When it comes to repairing water damaged walls, the first step is to assess the damage. Scan the area to see if there are any broken or severely fallen pieces of drywall that need to be replaced. If you notice 'bubbles' in the paint, it means that water has gotten under the paper on your drywall. In this case, you will need to remove the loose, peeling paint with a scraper and sand the damaged drywall with medium-grit sandpaper.
If necessary, apply a patch to the area. Once you have prepped the wall, you are ready to apply a coat of primer and continue painting. It is usually best to paint the entire wall or ceiling, as it can be difficult to blend a single patch with the rest of the wall. Painting directly on water stains will not work, as the stain will bleed through the new paint.
Before repainting, it is important to properly prepare the surface. Additionally, Bob Vila recommends looking for and repairing water leaks first, or else you may find that the water stain on the roof keeps reappearing and your repairs will be short-lived. Once the water stain is dry, you can paint over it with a brush or roller and let it dry. Make sure to blend the edges so that the paint blends into the surrounding area. Painting on water is only a temporary solution.
Unless you fix the problem first, water damage will continue. The first step in addressing the cause of water damage is to stabilize the area surrounding the leak. Painting surfaces in your home after water damage is very different from a standard job. When painting over a water-damaged ceiling or wall, make sure to deep dry it first, removing not only visible water but also any moisture inside the wall or ceiling.
Additionally, use high-quality interior paint for best results. If you have recently experienced water damage in your home, contact a professional painting company for help.
