Ceiling – water staining

Causes

Leaking roof or deck; overflowing gutter; leaking parapet, balcony, roof/wall junction

Leaking pipes, header tank or hot water cylinder in the roof space

Condensation in the roof space from high moisture levels 

Listed under: Interior, Exterior, finishes, insulation, paint, water heating, hot water cylinders, plumbing, pipes, health and safety, stains, Roof, ceilings, moisture, condensation, leaks, mould, weathertightness, mould health and safety

Cause

Leaking roof or deck; overflowing gutter; leaking parapet, balcony, roof/wall junction

Repair

  • identify and repair the leak(s). If the location of the leak is difficult to find, or there may be multiple leaks, call a registered building surveyor to investigate and recommend solutions

  • if there is so much moisture that it has left the bulk thermal insulation above the ceiling saturated, the effectiveness of the insulation will be greatly reduced. Once the moisture level has been reduced, remove the wet insulation, allow the space between joists to dry and replace with new insulation

  • wait for the ceiling to dry thoroughly before cleaning/preparing the surface and repainting with a quality ceiling paint

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Cause

Leaking pipes, header tank or hot water cylinder in the roof space

Repair

  • identify and repair the leak(s). If the location of the leak is difficult to find, call a licensed plumber to locate and make the repair

  • if there is so much moisture that it has left the bulk thermal insulation above the ceiling saturated, the effectiveness of the insulation will be greatly reduced. Once the moisture level has been reduced, remove the wet insulation, allow the space between joists to dry and replace with new insulation

  • wait for the ceiling to dry thoroughly before cleaning/preparing the surface and repainting with a quality ceiling paint

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Cause

Condensation in the roof space from high moisture levels 

Repair

  • identify and address the source of the high moisture levels:

    • if it is a leaking pipe, identify and repair it or call a licensed plumber to locate and make the repair. For other types of leak (for example, in claddings or flashings) consult a registered building surveyor

    • if damp subfloor air is moving into the roofspace via a brick veneer cavity, block off the open subfloor area at the bottom of the wall. Address the damp subfloor problem – see Subfloor – damp soil

    • if kitchen and bathroom extractor fans are discharging into the roof space, install ducting and vents to extract the damp air to the outside

  • if there are older-style recessed downlights in the kitchen or bathroom, they may be allowing steam into the roofspace. Replaced them with IC or IC-F labelled downlights which can be covered with insulation. Alternatively, fill the holes and install new fittings mounted on the ceiling

  • wait for the ceiling to dry thoroughly before cleaning/preparing the surface and repainting with a quality ceiling paint

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