How to Handle Water Damage

Water damage looks bad, but it can also become a serious threat to your building if it isn’t properly addressed. One of the most common sites for water damage is your ceiling. This is because the source of the issue, a leaky roof, can often go unnoticed until it’s too late, resulting in a giant eyesore staring down at you. Do you know what to do if this happens?

The first and most important step in remedying a water-damaged ceiling is to find the source of the leak. If you have standing water on your ceiling, it needs to be traced to see where it is coming from. The source needs to be addressed and repaired so that future water intrusion does not take place.

Next, your attic or space above the ceiling needs to be completely dried out. Professional teams can come in to remove any standing water and set up high-powered fans to dry the area. Once it’s dry, the ceiling can be cleaned to prevent mold from forming.

Minor damage is relatively easy to tackle. You cannot, however, simply paint over the stain, as the water damage will show through the paint over time. The area must be properly primed first, using a special sealer with water blocker. After being primed, the area can be painted with a high-grade ceiling paint. For more serious damage, the drywall area must be cut out and removed. Again, the new drywall will be primed and painted.

As a note, any time you have water damage you should have an air quality analysis performed to ensure you don’t need mold treatment. If you have signs of water damage on your ceiling, no matter the severity, you need to have a professional inspect the area and give their expert opinion. Don’t wait until it is too late and a minor issue grows. Call MaintenX today to find out more and schedule a service call.