Ceiling Repair
Generally, as a homeowner, one would be compelled to do some sort of ceiling repair at least once in his/her lifetime. It should also be noted that ceilings usually don’t need much repairs or maintenance although the problems that may appear can be fixed by anyone with an average knowledge and experience about home repairs. Therefore, when one knows about the common methods of ceiling repair it would indeed be sufficient to mend most of the problems.
The most common form of ceiling repair that would have to be done in a multi level house is drywall ceiling damage caused by water leaks. Normally, water from an upstairs bathroom would leak through the floor and collect on top of the ceiling. Due to this water leakage, a discolored and stained area would become visible on the ceiling. Thus, the first course of action should be to stop the water leak either by repairing the damaged fixture or by cutting the water supply to that area.
Although the water in the surface area may seem to have been removed, water could actually remain inside the ceiling. Before commencing the ceiling repair the water that has been collected should be removed. One can use a big screwdriver to drill a hole in the ceiling to remove the stored-up water. Since you could experience an electric shock if you use electric drills while due to any water that might remain, it is not advisable. In addition, the draining process may take some time, even one or two days and it is vital to make sure the ceiling is completely dry before attempting any repair.
Once the ceiling is completely dry, the ceiling repair phase can begin. Normally, if the water damage is pretty heavy, the damages part of the dry ceiling might have to be replaced as the dry ceiling becomes soft and swollen. Use a sharp object to cut the piece of the drywall while making sure part of the floor joists or the wooden beams that support the ceiling is exposed. Additionally, it is better to make the cut as rectangle as possible to make the fitting of the new dry wall piece much easier. The new piece of dry wall can be nailed or glued in; joint compound or drywall tape can be used cover the edges and the drilled holes.
Even though the ceiling repair could be done quite effortlessly, it’s somewhat difficult to achieve a smooth finish once the new drywall is fitted. In some cases after the ceiling repair you might have to repaint the whole ceiling but smoothing with sandpaper or even applying bleach might be adequate in some cases.