How to Fix a Ceiling with Water Damage

Brief 

Knowing how to fix a ceiling with water damage properly – and quickly – is vital. It may not look bad now, but leaving it will only result in costly repairs further down the line, plus you’ll have to put up with musty odors, unsightly stains and potential health and safety risks such as mold growth and rotting beams in the meantime.

Insight

Firstly, it’s important to fix a ceiling leak as soon as possible – and not just for aesthetic reasons. In most cases, fixing a ceiling with water damage is a job best left to the professionals. However, small repairs are generally pretty manageable.

‘Worst case scenario, the whole ceiling will need to be torn out and replaced by a professional, however, assuming the water damage is minor and hasn’t compromised the structural integrity of your ceiling, it can usually be dried out and repainted’, says water damage restoration expert, Diana Rodriguez-Zaba of ServiceMaster Restoration.

Whether you opt for professionals or attempt the job yourself or even remove a popcorn ceiling with water damage, time is of the essence. We’ve put together an expert guide to help you establish the best course of action.

HOW TO FIX A CEILING WITH WATER DAMAGE

Before you go about how to fix a ceiling with water damage, you’ll first need to address what caused the damage in the first place. Unless it’s an extreme plumbing problem such as a burst pipe, this isn’t always obvious, hence why in some cases water damage goes unnoticed for so long. Only once you’ve established the issue – and resolved it – are you in a position to fix your water-damaged ceiling.

More often than not, it’s a good idea to replace the damaged or affected piece of drywall to maintain the integrity of your ceiling. You can do this by learning how to patch or hang drywall ceiling.If you have replaced drywall, you will also need to know how to plaster a ceiling, and how to wallpaper a ceiling before painting, too.