Ceiling Water Damage Repair Services in Dallas, TX

4/5/2021 (Permalink)

If you've noticed water damage on your ceiling, our North Irving SERVPRO provides professional water damage restoration services in the Dallas area.

If water doesn’t stain your clothes, then why does it stain your ceiling? When water soaks through ceiling materials, this mixes with blended fibers. Once these fibers dry, you’re seeing how the composition has permanently changed.

Minimal water stains can be faded with peroxide or bleach. You might also be able to mask it with matching paint or patch it up with new materials. However, this only takes care of the appearance.

Water stains are a warning sign. If you see water damage on the ceiling, there is likely a major leak somewhere above it. It’s better to remove stains as a final step because without stopping the damage at its source, it’s a losing battle. Not only will you have to keep covering the damage over and over again, but there is probably a mold problem developing behind the ceiling material.

Causes of Ceiling Water Damage

How did the water make contact with the ceiling? Unless someone took a hose and sprayed the ceiling directly, water damage to the ceiling will always be from a problem above. This is either from an internal or external source.

Externally, rainwater enters through a vulnerable spot outside the structure (which is usually the roof). Missing shingles, broken roof tiles, and damaged flashing allow water to collect and flow down into other areas of construction.

Internal issues are related to plumbing and other water sources located on the floor above. Pipes from bathrooms or appliances break and leak water onto the material below. Water damage close to air vents suggests an HVAC problem.

Whether the cause is external or internal, by the time you see water damage on the ceiling you can assume a real problem exists within the structure. You’ll need to investigate the cause and fix the problem at its root.

Ceiling Water Damage Assessment

Water damage assessments can either be done by the property owner, or a professional. The objectives are to account for all water damage, to find the existing cause of the damage, and to identify any issues that would lead to future water damage.

Portions of the walls or ceiling may need to be removed to determine the extent of the damage. Keeping undamaged pieces intact preserves them for reuse. Of course, drywall and ceiling panels that are soaked and growing mold will need to be replaced with new materials.

Mold Check

If you see or smell mold, the entire surrounding area needs to be inspected for mold as well. Unchecked mold growth allows this living organism to continue its colonization. Mold can cause health effects and negatively affects the value of the property.

Bathroom Check

Check for leaks around toilets, sinks, and showers. With your ear to the wall, you may be able to hear drips or the sound of rushing water that tells you where a leaky pipe might be.

Shower leak problems include pipe leaks, cracked seals or caulking, or an aging shower pan. Caulking starts to break down after 10 years and should be reapplied to maintain the seal. Shower pan problems may cause damage to the subfloor. If the floors in the bathroom creak or seem spongy when walking on it, the subfloor and joists may be saturated with water.

Appliances Check

Having appliances on upper floors is also a culprit for water damage. Such appliances are clothes washers, radiators, and water heaters. Our franchise has repaired several ceilings damaged by failing water heaters.

One home in Waxahachie had a water heater in the attic that was leaking. We removed the ceiling to dry out the areas on both floors as the wall studs were soaked. (See photos)

Another Dallas-area home encountered a problem where a water heater leak was so severe that the ceiling began to bulge. We removed the damaged portion of the ceiling and applied hot air to eliminate moisture. We used a detection device to check for lingering moisture before we reconstructed the ceiling. (See photos)

A home in Ennis lost part of its ceiling due to a leak. We performed water damage mitigation and checked for mold growth. The damaged portion of the ceiling was removed and we cleared the room of debris. We carefully removed the contents of the bedroom so the furniture would not be damaged. The area was completely dried and sealed so we could proceed with reconstruction. (See photos)

If you encounter issues where a major leak is causing the ceiling to swell, the water should be shut off immediately for damage control. Either turn off the water source to those upstairs appliances or locate the main shut-off valve.

Call SERVPRO of North Irving for Professional Ceiling Restoration

By the time you’ve noticed that there is damage to the ceiling, a major problem may have developed. Bulging ceilings that look like they could burst open at any moment or recurring water damage for which you cannot determine the cause are both situations that could use professional intervention.

SERVPRO has been the top provider of Dallas water damage restoration for decades. We locate the causes of water damage right away, work to mitigate further damage, do complete mold remediation, and look for potential causes of future water damage. We also help property owners by working directly with insurance companies. Call SERVPRO today at (972)986-7677 with questions and for a free estimate!