How to Fix a Water Mark in Drywall

A water mark is created on drywall when the drywall gets wet and dries. The minerals from the water stain the drywall and leave a discolored hue on the wall. Simply painting over the mark will not necessarily solve the problem. The stain will leach through the paint and reappear, once again marring the drywall. The best solution is to use a process called skim-coating. Skim-coating involves smoothing joint compound over the affected area before you repaint.

Joint compound
Six-inch drywall knife
Drywall sanding sponge
Paint brush
Paint

Instructions

- 1
  Dig some joint compound out the bucket with a six-inch drywall knife. Only dig out enough joint compound so the edge of the knife is covered. It is easiest to work with a bead of joint compound on the edge of the knife that is no wider than 1 1/2 to 2 inches.
- 2
  Smooth the joint compound over the affected area with the knife. Use long even strokes, holding the drywall knife at a forty five degree angle to the wall. Place the drywall knife against the wall at more of an angle to scrape off excess joint compound. The goal is to cover the water mark and make the joint compound as smooth as possible. Let the joint compound dry for 24 hours.
- 3
  Sand the repaired area using a drywall sanding sponge. Lightly sand the area to remove rough sections and ridges. Do not sand too much joint compound off the wall or you may need to apply a second coat.
- 4
  Paint the repaired area of the wall using a paint brush and paint that matches the rest of the wall.

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