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What to do if You Have Water Damage on Your Ceiling

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If you recently experienced a leak that started with your roof, it is very likely that you now have a ceiling with water damage. Some common signs of water damage include discolouration, paint or wall materials that are peeling, mildew and mould. If you have any of these signs, it is important that you act fast and get the water damage taken care of.

Find the Source of the Leak

Unless you are sure the source of the leak is completely gone, this needs to be your first step. Working hard to repair the ceiling damage is going to be pointless if the leak keeps worsening after the repairs are done. Try to find the source of the leak, whether it is a plumbing pipe that is cracked or you have a hole in your roof. Even if it was from a hole in the roof and it is no longer raining, some water might still be in a puddle near your roof. Investigating the area and making sure it is completely dry needs to be done first. You will also need at least a temporary patch on the roof before you start fixing the ceiling.

Get Rid of the Damaged Areas

Water damage on the ceiling often leads to mould and mildew, even after it is patched and painted, so you will need to remove the damaged areas first. Hopefully, this will just require scraping off the damaged parts of the ceiling. However, in some cases, you need to cut out parts of the roof if they are showing severe signs of damage. If you think there is mould growing already, especially black mould, it is better to leave this to a professional. Ceiling fixers will get the area cleaned and repaired and do it safely, even with black mould.

Patch Holes and Cracks

By this point, you are ready to start making the repairs. For minor cracks and holes, a joint compound should work well for patching it up. If you removed large sections of the ceiling, you will need to adhere a mesh patch over the hole, then apply the compound over it and wait for it to dry. Once dry, you can sand the surface until it is flush. Before painting, you want to make sure it is completely smooth and flat. The final step is to prime and paint over the areas of damage that you have just repaired.


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