Water damage: It’s every homeowner’s worst nightmare.
When it affects the ceiling, gravity isn’t on your side. You have to act fast to fix a sagging ceiling due to water damage.
As the leading restoration provider in Chicago, IL, ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba helps hundreds of homeowners recover from water damage each week. With more than 85 years of combined experience, we know how to restore sagging ceilings.
We’re sharing that expertise with this complete guide to fixing a ceiling that’s sagging from water damage.
Key Takeaways
- If you need to fix a water-damaged ceiling that sags, alert others to the situation. Turn off the room’s electricity and water supply. Move out furnishings and belongings, cover the floor with a tarp, and set buckets under the leaks.
- Determine the extent of the ceiling damage. If you’re concerned about structural problems, contact a professional restoration company.
- DIY repairs start with locating and shutting down the source of the water. You may need to call a plumber. Contact your insurance carrier, set the claims process in motion, and take pictures to document the damage.
- Fix the ceiling by pulling down wet materials and insulation. Speed up the drying process by running fans in the room for several days. Put fresh insulation in place, and patch the open areas in the ceiling. Sand, prime and finish with ceiling paint.
- The most common causes of sagging ceilings include water damage, shoddy construction, weak materials, deteriorating structural support and foundation shifts.
Before You Get Started
- Let others in the house know that walking under the sagging ceiling may be risky.
- Turn off the electricity and water supply to the affected room.
- If the leak is still dripping, shut off your home’s water at the main valve.
- Move valuables, furniture, textiles, and other items out of the site.
- Position a tarp and bucket beneath the leak to catch water.
- Assess the damage, and determine if the ceiling needs to be repaired or replaced.
- If you’re concerned about its structural stability, call a restoration company like ServiceMaster by Zaba.
How to Fix a Sagging Water-Damaged Ceiling in 7 Steps
A sagging, water-damaged ceiling requires immediate attention. Follow these steps to resolve the issue
1. Identify the Source of the Water Damage
Before you can fix the water damage, you need to understand where it’s coming from. Keep in mind that water can travel a long way from the initial leak, so you may have to conduct a broad search.
This is especially true if you’ve noticed leaking through a light fixture or from an upstairs apartment.
Pay special attention to common culprits like leaking drains, supply lines, missing caulk, or broken pipes. The leak may be coming from an upstairs bathroom, or it could be the result of problems on the roof. In some cases, you may have to remove sections of drywall to expose the fault.
Pro Tip: When you check the attic for leaks from the roof, remember that water runs downhill. You may need to follow wet streaks on attic beams several feet upward to locate the problem.
2. Take Care of Plumbing Repairs
If you’re comfortable with simple DIY plumbing repairs, take care of the leak. When you’re done, don’t turn the water supply back on right away. Leave it off long enough to be sure no more water will collect in the ceiling material.
Unless the repair was minor, it’s probably best to consider your work a temporary fix. Bring in a licensed plumbing professional, and let him or her make permanent repairs.
Pro Tip: If you haven’t had your home’s plumbing system inspected in more than a year, ask the plumber to evaluate its condition. This can head off small problems before they turn into water damage emergencies.
3. Call Your Insurance Company
When you have the leak under control, take a good look at the damage. Your homeowners insurance should cover the cost of cleanup and restoration for interiors, contents and personal belongings. Start the claims process by scheduling an adjuster’s inspection.
Back up your water damage claim by documenting your losses. Take pictures of the sagging ceiling, water on the floor and wet walls. Include photos of furnishings and belongings affected by the leak.
Pro Tip: If you don’t already have contact information for a certified restoration company like ServiceMaster by Zaba, ask your insurance agent for a reference.
4. Take Down Damaged Ceiling Materials
Start by using a straight edge to outline the sagging areas. Next, cut into the damaged material several inches outside your grid. Make sure the removed pieces are completely dry around the edges. You don’t want to leave any parts of the ceiling in place that may still be damp.
A utility knife works well on most damaged ceilings, but you may need a keyhole saw to cut out large areas. Check the insulation above the ceiling. If it’s wet, pull it down and dispose of it in tightly closed plastic trash bags.
