How to Fix a Leaking Ceiling

A guide to removing and replacing ceiling damage

Co-authored by Nick Yahoodain

Last Updated: May 24, 2022 References

A leaking ceiling can cause serious damage to your house if you don't take care of it immediately. Before fixing your ceiling, make sure that you determine the source of the leak and fix it. After you fix the source of the leak, you can drain water from your ceiling and take the proper steps to replace the damage.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Draining the Leak

1
Look for identifiable signs of moisture. To fix the leak, you'll have to locate the area of your ceiling that is leaking water. If you're unsure of where the water is coming from, look for drywall panels that are sagging or crumbling. You may also notice areas of the ceiling with coffee-colored stains.^{[1]
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2
Lay down drop cloths or tarps under the leak. Putting down drop cloths or a plastic tarp underneath the bucket will prevent your floors and furniture from getting wet. It will also help collect debris as you replace the water damaged portion of your ceiling.^{[2]
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3
Put a bucket under the leak. A bucket or container will be able to catch the water that's coming from your ceiling. This will prevent water damage to your floors and will help catch the water from your ceiling once you start draining the leak.
4
Puncture the ceiling with a screwdriver to drain the leak. Use a screwdriver and push it into the center of the location of the leak. Create the hole away from the ceiling's framing boards. This will cause the water to drain from the ceiling and can help relieve additional water damage. Keep the bucket under the water damaged ceiling so that it can catch the water when you puncture it.^{[3]
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- If water accumulates over your ceiling the water can weigh down your ceiling and create a large hole or cause it to collapse.
- If you create a larger hole, you may be able to see where the leak is coming from more easily.
5
Repair the source of the leak to prevent future damage. Before you replace the portion of your ceiling that's leaking, it's important to fix the source of the leak. Common sources of ceiling leaks include faulty pipes or cracks in your roof. Once you drain the leak, it's important to call a professional roof specialist or handyman who can fix the source of the leak.^{[4]
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- If the leak is under an area with a kitchen, a bathroom, or some other type of plumbing, this is likely the source of the problem.^{[5]
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  Nick Yahoodain
  General Contractor
  Expert Interview. 6 October 2020.}
- Other problem areas might include damaged flashing around a roof pipe, a pierced gutter, or a skylight that isn't properly sealed.^{[6]
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  Nick Yahoodain
  General Contractor
  Expert Interview. 6 October 2020.}
- Another cause of leaks is faulty air conditioning. Your air conditioner's condensate lines could be clogged, leading to overflow that can cause ceiling leaks.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Removing the Damaged Ceiling

1
Cut a small inspection hole into the drywall. Turn off your electricity before cutting your inspection hole. Before you replace your damaged ceiling, you'll need to know what's on the other side of your ceiling. Cut a small square hole that's deep enough to cut through the drywall, but not deep enough to penetrate anything on the other side. If you cut the hole and see electrical wires, plumbing, gas lines, or HVAC ducts you may need to hire a professional to replace your ceiling.
2
Draw a box around the water damage. Once you make sure that you won't damage anything behind the ceiling you can start to remove the water damaged ceiling. Use a framing square to draw a box around the portion of your ceiling that has water damage.
- A framing square will create a square hole that is easier to patch.
- If the damage is more than 6x6 inches (15.24x15.24 cm) then you should seek professional guidance to fix your leaking ceiling.
3
Cut around the water damage. Using the lines as a guide, cut into the ceiling with a utility saw and start to cut away the damaged drywall. Once you cut the lines, you can use a small prying instrument to remove the damaged drywall from the ceiling.
- Try not to remove any more of the ceiling than you need to. It's a lot easier to fix a 1 ft (0.30 m) square patch than an entire ceiling.^{[7]
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  Nick Yahoodain
  General Contractor
  Expert Interview. 6 October 2020.}
4
Measure the cutout piece of drywall. Use a tape measure or ruler to get the exact dimensions of the drywall that you cut out. Measuring the cut-out piece of drywall will give you the needed dimensions for the drywall replacement.^{[8]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Replacing the Damaged Ceiling

