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According to the EPA, mold grows within 24 to 48 hours if left untreated after a water leak. So unless you notice the leak and stop it right away, you only have a day or so before mold is a real concern. If you don’t notice the leak, it can take about three weeks for the mold spores to become visible. That means you’ve likely had an active mold infection for a few weeks by the time you notice discoloration.

If you already have plaster walls and ceilings, adding new plaster costs $2 to $10 per square foot. For an average-sized room, that would come out to $1,200 to $10,000. However, the cost to replace plaster with drywall is higher—running between $720 and $1,250 for a 10-by-8-foot wall or ceiling (not including drywall finishing).

Whether to repair or replace water-damaged plaster depends on the scale of the damage. For small, limited areas, you can often perform a repair yourself. If you choose to paint over small patches, ensure the surface is completely dry and apply a coat of antifungal primer first to prevent mold growth. However, simply painting or plastering over the damage is only a temporary solution that doesn't address the core problem. For more extensive or long-term damage, the plaster may be compromised, and there is a risk of mold. In these cases, it is recommended to remove the damaged section of plasterboard and replace it. You may consider hiring a professional for the repair, and it's worth noting that water damage is often covered by home insurance.

Textured walls can increase the value of your home if the style is modern and seen as a desirable feature and not something a prospective buyer would need to remedy. A good example of this is popcorn texture versus Venetian plaster. The plaster wall would add value to your home, whereas the popcorn texture may be something a new buyer would want to remove.