EnduraFlood vs Drywall: The 30-Minute Water Test - Tutorial 101

Admin
Oct 23, 2022
1 min read

When interior walls of homes and businesses are built, finishing them with drywall has been the traditional choice of homeowners and contractors alike.

One of the most common ways to design these walls is with wooden studs and drywall,

which is sanded and painted. Exterior walls are also equipped with insulation.

While they are sturdy and visually appealing when dry, as soon as water enters the room, the weaknesses become apparent, as shown in this experiment.

Drywall wall assembly submerged in water during a flood simulation showing water surrounding wood studs and insulation

Water entering a room is one of the greatest nightmares for any homeowner, and it is usually a traumatic experience, even if it rises to only a few inches high, as seen here.

Because it is impossible to build these drywalls watertight, the water will always surround the entire structure and not just the front.

In this experiment, we exposed the drywall to water for only thirty minutes. Keep in mind that flood events can last several hours or more.

Hands removing soaked drywall after 30 minutes of water exposure showing crumbling gypsum and saturated insulation

After only thirty minutes, the material of the drywall structure is fully penetrated by water.

The gypsum drywall is disintegrating, and the insulation is soaked. With the exception of the wood or metal studs, all has to be removed and replaced through a long, costly, and messy process.

EnduraFlood wall panel placed in water for 30 minutes demonstrating flood resistant wall panel performance

Enter the world of Endura Flood, where we help you manage the results of a flood event.

Endura Flood uses the same wood or metal studs but adds a panel system that can be

removed and replaced after the appropriate dry out time.

After an Endura Flood Systems wall is exposed to floodwater, simply remove the baseboard, unclip the waterproof board, and simply let them dry. If insulation is in the wall, remove it for easy replacement.