurer.
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STEP 02
Cut out
Wet board is cut back past the damage, typically in a straight flood cut 2 to 4 ft above the waterline on walls.
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STEP 03
Verify dry
Framing and remaining board are checked again. Nothing is closed up until the readings are normal.
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STEP 04
Replace
New board goes in, moisture and mold resistant where the room calls for it, then it is taped and finished.
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STEP 05
Match and prime
Texture is matched to the surrounding wall or ceiling and primed, ready for paint.
Leak fixed and walls still stained?
Call us once the source is repaired. We will check moisture, document the damage and give you a written rebuild estimate.
Materials
Choosing board for rooms that get wet
After a water loss, we often upgrade to moisture and mold resistant panels such as USG Sheetrock Mold Tough, Gold Bond XP or Georgia-Pacific DensArmor Plus in bathrooms, laundry rooms and basements. These resist mold growth far better than standard paper-faced board when humidity spikes.
They are not waterproof, though, and they are not a tile backer for showers. Inside a tub or shower surround, cement board or a foam or fiberglass-faced backer belongs under the tile, and we will point that out if a wet area was built wrong the first time.
Pricing factors
What drives the cost of a water damage repair
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Area affected | Square footage of board and insulation to remove and replace, on walls and ceilings. |
| Ceiling versus wall | Ceiling repairs need more protection, lifts or scaffolding, and overhead finishing time. |
| Texture | Matching knockdown, orange peel or popcorn on the surrounding surface adds a step. |
| Drying status | If the structure is not dry, a restoration company needs to dry it first, which adds time before we rebuild. |
| Mold | Visible mold over roughly 10 sq ft calls for professional remediation, per EPA guidance, before drywall work starts. |
Keep exploring
Related drywall services
Ceiling Repair
Ceiling cracks, sagging board, leak stains and holes from moved lights, repaired and textured to match.
Drywall Repair
Holes, cracks, nail pops, torn paper and corner bead, patched and textured to disappear under paint.
Basement Drywall
Basement walls, ceilings, soffits and stairwells, built for floating walls, moisture and Fort Collins permits.
Texture Matching
Knockdown, orange peel, skip trowel and hand textures matched to your walls, plus full texture changes and smooth-wall conversions.
Service areas
Water Damage Drywall Repair beyond Fort Collins
Our crews run water damage drywall repair jobs across Northern Colorado. These towns have their own pages, written around the homes, codes and permit offices there.
FAQ
Water Damage Drywall Repair questions
Straight answers to what people ask us most. Have a different question? Call or send a photo with the quote form.
Can water-damaged drywall be dried out instead of replaced?
Sometimes. Board that got briefly wet from clean water, dried quickly and stayed firm can often be saved. Board that is sagging, crumbling, stained through, or was wet with dirty water should be replaced.
How long does drywall take to dry after a leak?
With professional drying equipment, most walls dry in three to five days. Without it, moisture can linger in framing for weeks. We check with a moisture meter rather than guessing.
Do you work with insurance companies?
We provide the photos, measurements and itemized estimate adjusters ask for, and we coordinate with restoration companies. Your claim itself stays between you and your insurer.
Is a sagging ceiling dangerous?
It can be. A ceiling bulging with water can collapse. Keep people out of the room, and if it is safe, poke a small hole at the lowest point over a bucket to drain it, then call us.
Will the repair match my existing ceiling?
Yes. We match smooth, knockdown, orange peel and most other textures, and prime the area so it paints evenly.