how do I repair a leaky ceiling due to laundry room over flow?

Question

My washer drain hose popped out and for some reason my over flow drain didnt catch all the over flow water. How can I fix the soft spot in my dinning room ceiling??

Answer 1

I am no expert in this matter, I will offer an isolated two cents.

Seems to me like you have to fix the floor above before you fix the ceiling below. Replace joists etc. Reinsulate if needed.

At the same time, you have to pick a point of entry, and this should be based on safety first, then cost of materials to break into that surface. When you have to get inbetween the floor and the ceiling, you can't work upstairs if the wet spot has created weakness that could send you through the floor, where you can work from a ladder on the sturdy downstairs floor. All things equal, make the hole where it is easiest to patch...don't disrupt a vintage hardwood or expensive tile or marble on the utility floor if you can go up from a popcorn ceiling over sheetrock. And don't disrupt a detailed paint job or an antique beam to fix the ceiling if you can go through linoleum or carpet upstairs.

And then there is the matter of waterproofing so this doesn't happen again. It does seem like an isolated incident but trouble shoot and prevent the hose from popping out in the future.

Re: waterproofing, I think you can go overboard to the extent that you seal up the flooring/ceiling system so tight that instead of a leak or a wet spot you have collecting water that crashes in the whole room on top of the one below from weight. I would personally rather deal with the leak and be content knowing that I was warned that there is a problem. So any waterproofing should be done at the source of the water, not where it is likely to go.

As for cosmetic changes, aim a fan at it, let the surface dry out if you aren't going to replace any section of the ceiling surface. You might have to install new sheetrock or whatever the material is that the paint etc sticks to. Then it is a matter of matching the texturing and colors.

Sorry I can't offer more details. You can try any of the websites like Lowe's Home Depot, or TV networks from home channels. DIY comes to mind, maybe HGTV, TLC, or Discovery Home.