4 Tips When Repairing Water Damaged Ceilings
It is advisable for you to take several preliminary measures before you start conducting any ceiling repairs after water damage to your home. Below are tips to help you to prepare well for such repairs.
Check for Structural Damage
You should not start repairing your ceiling on your own until you have ruled out any chance of structural damage by the water. Common signs of structural damage to the roof include damaged roof joists and sagging segments of the roof support structure. Call an expert to assess any damage that you suspect is structural before you repair the ceiling.
Use a Moisture Meter
It may not be necessary for you to remove and replace every component of the ceiling that was exposed to water. How do you determine what to discard and what to retain? Buy an electronic moisture meter from a home improvement store near you. Use that meter to find out how much water each section of your ceiling was exposed to.
Different materials have different thresholds for the safe amount of moisture that they should contain. For example, plasterboard can be damaged more easily by moisture when compared to treated timber. You may need to discard all those materials whose moisture content is in excess of the safe limits set by the building authorities in your area.
Establish the Type of Water
Another way to determine whether you should discard the water-damaged ceiling materials is by considering the type of water that caused the damage. For example, you can retain as many materials for reuse in case your ceiling was affected by clean municipal water. However, you should discard all the affected materials in case wastewater caused the damage. This will protect you from any biological hazards posed by that wastewater.
Allow Ample Drying Time
It is also important for you to allow sufficient drying time for the entire area of the ceiling that you wish to repair. Open all windows and doors so that the ceiling can be air-dried. Alternatively, you can rent commercial dehumidifiers so that the drying process can be expedited. Remember to shut all openings when using the dehumidifiers. Proper drying will ensure that the risk of mildew and mould development will be lessened.
Only proceed with the actual repair work once you have completed assessing the issues above. Contact ceiling repair professionals in case you are uncertain about how to execute any aspect of the repair process.