How to Repair a Crack in Ceiling From Water Damage Updated

How to Repair a Crack in Ceiling From Water Damage

There are few feelings worse than being confronted with water impairment. If you have a ceiling that's water stained, peeling and or cracked, here's what to exercise.

Ceiling Freedom365day/Shutterstock

In that location are few feelings worse than being confronted with water damage. If you take a ceiling that's water stained, peeling and or croaky, here's what to do.

Stabilize the Situation

The commencement footstep is to stabilize the area around the leak. Move valuables out of the area and then interruption out a saucepan and tarp to catch and incorporate any h2o that'southward congenital up behind the ceiling. Chances are your ceiling roofing is drywall, which will absorb or disperse the water. You're better off controlling where water comes through the ceiling. Do this by creating a small pigsty at the heart of the leak using an awl, screwdriver, or similar object, then that the water will pass though that controlled opening and into your bucket.

Here is how to find and repair hidden plumbing leaks.

Track Down and Repair

Next, it's time to rail down and repair the source. H2o tin travel a surprising distance from the initial leak, and roof leaks in particular tin be tough to isolate. Even in an apparently elementary situation, such as when a bathroom is straight above the stain, at that place are still a number of potential sources for the water. Information technology could be a leaking drain, loose supply line, or missing caulk.

You may need to cut a hole in the ceiling in order to encounter where the water is coming from, and if you're having trouble re-creating the leak, you might try the quondam trick of laying sheets toilet paper along pipes and ceiling joists. The toilet paper will conspicuously show any reaction to moisture, allowing you to narrow the telescopic of your search.

How to find and prepare roof leaks.

Dry the Damage

While repairing the source of the leak, permit whatsoever affected materials to thoroughly dry out. This is particularly true of the ceiling cavity because moisture trapped behind the drywall will be prone to developing mold. A minor leak may dry out up on its own, but, for larger leaks, it'due south frequently best to open up a department of the ceiling and air it out with the aid of a fan.

ten ways to prevent mold in the wake of a water leak.

Repair the Ceiling

Depending on the leak, this may involve just touching up with a fleck of Spackle and paint, or it might mean replacing and repainting the entire ceiling. Go along in mind that it's oftentimes easier to merely remove damaged drywall dorsum to dry material. This often exposes ceiling joists, which makes hanging patches easier. The same goes for painting, equally it'southward oft easier to plume new paint into a larger area, or even pigment the whole ceiling, in the case of a larger leak.

Here is how to patch a water stained or textured ceiling.

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