Ceiling Damage From Water Leak

Ceiling stains sagging drywall and peeling paint typically mean water is sitting atop your ceiling drywall.

Ceiling damage from water leak.

Roof damage including missing shingles clogged gutters and ice dams are one culprit. If there signs of water damage or dripping water coming from the ceiling that is directly below an attic space or directly below the roof surface itself there is almost no question that the true cause is a hole or other type of damage in the shingles or other roofing material that make up the roof system. You must address the issue that caused the leak and resulted in the stain or you could end up with a much bigger problem. Create the hole away from the ceiling s framing boards.

Problems overhead can be caused by a number of issues many of which will require your immediate attention. After all wood tends to rot warp and deteriorate if exposed to moisture. Depending on the leak this may involve simply touching up with a bit of spackle and paint or it might mean replacing and repainting the entire ceiling. Water damage to a drywall ceiling like gyprock is a bit more complicated to fix than water damage to a plaster ceiling.

Since drywall is essentially thick layers of paper or cardboard it can be soaked through much more easily than plaster and is much more absorbent and breaks down quickly when wet. Keep in mind that it s often easier to simply remove damaged drywall back to dry material. Identifying roofing system leaks. In the lifecycle of a ceiling water leak water will pool on top of the drywall between the joists for a surprisingly long time before you notice it below.

This is a disaster waiting to happen. Most homeowners insurance policies help cover water damage if the cause is sudden and accidental. If there is a stain on your ceiling there is a good chance that this stain is a water stain caused by a leak. Use a screwdriver and push it into the center of the location of the leak.

The weak point in the ceiling is the hole in the drywall that contains the ceiling light fixture s electrical box as well as the light fixture itself. According to the insurance information institute homeowners insurance may help pay for repairs if for instance your drywall is drenched after your water heater ruptures or an upstairs pipe bursts and water saturates the ceiling below. Ceiling with bubbles from water leak. The drip however may also penetrate into the walls the flooring and your home s foundations.

Puncture the ceiling with a screwdriver to drain the leak. Simply covering up the stain will only solve the problem cosmetically. 10 ways to prevent mold in the wake of a water leak. Damage from a water leak.