1
Cut two pieces wood. Use a saw to cut 2 pieces of 9x4x1/2 inch (22.86x10.16x1.27 cm) plywood. These pieces of wood will act as a brace for your drywall. If you cut a hole in your ceiling and you have a metal runner or ceiling beam, then you won't need to create these wooden braces because you can screw directly into the runner or beams instead.
- Alternatively, you could cut back the drywall to the center of each of the closest framing members, which would allow you to skip this step.
2
Screw the wooden braces inside of your ceiling hole. Put the wooden braces that you made out of plywood into the hole and lay it flat over your ceiling, so there is a two inch (5.08 cm) overlap over your hole. Then, screw in two screws through your existing ceiling and into the beam. The screws should be on the top and bottom of each piece of wood. Repeat the process on the other side of the hole.
3
Cut out a piece of drywall that's 2 inches (5.08 cm) wider and longer than the hole. Cutting your replacement drywall two inches longer and wider will leave one inch (2.54 cm) of slack on each side.^{[9]
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- This is called a hot patch and only recommended to be done on smaller 2-inch x 2-inch (5 cm x 5 cm) patches.
4
Measure and mark 1 inch (2.54 cm) from the edge of each side of the drywall piece. Turn over the drywall square and use a ruler to measure 1 inch (2.54 cm) in from each edge of the drywall. Then, use a straight edge to draw vertical and horizontal lines so that it looks like a 1 inch wide (2.54 cm) frame around the drywall piece. This slack will let you blend your replacement drywall in with your ceiling so that it lies flush.
5
Cut through the back layer of the drywall, leaving the front layer of paper. With a utility knife, cut through the back layer of paper and the drywall gypsum until you reach the front layer of the drywall. Use the marks that you made on the back of the drywall as a guide while you cut. Then, use a putty knife to carefully peel back the back layer of paper and drywall gypsum, so that the front side facing paper forms a 1 inch (2.54 cm) frame around your drywall patch.^{[10]
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- Make sure not to cut too deeply, or you will cut into the front layer of the drywall.
- You will use the front layer of paper to help blend in your repairs.
6
Apply a thin layer of joint compound around the hole. Your drywall patch can be held in place with lightweight or all-purpose drywall compound. You can purchase this compound online or at a hardware store.^{[11]
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7
Push your replacement drywall into the hole. On an angle, push your replacement piece of drywall into the hole. Then, adjust the drywall so that it lies flush with your ceiling. The beams that you screwed in earlier will act like a backboard for your new drywall.^{[12]
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8
Screw the drywall into your wooden braces. Use a power drill to attach the new drywall patch to the wooden braces that you created earlier. Put screws into each corner of the drywall patch to secure it fully.
- For small patches up to 2-inch x 2-inch (5 cm x 5 cm), you don't have to use screws. Instead, you can use drywall paper to fasten your patch.
9
Work the compound over the surface of your new drywall. Use the trowel to spread the drywall compound over the surface of your drywall replacement piece. Work the edges of the front facing paper into the ceiling with the compound until there are no visible screws and you can't see the edges of the patch.^{[13]
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- This will require a few coats of compound.
10
Allow the drywall compound to dry overnight. You can check if it's dry by touching the surface of the drywall compound with your hand. You must let it fully dry before you can sand and paint it.
11
Sand the ceiling and remove excess joint compound. Use a fine-grit sandpaper to sand down the surface of the new drywall. Continue to use a hand sander so that the new drywall lays flush with your ceiling and you can't see the edges of the patch.^{[14]
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- You can also use a drywall sanding sponge that's made specifically for drywall.
12
Paint over your new drywall patch. Paint over the new drywall paint using the same paint that was used for your ceiling. If you don't have the original color, you may need to re-paint your entire ceiling so that the new drywall isn't visible.
- Be sure to prime the area before you paint it.

Expert Q&A
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Question

What might be causing my ceiling to leak?

Nick Yahoodain
General Contractor
Nick Yahoodain is a General Contractor and the CEO of Advanced Builders & Contractors in Los Angeles, California. With over 16 years of experience, Nick specializes in large residential projects such as new construction, developments, major renovations, additions, and hillside construction. Advanced Builders & Contractors is a member of the BBB, is licensed by the Contractors State License Board, and is fully bonded and insured. Advanced Builders & Contractors has been featured on NBC News, Elle Decor, Architectural Digest, and Voyage LA.

Nick Yahoodain

General Contractor

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

If you live in a multi-story building and the ceiling is beneath a kitchen, bathroom, or other type of plumbing, there's probably a water line or drain line that's leaking. If not, check out the roof—the flashing around a particular pipe might be bad, one of the gutters might be pierced, or a skylight might be bad.