When a stain is found on a ceiling, many homeowners may believe that this is a cosmetic issue.  Stains and blemishes on walls and ceilings are unsightly and it is common for homeowners to want these stains to be covered up immediately.  However, stains on ceilings don’t come out of nowhere.  If there is a stain on your ceiling, there is a good chance that this stain is a water stain caused by a leak.  Simply covering up the stain will only solve the problem cosmetically.  You must address the issue that caused the leak and resulted in the stain, or you could end up with a much bigger problem.

Damage from a Water Leak

Ceiling Leak water damageBuilding materials that are commonly used in homes such as wood, insulation and drywall readily absorb water.  This allows the water from a leak to spread through these materials very quickly and reach more areas of the home.  The water stain on your ceiling may just be a small part of the damage; the water likely leaked from somewhere above the ceiling and traveled through the insulation and support beams before staining the wood or plaster surface of your ceiling.

Building materials that have absorbed too much water may become discolored, warped, and weakened which can result in major structural damage.  Ignoring a leak above your ceiling can eventually weaken the materials enough for the ceiling to collapse.  If there is water above your ceiling, there is also a risk of mold growth.  Mold thrives in dark areas with excess moisture and the presence of the mold will not only increase the risk of damage, but also the risk of negative health effects caused by mold exposure.

Water stains on your ceiling require immediate attention because they are almost always a sign of more extensive water damage happening above the ceiling.  You must uncover the source of the water leak that caused the stain and fix the leak before dealing with the stain itself.  This guide explains the most common causes of water leaks that lead to water stains on the ceiling, how to find and stop the leak, and how to remove the stain from your ceiling.

Common Causes of Ceiling Water Stains

Water LeakIt can be difficult to find the source of ceiling water damage because there are many potential sources.  The following are the most common causes of water damage and stains on your ceiling:

Finding and Repairing the Leak

leaking sinkAs mentioned above, the stain on your ceiling is usually the least of your worries.  Before you can even begin dealing with the water stain, you must find and repair the leak.  Make sure you follow these steps to identify the source of the water damage:

Addressing the Water Damage and Stain

If you catch the leak right away, you may be fortunate enough to have the ceiling stain as the only resulting damage.  In this case, you can proceed with the following tips to remove the stain from the ceiling.  You should only address the stain after you have discovered and repaired the source of the water.  If there is significant water damage beyond just the stain, you must call a professional such as Aurora Restoration Experts for professional water damage restoration services.

Call A Water Damage Restoration Professional

Water Damage CleanupRemember, a stain on your ceiling is almost always indicative of water damage and in most cases, the damage is more significant than the just stain.  Catching and fixing the stain early gives you the best chance of avoiding serious damage so that you can fix the water stain itself.  If the leak has caused serious damage in addition to the stain, make sure you call our professionals at Aurora Restoration Experts right away for professional water damage restoration services.  Our professionals will locate the source of the water and repair damage to the affected building materials, effectively taking care of everything including the stains.  The worst thing you can do is neglect the source of the stain and just cover up the blemish.

 

The article “Ceiling Water Damage – Common Causes and Repair” was first published [here]

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