There’s a Water Stain on my Ceiling! What now?

6/18/2021 (Permalink)

There’s a Water Stain on my Ceiling! What now?

When a small water stain on your ceiling is first noticed, there are two likely causes. A plumbing leak or a roof leak would cause water to seep through the ceiling and evaporate, leaving you with a discolored, unsightly mark.

Where did  the water damage come from?

When a water stain on your ceiling is discovered, immediately look for the source of the leak, correct the issue, then begin working to repair the affected areas. Many homeowners will ignore water stains when first spotted. This may be because they do not consider it a potential issue, or they simply just forget about it. 

Spotting a water stain is a call to action and demands immediate attention. Water stains have the potential to get much worse if the cause is not identified and corrected. Many people will cover up the stain, without addressing the initial cause. This  course of action can potentially leave you with a larger, more expensive problem on your hands in the future if not corrected.

When you notice a water stain, open up the affected area or hire a professional damage restoration company to remove the affected ceiling or walls. Once the area is exposed, identify and correct the source of the water intrusion. If a leaking pipe or AC unit is involved, fix the leak or hire a plumber or HVAC professional. If the roof is the culprit, repair the roof, or hire a reputable roofing company to do so.

The leak is fixed, what now?

Once the water intrusion source is fixed, inspect the areas for mold, water and odor.  Should you discover any of those three items, always have a professional make an inspection.  SERVPRO of Media and SERVPRO of Central Delaware County offers free inspections to all of our water damage clients.  

Once the area has been properly remediated, you can begin completing the repairs. First, replace affected drywall, and then paint. Start by moving the furniture out of the way, and covering and protecting your contents.  Then tape off the areas you don’t want to get paint on with blue tape, as you normally would before beginning to paint.

Apply an oil-based, stain blocking, mold-resistant primer. If you have a smooth ceiling, you can roll it on with a paint roller. Alternatively, if you have a popcorn ceiling it would probably be easiest to spray it on. After applying the primer, you can paint the ceiling with the paint of your choice. Wait the recommended amount of time before applying a second coat. After the paint dries, your ceiling should look like there was never a stain to begin with!

If you experience a pipe burst or water leak in your home that is too large to handle on your own, call SERVPRO of Media and SERVPRO of Central Delaware County. We have the knowledge and training to handle any loss, regardless of size!