Steps To Take When Your Ceiling Is Leaking

5/6/2020 (Permalink)

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It will always be immediately obvious when you have a leak in your ceiling! Drips of water, discolored tiles or plaster, and peeling paint are going to be dead giveaways. It isn’t always as obvious as to where that water is coming from, and it can be difficult to find the source. Common causes will include: leaky or burst pipes, a toilet or tub that has overflowed, and leaks in your roofing, just to name a few. In addition to unsightly staining and damage to your interiors, it can lead to mold if they are from a smaller leak, while large leaks and burst pipes can cause your ceiling to crumble completely in a fairly short period of time. If you have a serious issue you will probably want to call a professional full-service repair company. 

In the meantime, here are a couple of steps to take when your ceiling is leaking: 

• Dry the Ceiling. If the damage is minor, you will want to find the source first and repair that. Using fans and dehumidifiers can be a big help after the repair is done, and you may want to rent commercial units for the best effect. You can use scaffolding to raise these machines up near the ceiling, improving airflow and getting things drier faster. 
• Paint/Repair. For a minor ceiling situation, you can make repairs without replacing drywall or plaster by scrubbing the area to take away loose debris, wiping the area with a clean cloth, and allowing it to air dry. If your ceiling is painted, apply a primer to block water spots, and then apply 2 coats of paint, blending it into the damaged areas. For a plaster ceiling, just fill in the gaps and cracks with new plaster.

The steps above are great for someone who is a do-it-yourselfer or when the damage is minor, but if you have experienced a large leak in your ceiling with a lot of damage to your building, you can always rely on us here at SERVPRO of Lansdale, Warminster, Blue Bell, and Abington Jenkintown. We are water damage and fire damage experts and skilled in mold prevention and remediation, too.