Repairing sheet-rock

Sure, just cut it out. Back to the studs is simplest. For the top, just cut some 1/4" plywood about 4" high and a bit shorter than the spacing between your studs. Stick it halfway up behind the good sheetrock and screw the sheetrock into it every 6" or so. That will give you something to which the replacement piece can be fastened.

Chris

See if you can eyeball it and figure out how the sheets were installed originally. Then tear out an entire sheet and install an entire sheet. In my experience, that's easier than a bunch of patchwork. And it might make it easier to dry everything out and check for additional damage.

Yeah, adding two 4' butt seams sounds _so_ much simpler than one foot of butted seam on the ends to me, too. :)

It will be better when it's finished.

For some definition of "better"... :)

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You're on the right track. Start by chalking a line ~12" up the wall and remove that section. Made the end cuts right along the studs -- don't bother trying to center the cuts over the wall studs and don't be too concerned with accurate cutting at this point.

Once you have a section removed you can determine the extent of the damage, give it a chance to dry out, and kill any mold that's still present.

When you're ready to finish, extend and/or clean up the cut lines all around. Sister 2x2 or 2x4 boards to the existing studs on the sides. You probably don't need to worry about providing backing along the top of the patch, the studs every 16" should suffice. If you do want extra support, screw scraps of 1x4 to the existing wallboard between the studs. (There's no need to attach the backing to the framing.)