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Ceiling water damage in Detroit, MI
A brown stain spreading, a steady drip, drywall starting to sag. Stay out from under it and call. Water above a ceiling travels along the joists, so the crew starts by finding where it really came in.
Call the line
(313) 788-9835You'll talk to a Detroit-area restoration company. Say where the water is coming from.
Right now
Before you touch it
From FEMA and CDC guidance after storm damage.
- Stay out from under a sagging or bulging ceiling. FEMA says check every ceiling and floor for sagging before going further in.
- If water is running near a light fixture, turn off power at the main panel, but only from a dry spot.
- Never switch power on or off while standing in water (CDC).
- Put a bucket under the drip, move what you can, and photograph the stain before it spreads.
The stain is rarely where the leak is
Water through a roof or from a bathroom upstairs runs along joists and pipes before it soaks through. A stain in the middle of the living room can start at the chimney flashing or a toilet seal ten feet away. After a cold snap, it's often a pipe that froze in an outside wall.
What has to come down
EPA's water damage table says wet ceiling tiles and wet fiberglass or cellulose insulation get thrown out and replaced. Wet drywall can be dried in place only if it hasn't swollen and the seams are intact; otherwise it comes out, and the cavity above it gets dried.
A ceiling that's holding water is heavy. Leave taking it down to the crew.
If the roof is the problem
FEMA says to look outside first for downed power lines, gas lines and structural damage, and if the house needs a tarp, to get it on as quickly as possible. Keep every receipt for temporary repairs; insurers ask for them. The storm cleanup page covers wind and rain damage.
Related
Questions people ask
Can I just paint over a water stain?
Not until it's dry and you know the leak is fixed. EPA also says never paint or caulk over mold. If the stain is fuzzy or keeps coming back, see mold remediation.
Who fixes the roof?
A roofer fixes the roof. The restoration crew dries and repairs the inside: ceiling, insulation, walls and floors.