If you have a ceiling that is discolored, bubbling, or even dripping, then you likely have some water damage, Don’t despair as fixing a water damaged ceiling is probably easier than you think. But before you can start repairing, you need to know the source of the leak first. 24/7 Water Damage Charlotte, which does water damage repair in Charlotte, has shared its expertise to help you know what to do in this situation.
Often the source is from the roof, which makes sense considering all the wear and tear it goes through. Common sources of leaks involve cracking in the flashing, broken or damaged shingles, bad sealing, ice dam buildup, clogged gutters, or improper installation.
Heavy winds and hard rain can cause considerable damage to shingles, and so can just general erosion based on the sun. This deterioration can start with the flashing, which can become exposed when the tar completely corrodes.
Valleys, or the low area in your roof, are especially weak to rain leakage. Improper sealing or installation of any part of the roof can result in leaks springing much earlier than expected. Entropy is the number one enemy and it is especially effective against shoddy craftsmanship.
When a ridge of ice forms on the edge of the roof, it can create a dam that blocks snow from running off, eventually melting into water. Clogged gutters work similarly, causing water to get blocked up and run down the sides of the house, causing even more leaks.
While not as common, it is possible that your roof might be fine but a leaking or bursting pipe might be causing the water damage in your home. This is especially relevant for basements and any home on the side of a hill. Usually curved pipes like U-bends are the source of the leak.
The first thing you need to do is repair the source of the leak. All in all, the next steps are useless if it is going to be undone with the next bit of rain. If you can’t find the source of the leak, try to keep in mind that water can flow far, and the source can be several feet from the damage.
To start, you should have a ladder or step stool, screwdriver, hand saw, razor blade, tarp, scraper, sandpaper, and replacement material, along with primer and paint. You’ll want to move any furniture that is in the way and put down the tarp to collect any droppings, and have a towel on hand.
Try your hardest to dry the ceiling above and below if you can. Even in heavily damaged ceilings this useful if just to stop the spread of the water. If you have a large bubble or the ceiling is still dripping, this means there is saturation,. Carefully stab this part of a ceiling with a screwdriver.
Remove any parts of the ceiling that have obvious water damage. Carefully cut out the damaged portion of the drywall with the razor blade and scrape away any flaking or chipping portions of the surface that might be flaking up.
While you don’t necessarily need all of these tools, the more you have the easier your job will be. Try having a combination square, tape measure, taping blade, and jab saw on hand. A cordless drill, joint compound, drywall tape, and sanding sponge will help you put it in.
Using a piece of sandpaper, smooth out the perimeter of the newly cut piece so it fits into the hole snugly without catching on anything. Put joint compound around the perimeter and smooth it out by rubbing it with the piece of sandpaper.
Before you paint, make sure you apply primer first, as any smaller stains that you haven’t cut out will show through even the best paint. Once the primer is completely dried, hit it with some paint. Try applying a thin coat to the whole ceiling to get a uniform color.
Water damaged ceilings can look bad and lead to big problems if ignored. Make sure to first discover the source of the leak, which is usually either from roof damage or plumbing problems. From there it’s just a matter of having the right tools and enough elbow grease to fix it.
