Stucco Ceilings
Water damage to ceilings is a very common occurrence, usually resulting from a leaky roof, a leaky water supply or drainpipe, bad caulking around bathtubs or a toilet overflow. It is important to fix the cause of the water damage before fixing the damage itself. Once you believe you have fixed the leak, allow enough time to pass to make sure it is actually fixed.
Sometimes damage to ceilings is not from water, but out of necessity holes are cut to run electrical wires when adding new lighting in a room such as pot lights. Renovations where a wall is removed also require for the ceiling to be repaired where the wall used to be. It is important to factor in the cost of repairing the ceiling when you are considering these types of improvements to your home.
While repairing a smooth ceiling is relatively straightforward, restoring a stucco ceiling properly can be done a few different ways depending on the desired finish, a person's budget and the condition the ceiling is in. The important thing is for the repair to be done well, so that when you sell your home at a future date, no potential buyers will question what happened or feel you are hiding a problem. It's also nice not to have to look at water stains, cracks and peeling or a bad repair everyday in your own home. If you are planning to sell your home in the near future, it is important to have any water damage repaired before you list your house.
It is not possible to properly restore a damaged stucco ceiling with the use of sponges, rollers or anything other than professional spraying equipment. The texture can only be matched by using the same type of professional equipment originally used when your home was built. Always choose someone that will spray the stucco instead of using another application method, or rent the equipment if attempting the repair yourself.
The good news is that for someone that knows what he or she is doing, the damage you see is not usually as bad as it appears. Nearly all repairs can be done for much less than a $500.00 home insurance deductible, so it is often wise not to notify your insurance company of minor water damage to avoid paying the deductible and having your rates go up for making a claim.