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Plastering & Rendering

How long does it take a ceiling to dry out after getting significantly wet?

Anonymous user 03/03/2024 - 3.03 PM

My kitchen ceiling started dripping last night, which I have since discovered was caused by poor fitting of my new shower. For 6 weeks water has been steadily leaking when I use the shower and although there were slight marks on the ceiling below, the bathroom fitter did not accept responsibility until I had to puncture the ceiling to release the bucket full of water that was about to pull the ceiling down. There are two holes now in the ceiling and I am trying to get it dried out. The bathroom issue has been fixed and the fitter's company have offered to fix the ceiling and then cover with marbrex tiles, but I am not sure how long I should wait until the ceiling will be dry enough to repair. The damage is in the kitchen which doesn't have a radiator so isn't easy to heat so I am running a dehumidifier to try and help things along. I haven't been happy with a load of the company's work and I am concerned they fix it before it has been given sufficient time to dry. Considering the water has been steadily growing over a 6 week period I am assuming that it will take weeks to dry, rather than days. Can anyone advise please? Thanks

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1 Answer

Anonymous user

Hi rhona I have been a plasterer for over ten years and have spent the last two years before starting up Plasterplus working in the insurance sector. Escape of water into a ceiling as a rule would generally mean dropping the contamination from the ceiling. If its a plasterboard ceiling then the paper will start to rot on the back of the plasterboard after drying and after time the plaster would unkey from the board and the smell is present for a long time. If its lath and lime, there is a chance of rotting lath if the water has been sat in the ceiling. I personally would insist that they remove a couple of sqm around the damaged patch and then reskim the whole ceiling. If they are not willing to pay and you can't afford a proper repair once dry, use a dulux zinsser stain block before repainting but it won't last forever. Sorry to be bearer of bad news but it really should be dropped and repaired as discussed.

Answered18 November 2013