Welcome to Ceilings Guide
Ceiling Maintenance Ceiling Water Damage Article
Ceiling Maintenance: Ceiling Water Damage
from:It is common for homes of all ages and styles to have some instances of ceiling water damage. A few helpful tips and some ceiling maintenance can get the space back up and looking great. The good news is that you can repair much of the damage inexpensively, depending on the type of ceiling you have and the amount of damage done. Water is worrisome because it can lead to mold and other health issues of left untreated. Therefore, it is always best to tackle this type of ceiling maintenance as soon as it is possible to do so. Otherwise, you could risk the integrity of your ceiling structure.
One of the worst mistakes you can make, though is not to investigate the problem. Your first step should always be fix the underlying problem whether it is a leaky roof or a leaking pipe. Otherwise, the problem will only worsen. More so, once you locate the source of the problem, and you repair it, you will need to allow the area to fully dry out. This includes removing any wet insulation and ceiling and allowing the entire area to dry out. Once that is done, you can begin the job of repairing the actual ceiling.
Once you have gotten everything dry, here are some tips to help you to get the ceiling water damage repaired.
First, use a putty knife to remove any loose edging or anything that may be flaking off of the drywall or other ceiling material. You want anything that is not laying flat removed.
If you have a tiled ceiling, your best bet is to replace the entire tile, since this will keep the space from looking bad. This is especially important if you have a discolored tile, since it is hard to cover up watermarks.
If you have a drywall ceiling, you can repair it using drywall tape and plaster, by covering up the hole with filler, and sealing it over with tape. Then, plaster and sand it until flat. You can then use paint to repaint the ceiling.
If you have other types of ceiling, such as a tin ceiling, the options are a bit more complex. If at all possible, remove the tile and clean up the water damage. If the wood is significantly damaged and will not dry out, you may have to replace it, unfortunately.
There are some instances when you just cannot get back the same integrity of the ceiling that was once there. This is when you may need expert ceiling maintenance help. These professionals can help you to remove the damaged ceiling and to replace it. If there is any evidence of mold, this too needs to be professionally cleaned and repaired.