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Ceiling Damage Repair

Repairing water-damaged ceilings

By the time you realize your ceiling has been damaged by water, it may have become a fairly large problem. Signs to indicate damage include: water dripping from the ceiling, bubbling areas of paint, bowed in sections, and/or moldy, discolored areas. Don’t panic, it may be easier to fix than it looks, especially if you’ve caught the problem early.

Common causes include leaky pipes, flooding by faucets left on, or damage to the roof allowing rain to soak through. If a faucet in an upstairs bathroom was left on, you don’t need to worry about calling anyone in for repairs as it is an isolated incident. For leaky pipes or damage to the roof, get the problem fixed before proceeding with ceiling repairs. If the problem is not fixed, you’ll just be covering it up until it shows through again and possibly causes structural damage to your house.

If you don’t have any bubbling or bowing, you might get by without replacing parts or all of the ceiling. Use household bleach on any areas that look moldy. Wait for the affected area to dry completely, and then apply a stain sealer. Once the sealer has dried, you can repaint the area. You may want to repaint the entire ceiling as previously painted areas may not blend in.

For ceilings that have bowed in or are bubbling, you will need to replace parts or all of the ceiling. Older stucco ceilings will require more labor and cleanup than modern drywall ceilings. For stucco ceilings, you will want to tear down the entire ceiling in that room and replace with drywall. With drywall ceilings, you might be able to get away with cutting out the area and replacing with a new or partial sheet. Before hanging new drywall, remove any wet insulation and replaced with new insulation. Also check for any signs of moldy supports and treat with bleach. If you’re not comfortable with repairing drywall or aren’t sure if you have structural damage, it is always better to call in a professional and make sure the job is done right.