Water Stains on Your Ceiling? Here's The Fix

2/28/2020 (Permalink)

Although the stain may have dried, the underlying cause of the stain could still potentially be a threat to your home.

If you notice a small water stain on your ceiling, chances are it was most likely caused by a plumbing issue or roof leak. Either one of these events would cause water to seep through the ceiling and evaporate, leaving you with a discolored, unsightly mark.

Where did it come from?

If you find a water stain on your ceiling you should immediately look for what caused the leak, address it, and then begin working to repair the affected areas. Many homeowners who notice water stains will ignore them. Either because they think it’s not a potential issue, or they simply just forget about it. It is vital that the issue is addressed immediately, as it could potentially get worse. Many people will also go straight to covering up the stain without addressing the initial cause. This potentially will leave you with a larger, more expensive problem on your hands in the future.

Open up the affected area or hire a professional to remove the affected ceiling or walls.  Then make the necessary repairs to the source of the damage yourself, or enlist the help of a roofer, plumber, or HVAC professional. 

The leak is fixed, what now?

Inspect the areas for mold, water and odor.  Should you have any of those three items, it always best to have a professional make an inspection.  SERVPRO of Media offers free inspections to all of our water damage clients.  

Once the area has been properly remediated, you can begin completing the repairs, by replacing drywall and then painting. Start off 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/Central Delaware County. We have the knowledge and training to handle any loss, regardless of size!