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The drywall in our homes can feel like a mystery. Unfortunately, the thin and porous nature of standard drywall allows it to soak up moisture like a sponge. That means that mold and moisture issues could be hiding just out of sight behind your walls. Most people don't realize that there's a moisture issue with their drywall until the situation is out of control. For people in places like Florida and the rest of the Southeast, high humidity and routine flooding during storm seasons can put drywall at higher risk for mold damage. However, anyone in a low-lying or flood-prone area could have drywall that's keeping some pretty nasty secrets. How do you know if your home has water damage or mold? There are some telltale signs that could indicate that something bad is happening right under your nose. Check out five "red flag" signs your home's drywall is hiding mold or water damage. 1. You've Noticed Peeling Wallpaper or Bubbling Paint People who purchase or inherit older homes often think that peeling wallpaper is normal. They assume that wallpaper simply starts to disintegrate after a while. In reality, this is a clue that there's a moisture event happening on the other side of that drywall. Be careful with this one. Attempting to peel away the remaining wallpaper could release plumes of mold spores. Paint will also sometimes bubble, peel, or crack when there's moisture inside your walls. Seek out proper remediation if your wallpaper or painted walls look suspicious. 2. You Can See Visible Condensation on Your Walls If you can see moisture gathering on your wall, this is only the tip of the iceberg. There could actually be a substantial amount of water inside your drywall. Any kind of staining or presentation of dark spots on your interior walls or crown molding indicates moisture and old. 3. You're Noticing a Musty Odor in Your House Have you been chasing down an odd odor in your home? You may have vacuumed the carpets, aired out the drapes, and cleared out drawers trying to eliminate the source of a vague and strange odor that is permeating your house. It could be that the reason you haven't found it yet is because it's out of sight. Yes, it's probably mold. A musty mold odor will often have an earthy spell. It can mimic the odor you experience when you step outside or go into the woods on a damp or rainy day. It can be hard to know exactly where a mold odor is coming from in a home with many walls. One trick for narrowing down the general vicinity of the mold is to sniff around your electrical outlets. Odor often seeps through outlets. You can also sniff around under your baseboards. From there, you may be able to follow the path of the odor to identify the wall that is hiding mold. 4. You're Suffering From a Constant Cough or Runny Nose With No Explanation One of the reasons why moisture in your drywall is such a major issue is that mold can make your family sick! Many people don't realize that a "cold" that just won't go away is actually mold poisoning. Living with mold can make you feel like you're allergic to your house with no explanation. Here are some telltale signs that moisture and mold hiding in your drywall could be making you sick: Constant sneezing and runny nose Ongoing nasal congestion Coughing and wheezing Itchy, red eyes Mysterious skin rashes Dry, scaly skin Ongoing low-grade fever Headaches Fatigue Lung infections People with asthma or mold allergies  often experience exacerbated symptoms when exposed to mold. Mold can trigger severe asthma attacks. Sufferers may also experience chest tightness and shortness of breath whenever they are in the home. 5. You Have Buckling Walls This is one of the more dramatic signs your drywall has water damage. Buckling drywall can look wavy. You may notice lumpiness, unevenness, or a general look of your wall being uneven. This odd look is caused by pressure inside your wall. Buckling is a sign that moisture has pushed your drywall "outward." What to Do If You Have Moldy Drywall First, it's important to ventilate the area to try to mitigate the damage that mold is doing to your home and health. This is a situation where contacting local mold remediation experts is crucial. In addition, your walls will need to go. Yes, drywall that has become wet needs to be cut out and replaced. Following flooding events, homeowners generally remove the bottom half of their drywall. While the process is disruptive and expensive, it is the only way to make a home habitable again. At EnduraFlood, we've seen the burden that replacing wet drywall creates for homeowners after their walls have sustained water damage. That's why we created the first waterproof drywall product. Our waterproof drywall lets you open up your walls after water enters your home to clean the area out. That means you get to keep your walls instead of pulling out drywall. The best part is that you can open up your walls to check for any signs of moisture or mold whenever you want without actually tearing your walls apart. Following major flooding events, homeowners can actually get back to normal in a matter of days instead of enduring months of construction to get their walls back in place. What's happening inside your walls doesn't have to be a mystery any longer! Our waterproof walls empower homeowners to protect their homes and health. Learn more  about the attractive, convenient EnduraFlood waterproof drywall system.

