Water Stains on Ceilings: What to Do First

A brown ring on a ceiling is a message. Here is how to read it and what to do.

Find the Source First

Stains come from roof leaks, plumbing lines, upstairs fixtures or condensation. Check the attic, the roof above the stain and bathrooms or pipes overhead. If the stain is damp or growing, the leak is still active.

No repair lasts until the source is fixed.

Dry, Cut and Patch

Once the source is fixed and the area is dry, we cut out any sagging or soft drywall, patch, tape and finish the surface smooth.

Wet drywall that stays in place can grow mold, so we check what is behind the stain.

Seal and Repaint

We prime with a stain-blocking primer, which stops the brown from bleeding back through, and repaint the whole ceiling for an even finish.

Painting over a stain without priming is the most common reason it comes back.