Quick poll for folks who’ve dealt with water damage after a plumbing fail: did you go the pro route, DIY, or just patch it up and hope for the best? I’m staring at a soggy drywall patch and bracing myself for the bill. If you’ve been through this, what did you end up spending, roughly? Ever regret not calling in the experts?
Had a similar mess last year—ended up tackling it myself. Cut out the soggy drywall, let everything dry with fans for a few days, then patched it up. Materials ran me about $60, but it took time and patience. If the leak was big or you see mold, I'd say pros are worth it. Otherwise, DIY isn't too scary. Hang in there, it looks worse than it is at first.
If the leak was big or you see mold, I'd say pros are worth it. Otherwise, DIY isn't too scary.
- Been there, patched that. Here’s my two cents:
- Small area, no mold? DIY all the way—just budget for a pizza to keep your spirits up.
- Mold or mystery moisture? Pros will charge $500–$2k easy, but they’ll chase leaks you can’t see.
- Drywall’s cheap, but your time isn’t. If you’ve got tenants waiting, speed matters more than saving $50.
- Pro tip: If you do it yourself, take photos. Insurance loves a good before-and-after.
It’s never as pretty as HGTV, but hey, neither is my last paint job...
Funny how drywall always looks easier on YouTube than in real life. I tried patching a ceiling after a pipe burst last winter—thought I’d save a few bucks, but between the sanding and the mess, I started questioning my life choices. Ended up spending more on takeout than I planned. If you’re dealing with anything bigger than a dinner plate or there’s that musty smell, I’d lean toward calling someone in. Mold’s sneaky, and it’s not worth risking your health just to save a couple hundred.
Yeah, that musty smell is a dead giveaway—learned that the hard way in one of my rentals. I tried patching and painting over a small section once, thinking it was just cosmetic, but two months later I was tearing out a much bigger chunk thanks to hidden mold. Ended up costing about $1,200 for pro remediation and repairs, which stung, but honestly could’ve been worse if I’d waited. If you can see or smell water damage, it’s rarely just surface-level in my experience.
