Ceiling Damage From Water Leak

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.

Ceiling damage from water leak.

When your ceiling leaks water the first casualty is usually the attic area along with the items that it contains. Puncture the ceiling with a screwdriver to drain the leak. Ceiling stains sagging drywall and peeling paint typically mean water is sitting atop your ceiling drywall. We ll explain the basic steps but we also suggest you consult a professional if you have significant water damage to ceiling areas in your home or if the damage was caused by a flood.

The drip however may also penetrate into the walls the flooring and your home s foundations. Identifying roofing system leaks. Damage from a water 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.

Use a screwdriver and push it into the center of the location of the leak. Keep in mind that it s often easier to simply remove damaged drywall back to dry material. After all wood tends to rot warp and deteriorate if exposed to moisture. Most homeowners insurance policies help cover water damage if the cause is sudden and accidental.

Ceiling with bubbles from water leak. Simply covering up the stain will only solve the problem cosmetically. Ceiling water damage repair may seem daunting and it certainly can be a big job. 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.

Problems overhead can be caused by a number of issues many of which will require your immediate attention. 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. If there is a stain on your ceiling there is a good chance that this stain is a water stain caused by a leak. 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.

You must address the issue that caused the leak and resulted in the stain or you could end up with a much bigger problem. 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. Roof damage including missing shingles clogged gutters and ice dams are one culprit. Create the hole away from the ceiling s framing boards.