what you can do when your ceiling is leaking

Tell-tale signs of ceiling leakage

You may think a ceiling is leaking if it shows signs of discolouration, sagging drywall or buckling plaster, and dripping water from your ceiling.

Water emerging from the ceiling is generally a sign of an issue with another home system, rather than issues with the ceiling.

When there are indications of water damage and dripping water on the ceiling, look for them in the roofing system.

Dangers of swelling

It’s not uncommon for a water source to be hidden behind a wall or ceiling. This is known as swelling, and it happens when water builds up behind your ceiling or walls – this could happen even without any signs of ceiling leakage.

Water and air pressure build up when no hole appears for water to seep out of. As a result, as time passes, the amount of moisture rises while the rate of decomposition increases.

As a result, you may discover that part of your ceiling has come crashing down without seeing much of a water leak. Swelling is therefore thought to be an extremely dangerous and difficult-to-detect problem. If you detect swelling, we recommend using a sharp object to poke a tiny hole in the ceiling so that some of the water can be drained out.

While a hole in your ceiling, with dripping water isn’t ideal, since it creates a ceiling leak, it is still safer than having swelling behind it.

What to do if you’ve spotted a ceiling leak

(1) Remove all items under the dripping area

The first step in resolving a ceiling leak is to remove all objects beneath the leak. Even a few droplets might not seem like much, but given the length of time they will be wet, your things will become sufficiently moist for them to be harmed.

(2) Cover heavy Items / furniture

Many items may be too big to remove or are fastened to your home’s structure. If that’s the case, a plastic cover is the next best thing. While it isn’t the most optimal, it should protect your things from direct water contact.

(3) Collect / contain the leaking water

Then, place a pail beneath the leak to catch the majority of the leaking water. This avoids water from splashing on to other items in the space or saturating your flooring. Second, utilise a rag to soak up any remaining water around the bucket. This also helps to slow down how quickly your flooring absorbs water.

(4) DIY repair – identify and repair

Identify:

Water can travel a long distance from the beginning leak, and roof leaks in particular might be difficult to pinpoint. Even when a bathroom is directly above the stain, there may be numerous sources for the water, such as leaking drains, loose supply lines, or missing caulk.

Is the leak only a problem during rough weather or is it continuous in all types of weather?

If the leak stops between storms, this indicates that the source of the leak is somewhere on the roof.

However, if rain or shine, and the leak is constant, it probably comes from a plumbing water supply line.

To dig deeper, you may need to cut a hole in the ceiling in order to see where the water is coming from, and if you’re having trouble re-creating the leak, you might try the old trick of laying sheets toilet paper along pipes and ceiling joists. The toilet paper will clearly show any reaction to moisture, allowing you to narrow the scope of your search.

Repair:

Ceiling leaks are typically easy to repair, and they often don’t need to be addressed immediately. The leak could be as simple as touch-up with the help of paint, or it might necessitate the entire ceiling replacement and repainting.

If you are able to diagnose that it is a plumbing issue or roof leaking issue, then it is highly suggested that you engage a waterproofing specialist or a roof specialist in Singapore.

Engaging a professional

Many times, it might be more than just a single leaking problem, thus there is no harm getting a waterproofing contractor in Singapore to help to diagnose the root of your water leakage problem.