A ceiling leak in a Las Vegas home comes from one of three places, the roof in a storm, a bathroom or line upstairs, or the AC up in the attic, and the fix depends on which one it is.
- Three sources
- Roof, plumbing above, or the attic AC.
- Sagging ceiling
- Stay out from under it.
- Insulation
- Wet attic insulation is usually replaced.
- Call
- (702) 602-6461 for a moisture check.
Find the source before the ceiling
Patching a stain without finding the water is how ceilings get patched twice. The first question is when it leaks. Only during rain points to the roof. When someone showers or flushes upstairs points to plumbing. During long hot afternoons with the AC running points to the attic unit.
Many valley homes have the air handler in the attic. We check the ceiling below it with a meter and look for signs the attic side is wet before anyone cuts drywall.
When a ceiling is dangerous
A ceiling that sags or bulges is holding water. Keep people and pets out from under it and move what you can. Do not poke it while standing under it. Turn off power to any light fixture in the wet area if you can reach the breaker from a dry spot.
What usually gets replaced
- Wet insulation in the attic above the leak. Batts and blown insulation hold water and lose their value once soaked.
- Drywall that sagged or stayed wet. A ceiling panel that held a pool of water rarely goes back flat.
- Texture and paint over the patched area, blended into the rest of the ceiling.
A small stain from a short drip can often be dried, sealed with a stain blocking primer and painted. A meter reading tells you which case you have.
Monsoon roof leaks
The Regional Flood Control District names July through September as the monsoon months, with sudden downpours even on sunny days. Roofs that did fine all year can leak in one hard storm. Take photos of the ceiling and, if it is safe, of the roof from the ground. Note the date and time. The roof repair is a roofer's job, and the inside is ours.
Where we do this
North Las Vegas, Aliante, Sun City Aliante, Eldorado, Villages at Tule Springs, Valley Vista, Craig Ranch Park Area, Centennial Hills, Las Vegas, Summerlin, Henderson.