A ceiling leak is rarely a ceiling problem. Water that stains drywall has usually traveled along a joist from a roof opening, a supply pipe, a drain or, in an attached building, a neighbor's fixture upstairs. The restoration team follows the stain back to its source before opening anything.
Buildings with a unit above
The borough has condominium and apartment buildings, including Willow Shores Apartments and the condominium streets around Quay Court and Riverfront Drive, where a ceiling leak can start in the unit above. The association or landlord often has to open that unit before the source can be found.
What happens to a wet ceiling
- A sagging ceiling is opened early so trapped water can drain
- Wet insulation above is removed, and clean insulation can dry in place
- Joist bays and the subfloor above are dried with air movers
- Gray water from a drain or appliance gets an antimicrobial treatment
Stains, odors and paint
A stain that dries out is not a stain that is fixed. Moisture left behind causes sagging, flaking paint and odor months later, so readings, not appearance, decide when the ceiling is ready to repair. When the water came from the top, see roof leak water damage.
Photograph the ceiling and any stains on the floor above before material is removed, and note whether the stain has grown since it first appeared. A leak that crossed a shared ceiling is also handled under townhome and condo water damage.