Fix the roof first, then the room. A ceiling stain is the last stop for water that got in somewhere above it, and new drywall and paint will stain again if the way in is still open. The first job is finding out whether the way in is the roof at all.
Is it the roof or the plumbing?
The timing of the stain is the best clue.
| When the stain shows up | Likely source |
|---|---|
| During or just after rain | The roof, or the flashing around a chimney or vent pipe |
| After snow has sat on the roof for days | An ice dam at the roof edge |
| Any time, rain or shine | A pipe, a drain or a bathroom on the floor above |
| In humid weather, near a vent or duct | Condensation |
The stain is not always under the hole. Water runs along the rafters and the back of the ceiling before it drips, so the way in can be several feet from the ring. For the winter version, see ice dams in Chicago.
What order should the repairs go in?
- Stop the water. That means a roof repair, or a plumber if the timing points to a pipe.
- Let everything dry. The ceiling and the framing above it need time to dry right through, because damp material closed in behind new drywall is how mold starts.
- Check what the water ruined. Drywall that sags or feels soft gets cut out and replaced, and so does soaked insulation above it.
- Seal the stain with a stain-blocking primer. Ordinary paint lets the brown ring bleed back through.
- Paint.
Can I just paint over it?
Only if the leak is fixed, the ceiling is dry and firm, and the stain is sealed with a stain-blocking primer first. Miss one of those and the ring comes back.
One call or two?
A roofer fixes the leak and a remodeler fixes the ceiling, which usually means two contractors and two schedules. Rodney's Roofing & Home Remodeling does both kinds of work, so the roof repair and the ceiling repair can be talked through in the same call: (773) 676-3830.