Arising from pipe or roof damage, and due to our rainy climate, leaks are very common in Florida. What can you do about the yellow-brownish stain left on your ceiling or wall? Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as putting a coat of paint over the damage, or even multiple coats. However, here is how we can make your wall look as good as new.
Repairing Water Damage: How to Fix Stains and Discoloration Caused by Leaks in Florida Homes
Preparation:
· First, we wait for the leakage to completely dry. Not only the surface area, but the whole depth of the wall or ceiling has to dry. This may take up to a few weeks depending on temperature, humidity, and the severity of the leak.
· We remove the bubbling and blistering paint with a scraper and dust the area.
· Then, the area is treated with a primer to create a deep impregnation base.
· After drying, we spackle the damaged area and use fiberglass mesh to repair any cracks.
Let’s paint the damaged area with acrylic latex paint
What is acrylic latex paint? It is a special composition paint that can conceal tough stains and disguise discoloration, so it is the perfect solution for covering leak spots. First, we apply 1-2 coats to the damaged area (maximum of 3 coats). Then, we recommend coating the whole ceiling or wall, so it looks uniform. Due to its special property, the paint is also used for nicotine or soot stained surfaces.
The tools and materials we use are the following:
· Paint scraper
· Ladder
· Spackling paste
· Deep primer
· Acrylic latex paint
· Paint brush
· Paint roller
Leak damage repair before painting
In case of major leakage or old/rotting wood, a more serious preparation must take place before painting. If this prep work is not done properly, the paint may start peeling off soon after application.
First, all the paint on the damaged area must be removed with a steel scraper. We do a thorough job to prevent further peeling during spackling or painting. Once all the damaged paint is off, we sand, dust, and apply a deep primer, which sets the surface area and strengthens the adhesiveness of the spackling paste.
Any uneven surface area is corrected with gypsum based spackling paste. The paste is applied evenly over the surface filling any cracks in the wall. Depending on the depth of the leakage, the paste may be applied in several layers. After the paste dries, we sand the area to get a perfectly even surface. Next, we dust and apply a layer of primer again. At last, we paint the surface in the color of your choosing.
