Ceiling stain
Water stain on your ceiling after rain?
A brown stain that shows up after rain usually means water got in at a roof part: a nail backing out of a flashing, a cracked pipe jack, a broken plastic vent. The leak often shows up a room away from where it starts. Mark the stain's edge with a pencil, take a dated photo, and get the source found.
I've got a brown stain on my ceiling after it rained. Is that my roof, and who do I call?
If it showed up after rain, start with the roof. Call a roofer who checks the attic, not just the roof, because the attic shows where water actually came in. Mark the edge of the stain so you can tell if it grows.
There's a water stain on my ceiling but it's dry. Do I still have a leak?
Probably. A dry stain means water got in once and dried out. The part that let it in is usually still failing and will leak again in the next hard rain.
Why is there a stain when nothing looks wrong on the roof?
Most failing parts can't be seen from the ground. Water also travels along the decking and rafters before it drips, so the stain can be feet away from the source.
My ceiling is bubbling or sagging. How bad is that?
That's water sitting on the drywall. Put a bucket under it, keep people away, and if it's bulging, a small hole at the low point lets it drain. Then get the source fixed quickly.
Questions homeowners ask
Do water stains on the ceiling mean I have mold?
Not always, but a stain means the drywall and insulation got wet at least once. If it stayed wet, mold is possible. Find and fix the source first, then check the attic insulation and decking above the stain.
Water is dripping out of my ceiling light. Is that the roof or the AC?
It can be either. Turn off that circuit first. In summer, a sweating AC line or a clogged condensate pan in the attic is common. If it only happens when it rains, it's likely the roof. An attic check tells you which.
See what your roof is telling you before you decide anything.
- Book a roof inspection.
- We bring your roof system down to you. The good, the bad, what's failing, in photos.
- You decide.