"Anybody that talks about living at the beach and talks about flooding, the next sentence out of my mouth is about EnduraFlood,"  - Kevin, EnduraFlood Customer Anyone who has ever been through hurricane recovery knows the financial and emotional toll it can take. Unfortunately, homeowners in coastal and flood-prone areas can often do little to protect their homes from surges. The simple truth is that water is going to get into their homes. However, they can take back control once flooding happens if they have the right building materials. That's why so many homeowners in Florida and other states with unpredictably violent weather are discovering EnduraFlood.  If you're someone who is feeling rattled by recent storm events, it's important to know that you don't have to give up the place you have come to know and love just to feel like you're in control of what happens to your home. Keep reading to learn how many homeowners have been able to speed up hurricane recovery to get back to normal in a fraction of the time compared to past storms. A Decade of Violent Weather: How Homeowners in Florida's Storm Zones Are Taking Back Control For homeowners in parts of Florida, the past decade has forced them to tear out drywall two to three times. The cost per rehabilitation project can total six figures. What's more, it's not unheard of for homeowners to be displaced for weeks or months at a time. When EnduraFlood talked to a client named Albert V. in Florida, we learned that flood repairs following Ian and Idalia took years . Fortunately, Albert discovered our waterproof, quick-drying drywall before Helene. As a result, he was able to get back to normal in just over a week by using our user-friendly method that allowed him to restore his home at a pace of one room per day. When the EnduraFlood team sat down to speak with Albert, he was quick to tell us how much he loves living in Florida. The amazing weather and lower cost of living provide a stark contrast to life in his home state. As part of his retirement dream, Albert settled into a lovely home on a canal connected to the Caloosahatchee River that offers endless boating opportunities into the Gulf. While his home had never been flooded in all the time since his neighborhood went up more than 50 years ago, he experienced severe flooding three times in a span of two years after first being hit by Ian. The water level rose enough that he had to completely tear out his drywall. Like many homeowners, Albert spent several years and six figures to get back to the point where he could finally move in again. During the most recent storm event, Albert was able to bounce back from flooding at his home in just over a week because he was able to simply unhook his drywall, air everything out, and put everything back in place without ripping up walls or disposing of pounds of heavy, wet drywall. "After hurricane Ian when I made the decision to go with EnduraFlood, that was definitely the best decision, that, rebuilding decision that I have ever made," shares Albert. Albert can now confidently enjoy his home knowing that the water damage and mold that can quickly make homes dangerous and unlivable once water levels rise won't throw his life into a tailspin. That's because EnduraFlood's waterproof drywall boards are designed to let you open your walls for airing out. Homeowners get easy access to insulation that may be wet. After a sufficient period of allowing the area behind your walls to dry out, you can simply close everything up and get back to normal life. Homeowners like Albert are no longer at the mercy of drywall contractors when they need to save their homes from mold and moisture damage in a pinch. Never Replace Drywall Again: It's Possible for Florida Homeowners We're never going to have to replace drywall ever again. I think now that we've had it installed, we appreciate the fact that we don't have to worry anymore. There's no worry if a flood is coming, that's one less thing that we have to worry about. We know that the walls are going to be intact, so that's probably the major thing. And our sanity is intact."  - Kevin, EnduraFlood Customer Kevin is another EnduraFlood customer who was eager to find a better way to handle storm recovery after eight inches of water entered his Florida home during Idalia in August of 2022. The event was especially devastating because Kevin and his family had just marked two years of being in their bay-facing home that offers views of dolphins and wildlife. It felt like the perfect place to live. After going through the emotionally taxing and expensive process of having to cut out walls following flooding in 2022, he made figuring out a way to stop water from coming into the house a priority. Kevin also wanted to find a solution for protecting the inside of his house for times when it would simply be impossible to keep everything 100% dry. A Google search on the best way to protect drywall from flooding brought him to EnduraFlood. The process surprised Kevin. After dealing with contractors for months on end to get his walls replaced following Idalia, he discovered that his new EnduraFlood walls could ship within 36 hours. He could start installing right away. In fact, Kevin and his daughter were able to get walls up in two rooms very quickly using what he described as "very little muscle." "It really makes our house look and feel a lot more beachy than it did with sheetrock," Kevin shares when talking about the way his new waterproof drywall has enhanced both his peace of mind and the   aesthetic  of his home. People have even told him that the change makes his home look bigger. EnduraFlood has completely changed the way residents in Florida and other high-risk areas view architectural components. Most people have no idea that there are alternatives to ordinary drywall when they discover EnduraFlood's waterproof, fast-drying drywall boards that open up to let you air out the inside of your wall. You never have to worry about mold and moisture lurking inside your walls following a weather event again. Don't wait until the next storm to see the difference waterproof drywall can make. Learn more about EnduraFlood today.

