Hey everyone! I moved into my house three years ago, and only recently noticed some leakage around what I thought was a skylight (turns out it's actually a bathroom vent fan). I'm embarrassed to ask for help, but I really need guidance on who to call to fix this mess. What steps do I need to take to clean up the damage and restore my ceiling?
3 Answers
To repair the ceiling, shape goes like this: First, remove the light cover, and then carefully cut away the soft drywall without letting debris fall into your eyes. Backing can be put behind any drywall that’s hanging loose, or you can cut back to the next joist. Once that's done, you'll need to install new drywall, mud and tape it, sand it down, texture it if needed, and finally prime and paint. But again, make sure you've addressed the water issue first—otherwise, you’ll just end up back at square one!
Before diving into drywall repairs, make sure to check what’s above the ceiling. Sometimes the leak can be further up, like from the roof or an attic space. It might be frustrating, but tackling the leak first is essential. After you’ve found and fixed it, you can accurately assess how to handle the ceiling repairs. It's a bit of a process, but you can definitely get through it!
It definitely sounds like you should start by getting a roofer to inspect the area. The leak could stem from the vent not working properly, like not venting damp air out, or it might be that there's a crack somewhere causing the water to drip back inside. Fixing the leak should be your first priority before worrying about the ceiling and the vent itself. Once that's sorted, you can then call a contractor to repair any damage inside, including replacing the vent if it's rusted or damaged.
Thanks for the advice! I really appreciate it. I'll call a roofer first thing.
Good point! I'll have the roofer inspect it thoroughly first.