Ceiling Damp Treatment

Ceiling damp can be one of the most unattractive sights in a home or building because it is always easily noticeable. Ceiling after very often painted in white or light colours which makes it easy to spot damp patches that appear. These damp patches are simply moisture that has infiltrated the ceiling material leaving water stains.

When left untreated, the water stains can become further discoloured leading to to mould. Due to the location, it is often difficult for homeowners and property managers to apply any ceiling damp treatment themselves. This can lead to the damp being left untreated for longer periods than that of wall damp examples.

What is important to understand about ceiling damp is that its appearance is mostly always an indicator of very serious water or structural damage.

Types of Ceilings Affected by Damp

Damp and Mould Solutions has resolved thousands of ceiling damp issues and we are trusted remediation specialists in the London area. There are many different types of ceilings in properties across London, and as qualified specialists, we know how best to diagnose and which remedies are most effective.

It is always important to work with experts to solve any damp problems because if the issue is not completely resolved, it will mean further costs and severe health risks.

Concrete Ceilings: Much like concrete floor damp, concrete ceilings are made from a porous material which can quickly develop problems when exposed to water from the exterior or through leaks.

Suspended Ceilings: Suspended ceilings often found in commercial properties like offices often have damp problems. This is noticeable when the tiles are affected by discolouration, followed by sagging and often removal of individual tiles.

Popcorn Ceilings: Popcorn ceilings are common in apartments and homes. It is also known as acoustic ceilings due to the soundproofing qualities of the material. Similar to paint, it is sprayed or painted on which can lead to staining but more specifically peeling.

Plasterboard ceilings: A feature common in many homes is decorative plasterboard ceilings that borrow designs from older and grander buildings. These types of ceilings however are susceptible to damp problems such as mould and discolouration.

How to identify ceiling damp with early warning signs

It is important that any signs of damp are acted on promptly to prevent the source of the issue from escalating. While it is always best to leave remediation work to qualified professionals, early identification is a job for anyone. In many cases, the seriousness of damage from damp is due to late discovery and remediation.

At Damp and Mould Solutions, we want to help all home and property owners learn the early warning signs for ceiling damp problems. This means we can help solve the problem faster for our clients which is important to us.

However, more importantly, it means the health risks for people living and working in their properties are greatly reduced.

Stains and Watermarks: The first significant warning sign is any change in the colour of the ceiling. Most ceilings are presented or painted in light colours, while damp stains will appear as yellow areas, any mould developing will appear as brown and grey spots. 

Peeling Paint & Bubbing Wallpaper: Similarly to all damp is the effect on the materials covering the surface such as paint and wallpaper. When moisture makes it way into the ceiling, the covering material will become affected shown by peeling, cracks and bubbles.

Odour and Air Moisture: Damp patches that are spread across a ceiling, unfortunately, have more access to the rooms. Due to being in an elevated position, there are no obstacles so smells can be noticed more intensely while excess moisture increases room humidity.

Potential causes of ceiling damp

Damp patches on your ceiling as with all damp problems are the result of liquid or moisture infiltration into construction materials. Ceilings are one of the main locations for damp to appear in a property, with each location also having a most likely source of moisture.

While damp inspector will first look to the ground for floor damp, conversely we first look to the roof and ceiling. Also unlike floor damp, causes of ceiling damp are usually easier to rectify than other types.

Condensation: Heat rises meaning moisture in the air will always be trying to make contact with the ceiling as it rises. Without adequate pathways for the air moisture to escape with ventilation, bathrooms, and kitchens will be susceptible to rising steam that cannot escape.

Roof leak: Adverse weather conditions from heavy or continuous rain, or wind and thunderstorms can damage roof tiles. Once damaged or displaced, the leave the roof below is left exposed to weather allowing water to leak into the attic and from there, into the ceiling.

Plumbing Leaks: Leaking pipes or plumbing fixtures or overflowing bathtubs in upstairs rooms or separate flats above. Leaks in the floors above the ceiling can cause water to drip onto the ceiling below. This can lead to water stains and dampness.

Frozen pipes: During winter when water in pipes freeze due to cold weather, pipes can crack. This later becomes an issue when temperatures cool causing the ice to revert to water. This water can then seep into ceilings and saturate the material causing damp.

How to treat and repair ceilings

Damp and Mould Solutions’ specialists will complete a damp survey of the property to discover all damp and mould damage along with their sources. To do this, we need full unrestricted access to all rooms that are likely to be affected by the damp, or related to the source of the moisture.

Once we have completed the survey, we will compile our findings and remediation plan within a damp report. We know the importance of quickly resolving damp problems in a property, and our recommended solutions will always be the most effective to ensure the issue does not return within a guarantee period.

Locate and Repair Source: The most critical task of repairing ceiling damp is to first locate and repair the underlying cause. In many cases, this is simply a leak of damage to a roof. Fixing this stops further moisture from reaching the roof leaving only the ceiling to repair

Dehumidifier: It is important that we make sure the area is completely dry before any remediation work is started. Using a large dehumidifier we can dry out the affected area removing the moisture and reducing humidity within the rooms of your property.

Remove damaged material: Where damp and mould have completely engulfed the material, no amount of dying will fully repair it. There will be areas that have to be removed and completely replaced even if they appear to be ok after drying out the affected area.

Water Resistant Coating: A silicone-based coating can be applied to the ceiling which can prevent damp from affecting the construction material in the ceiling. It works by repelling moisture and acting as a defensive shield.

Improve ventilation: Ceiling damp in most cases will occur in rooms with poor ventilation where there is an abundance of hot air moisture such as bathrooms. Improving ventilation with extractor fans for example can be a powerful deterrent for damp and mould damage.