A pipe leaked behind my Orleans kitchen wall, what drywall work follows?

Water behind a kitchen wall means the drywall work comes after the leak is stopped and the wall cavity has dried out. What gets replaced is something the contractor decides once the wall is opened and they can see the board, framing and insulation.

The scope can range from cutting out and replacing a single damaged section to removing board across a wider area where the insulation is wet. Ask the contractor to describe exactly what they are removing, what board they are putting back (thickness and type), the finish level they are quoting to, how many coats of compound, and whether sanding, primer and paint are included. Texture matching, if your kitchen wall has any, adds to the scope and should be named in the quote.

On permits, the City of Ottawa's flood-repair FAQ says a permit is not required for removing drywall to allow insulation to dry. It does not say whether putting the board back requires one. Ask the City's Building Code Services before the work starts. Replacing insulation with a different material, such as batt insulation to spray foam, does need a permit, and wet insulation is an insulation contractor's job (ottawainsulationcontractors.ca). If structural damage is suspected, the City recommends a suitably qualified professional, such as a professional engineer.

We found no published price range specific to water-damaged drywall repair, because sources use different units and scopes. Get quotes that break out the removal, the new board and the finishing separately, so you can compare them clearly.

A few things worth confirming in writing before work starts:

• what the contractor is removing and why
• the board thickness and type going back in
• the finish level wanted on the new section
• whether primer and paint are included or separate

Once you have quotes in hand, the most useful thing to ask each contractor is what they will do if they open the wall and find the damage goes further than the current scope.