Water Is Coming Through the Ceiling: The First Hour Content
Read the safety section first, then work down. The roofing explanation can wait until the interior is protected and everyone is out of the way.
Safety First, and This Is Not Boilerplate
If a ceiling is bulging or sagging, stay out from under it. That bulge is holding water. Drywall holding several gallons will eventually let go, and being underneath when it does causes real injuries. Keep children and pets out of the room.
If water is near light fixtures, outlets or a ceiling fan, turn off power to that area at the breaker. Water tracks along wiring and framing to places you can't see.
Don't go onto the roof. Not during the storm, not after it. Wet tile is slick, storm-damaged decking can be unsound, and roof falls are the most serious injuries associated with this situation.
The First Ten Minutes
- Move furniture, electronics and anything irreplaceable clear of the area
- Put down containers under active drips, and towels around them
- Lay plastic sheeting or a tarp over anything that cannot be moved
- Empty containers before they overflow, which happens faster than people expect
The Counterintuitive Bit
If a ceiling is bulging, a controlled release is usually better than waiting for an uncontrolled one, provided you can do it safely.
A small hole at the lowest point of the bulge, made from the side rather than from underneath, with a container ready, lets water out gradually. Left alone, the drywall fails all at once and the water goes everywhere along with the ceiling.
Only do this if you can do it without standing under the bulge and without a ladder in a wet room. If in doubt, leave it and keep everyone away.
What to Document, While It Is Happening
Photographs matter more than people realize, and the moment passes.
- Wide shots of the affected room and close shots of the ceiling
- Anything damaged, before you move it
- The time it started and what the weather was doing
- Ground-level photographs of the roof and the perimeter, when it is safe outside
If insurance becomes involved, this is the record. It cannot be recreated later, and photographs taken after cleanup are worth considerably less.
What Not to Do
Don't accept a same-day repair from someone who knocked on your door after the storm. Don't sign anything assigning insurance benefits without understanding exactly what you're giving up. Don't let anyone tarp the roof before the damage is photographed.
Then Call
Call (480) 565-7663. Describe what is happening, where the water is appearing, and when it started. See urgent roof help for what happens next and tarping versus permanent repair for what temporary protection can and cannot do.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Should I put a hole in a bulging ceiling?
If you can do it safely, a controlled release is usually better than waiting for the drywall to fail all at once. Make a small hole at the lowest point of the bulge, working from the side rather than from underneath, with a container ready. If you can't do that without standing under it, leave it and keep everyone away.
Should I turn off the electricity?
Turn off power to the affected area at the breaker if water is near light fixtures, outlets or a ceiling fan. Water tracks along wiring and framing to places you can't see, so proximity isn't always obvious from where the drip appears. If you are unsure which breaker, and it is safe to do so, turning off the main is reasonable.
What should I photograph before cleaning up?
Wide shots of the room, close shots of the ceiling, and anything damaged before you move it. Note the time it started and what the weather was doing. Take ground-level photographs of the roof and perimeter when it is safe outside. This record cannot be recreated later and matters if insurance becomes involved.
Someone knocked on my door offering to fix it today. Should I?
Be cautious. Door-knocking after storms is common and the pressure to decide immediately is itself a warning sign. Verify any contractor's license through the Arizona Registrar of Contractors, do not sign anything assigning insurance benefits without understanding it, and do not let anyone cover the damage before it is photographed.
See what we can document, or send us the letter. Or call (480) 565-7663.