Mold is something that every homeowner needs to think about. There's no avoiding the fact that moisture can seep into walls, floors, and ceilings to cause runway mold problems. For homeowners in humid or flood-prone climates, risks for mold are dramatically increased. It can feel like you're constantly doing battle with moisture. In situations where water enters your home during storm surges, your home's drywall is incredibly vulnerable to mold after being soaked. People who move to low-lying, flood-prone, or storm-prone areas for the first time often feel overwhelmed by the need to be vigilant about water damage and flooding. If this is you, you may be looking up how to protect your walls from mold. We want to share some of the top tips for preventing moldy drywall in your home. 1. Keep Humidity Levels in Your Home Under Control Allowing high humidity in your home is an invitation for mold. That's because humid air is moist air. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends keeping indoor humidity levels between 30% and 50%  to reduce mold risks. In addition, this is also the humidity range for maintaining a comfortable indoor environment for both humans and pets. If you're noticing that your home's humidity is routinely climbing above 50%, try some of these EPA-approved tips : Use dehumidifiers and air conditioning. Look for leaks and seepage that could be allowing water to enter your home from the outside. Leaks are often caused by the ground sloping toward the house instead of away from it. You may also be lacking proper gutters. Cover crawl spaces with dirt or plastic to stop moisture from entering your living spaces. Make sure your home's crawl spaces are properly ventilated. Check that you have functioning exhaust fans in your home's bathroom(s) and kitchen that vent moisture to the outside. Keep doors between rooms open to increase air circulation in your home. Remember that the amount of moisture your home can hold at any given time relies heavily on the air temperature. As temperature decreases, air loses its ability to hold moisture. Temperature control in your home is the first line of defense against moisture issues. 2. Don't Leave Wet Clothes or Towels Around the House Yes, your drywall can suck up moisture from wet items in your home. Standard drywall is made of gypsum, paper, and additives that soak up moisture like a sponge. Moisture transfer is a very real thing that allows moisture from one object to move to another. A home's bathroom is the most dangerous spot for moisture transfers. After showering, make sure that towels, mats, and shower curtains are fully dry. If your home has a pool, don't get in the habit of bringing in wet towels and bathing suits to leave hanging in bathrooms or bedrooms. If possible, create an outdoor drying rack where these items can safely dry away from your home. The same goes for any pool shoes that may be moist. 3. Use Paint That Inhibits Mold Growth Mold-inhibiting paint can help you to proactively prevent mold growth in some situations. This is a special type of paint with anti-mold additives. However, it's important to know that mold-inhibiting paints cannot actually kill mold. They simply make it more difficult for mold to proliferate on your walls. That's why mold-inhibiting paint is only intended to be used proactively to prevent mold from forming. Attempting to paint over mold using mold-inhibiting paint can actually make the mold worse. Painting over mold can cause the mold to spread as the paint dries. 4. Act Quickly If Drywall Gets Wet If your home endures a flooding event, it's critical that you act quickly. Mold begins to form on wet drywall within 24 to 72 hours. However, it's actually possible for spores to begin forming in just 12 hours. Once your drywall has touched water, you must dry out the room(s) affected using fans and dehumidifiers. If drywall is soaked, it is generally considered too compromised to be restored. You will need to cut drywall above the flood line to tear out all pieces that were affected by the flooding. After allowing time for the interior of the wall to dry out, you must then replace insulation and drywall. Allowing soaked drywall to simply dry in place almost guarantees that your home will have mold issues. What's more, formerly rigid drywall will begin to buckle, warp, and crumble over time after being exposed to water. That's because drywall is made of organic materials that attract and retain water. When you begin to tear away your drywall after flooding, you may be surprised that it begins to crumple in soggy bundles that need to be hauled away. Looking at Drywall Differently: Welcome to EnduraFlood Homeowners who choose EnduraFlood don't have to obsess over humidity when it comes to their drywall. That's because EnduraFlood is 100% waterproof drywall. We've created durable, attractive wall boards made from inorganic material that repels moisture. In fact, our walls are so resistant to water that they can easily stand up to a power wash ! That's why we're able to assure our customers that they'll never need to replace drywall again . If your home experiences flooding, simply open up your EnduraFlood panels to allow your walls to dry out. While you may need to change soaked insulation, you won't have to tear out your drywall. Once everything is aired out, simply close your walls back up again to get back to normal living. Our customers report getting back to normal at a rate of about one room per day . For people who need to replace soaked drywall, the process could take several months and thousands of dollars. EnduraFlood also makes it easier to fight humidity when you aren't dealing with a post-flood situation. For homeowners in high-humidity environments, being able to check behind their walls to see if their insulation is moist brings so much peace of mind. Don't let mold worries steal your peace of mind at home! Learn more  about EnduraFlood today!