Ceiling and roof leak water damage in Olympia, WA often starts small: a faint brown ring on the ceiling, a drip near a light fixture, or a damp patch that grows a little after each storm. Above it, water may have been soaking the attic insulation for days. Through our referral line (opening soon), you can be connected with an independent restoration company that finds how far the water spread, removes wet insulation and drywall, and dries the ceiling, walls and framing.
Why ceilings leak in Thurston County
- Long, steady rain. Olympia Airport averages about 50 inches of precipitation in an average year, most of it from October through March. A small gap that would be harmless in a dry climate leaks for months here.
- Moss and debris. Moss lifts shingles and holds water, and fir needles clog gutters and valleys.
- Wind. Winter windstorms tear shingles and drive rain sideways under flashing.
- Trees. Branches and whole trees come down on roofs during storms.
- Flashing around chimneys, skylights and vent pipes that has cracked or pulled away.
- Ice dams during the occasional snow and freeze.
- Upstairs plumbing. A toilet, tub or washer leak on the floor above shows up on the ceiling below.
What you can do right away
- Move people, furniture and electronics away from the leak, and put down buckets and plastic.
- Turn off ceiling lights and fans near the wet area, and switch off that circuit if you can do so safely.
- If the leak is from upstairs plumbing, shut off that fixture or the main water valve.
- Photograph the ceiling, the attic if you can safely look, and the outside of the roof from the ground.
- Arrange a tarp or temporary roof repair, and keep receipts.
How restoration crews dry a wet ceiling
Water from above does not stay where it lands. It soaks into attic insulation, runs along rafters and joists, and seeps through drywall into the wall cavities below. A crew uses moisture meters and often a thermal camera to trace it. Wet blown-in or batt insulation in the attic is usually removed, because it stays wet for a long time and can weigh down the ceiling. Sagging or soft drywall is cut out. Remaining materials are dried with air movers and dehumidifiers, and some crews use ceiling drying systems that push dry air into the cavity.
Once readings are back to normal, the ceiling can be patched or replaced, primed with a stain-blocking primer and painted. Painting over a water stain before the area is dry usually brings the stain right back.
Hidden damage to check for
- Wet insulation and framing in the attic around the leak.
- Water in the walls below the ceiling stain.
- Damage to light fixtures, fans and wiring in the ceiling.
- Mold on the underside of roof sheathing if the leak was slow and long-lasting. See mold after water damage.
Insurance and roof leaks
Insurers usually separate sudden damage from wear and tear. A storm that tears off shingles or drops a branch through the roof is often covered, along with the water damage inside. A leak that developed slowly because the roof was old or poorly maintained often is not. Keep the roofer's written report and the restoration company's photos, and see our Washington insurance guide.
Book a ceiling leak visit
To reach a restoration company, email info@olympiawaterdamagewa.com while our phone line is being set up. Say whether the leak is from the roof or a floor above, whether the ceiling is sagging, and whether the roof has been tarped.
Common questions
Should I poke a hole in a sagging, wet ceiling?
A bulging ceiling can hold a lot of water and may come down without warning. Move people and belongings out from underneath first. Some restoration guidance suggests draining it with a small hole into a bucket, but only if you can do it safely without standing directly under it. If in doubt, wait for the crew.
Who do I call first, a roofer or a restoration company?
Usually both. A roofer stops the source with a tarp or repair, and a restoration company deals with the water inside: wet insulation, drywall and framing. Water keeps spreading in the attic and ceiling until it is dried, so do not wait for the roof repair to start drying.
Is a roof leak covered by insurance in Washington?
Interior damage from a sudden event, such as a tree branch or wind tearing off shingles, is often covered. Leaks caused by worn-out roofing or long-term neglect often are not. Insurers look at the cause, so photograph the roof and the damage inside, and keep the roofer's report.
Sources
Facts on this page come from these public sources. Rules and figures change, so check the source before you rely on them.