Pro Tip: Restoration expert Diana Rodriguez-Zaba recommends, “When you’re working with damaged ceiling materials and insulation, stay safe and breathe easier by wearing goggles and a respirator.”
5. Let Everything Completely Dry
Don’t try to make repairs until everything overhead is completely dry. Otherwise, wet materials in the dark, humid area turn into a breeding ground for unhealthy mold.
Set up fans in different corners of the room, and direct them upwards. Run the equipment 24/7 for two or three days. A dehumidifier can help speed up the drying process. You may want to rent box fans and a large dehumidifier from the home improvement center.
Pro Tip: If you see signs of mold in the ceiling or the damage occurred more than 24 hours earlier, contact certified mold remediation pros like ServiceMaster by Zaba.
6. Replace With New Materials
If necessary, position new insulation inside the ceiling openings. Measure the areas that need replacing one more time, taking into account the support joist layout.
Make sure your ceiling patches are the same thickness as the original ceiling material. Trim the new materials to fit, and secure each patch to the joists using drywall screws and a power drill.
Pro Tip: You may need to add backing pieces to the ceiling patches so that they level in alignment with the existing materials.
7. Take Care of the Finishing Touches
Cover the entire patched area with a thin coat of drywall compound, and seal the edges with drywall tape. Apply two more thin layers, waiting 15 or 20 minutes between each application. Be sure to sand the area after the compound sets.
Check for any rough edges that may still need work. Once you’re satisfied with the patch, use a damp cloth to dust the repaired areas. Finish with a primer and ceiling paint specifically formulated to resist moisture and mold.
Pro Tip: Waterproof fiberglass mesh tape is a good choice for ceiling repairs, but the tape’s thickness requires more finishing work than regular drywall tape.
What Causes a Ceiling to Sag?
A sagging ceiling can be very dangerous. In fact, a severely saggy ceiling could be on its way toward collapse. Here are a few of the main reasons ceilings may sag.
- Water Damage – Water damage is, by far, the most common culprit of sagging ceilings. Undetected leaks from upstairs bathrooms, for example, can cause water to accumulate within the ceiling. Over time, this will weaken the plaster and drywall.
- Poorly Installed Drywall – If your ceiling is sagging, but there’s no water damage, the drywall may be the culprit. The standard for drywall ceilings is 4-inch screws placed 12 inches apart.
- Weak Drywall Materials – If a ceiling is constructed with the wrong type of drywall, it may eventually sag. Drywall that is too light will struggle to support the load of the ceiling.
- Minimum Structural Support – Poor construction can also result in subpar structural support for a ceiling. This can be especially problematic with suspended ceilings.
- A Faulty Foundation – If the land beneath the house was not appropriately graded or the foundation was constructed poorly, the house may sink into the earth, over time. This can cause cracks in the drywall, sagging ceilings, and more.
No matter what the underlying cause may be, a sagging ceiling is a real cause for concern.
With this in mind, hire a professional repair team like ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba immediately to evaluate existing damage and help prevent future problems.
Dealing with a Sagging Ceiling in Chicago, IL or Suburbs? We’re Here to Help!
Water damage in the ceiling is a serious problem. Fortunately, ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba is here to help.
A qualified team of restoration specialists, we handle complex water damage jobs in Chicago and the surrounding areas.
Contact us today to learn more about our sagging ceiling water damage repair services, or to request your free quote: 773-647-1985.
The most common signs of water damage in a ceiling are stains, peeling paint or bubbles in the plaster. Pervasive musty smells may also indicate wet ceiling materials. Sagging areas in the ceiling are sure indicators of water damage.
The answer to this question depends, of course, on the severity of the water damage. As a general rule, ceiling repair costs about $50-$100 per square foot. To help you plan for the cost of your repair, here are some estimates: – $50-$400 to patch holes or repairing cracks; – $250-$1,000 to fix sagging or water damage; – $500-$2,500 for water damage and leak repair; – $400-$1,000 for partial ceiling replacement; – $2,000-$8,000 to repair significant structural damage.
In most situations, yes, homeowners insurance covers the cost of repairing a sagging ceiling. Most policies also cover the cost of water damage cleanup as well as restoration for interiors and belongings. Check with your insurance agent for details about your policy.