Answers

There are companies that offer energy evaluations and some even use thermal imaging and a tool / process called a blower door reading / test.  This will help identify the cause and opportunities for correction.  You can do some easy items as well like ensuring all like plate covers have insulated pads behind the covers, check for insulation around your homes perimeter if you have an unfinished basement, check your homes exterior for small gaps or holes left from old utilities and service work performed over the years.  Best of luck!

You can call an expert.

Search for a door protection kick plate. This will cover current damage and protect for any future...

Depending on what year your house was built, you might have asbestos in that popcorn ceiling. Typically, anything older than 1979 is a good chance that it could have asbestos; our company regularly finds that with popcorn ceilings. We always send a environmental hygenist out to our jobs to confirm whether or not a house is "hot" for asbestos. It's preventative protection for our workers.

Removing popcorn ceilings requires a lot of preparation to prevent contamination of the other areas of your home. You will need to cordon off the area (room) with some kind of plastic covering the walls, floor, and entry area - this is for your own protection. Also, you will need to wear personal protective equipment including a tyvex type of suit that covers you from head to toe, gloves, safety glasses, and most importantly - a respirator. These things are necessary to keep you safe from breathing in the microscopic fibers of asbestos and preventing you from getting asbestosis or mesothelioma (a tumor of the mesothelium, often malignant and thought to be caused most commonly by the inhalation of asbestos particles.)

John,

If it is a small repair, you may want to test out a product at Lowes.  Homax ceiling texture.  I'd suggest trying it on a scrap piece of drywall (make sure it's at ceiling height for testing).  Jayme and Phillip both had great ideas.  Perhaps yet another would be to just remove the popcorn all together.

Samantha,

Typicaly most repairs are noticable and replacement it best.  If you simply need to cove the hole and this is a typical way you keep puppy indoors, you may consider purchasing a piece of metal to cover the hole and prevent more damage.  Home Depot #800537 is a quick idea.   

Per ANSI/IICRC S500 Standards and Reference Guide.

"Restorers should consider drywall restoation when it can e verified that no structural integrity has been lost.  Dywall can be restoragle if the water is Category 1 or 2, there is no obvious swelling, seams are intact, and there is no idication of fungal growth.  Drywall should be replaced when contaminated with Category 3 water, damage is obvious (e.g., swelling, seam sagging, seperation), fungal growth is present on paper coverings on either side, or when blown-in insulation materials behind the drywall have likely packed down."

The drywall that has water damage should be removed. The wood studs might also need to be replaced depending on if there is mold or rot. The insulation behind the drywall should also be replaced. The base molding might also need replacing as well as the flooring.  

this is very common in new homes.  I would work with the builder first.  That is the easiest way to correct the problem.  They are in the buiness of building home and need good referrals  I would try the builder again and you would be surprised at the outcome with a softer approach. 

Philip Anderson

Berkeley Ca