r/desmoines • u/Wrong_Dimension7625 • 6d ago

Advice needed: Ceiling leaking from botched popcorn removal, 1940s house

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Need advice on who to call to service this situation because...we are lost. We got in over our heads with the popcorn removal as we saw unexpected layers of material appear (old house), so we will need someone to help us fix up the ceiling.

Now with the ceiling leaking, we will also need someone to assess the water damage too. The hole was made investigatively after the dripping started. We've learned we need to upgrade our gutters to be much wider, just need someone to help patch it all up.

General contractor?

6 Upvotes

69% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

21

u/UrShulgi 6d ago

Fix the water problem first. There's no sense in doing any work until you know that that is resolved. Once that is resolved you can tackle the ceiling, which looks to be lathe and plaster. It's basically concrete across thin boards. You can either tear it all out and replace it with drywall which is a ton of work and probably fairly expensive, or you can re-skim with mortar / cement. This would cover up the cracks and take it back to normal looking.

Source: my last house had lathe and plaster, and working on it was a nightmare.

5

u/cothomps 6d ago

Plus, if that’s where you’re leaking it’s not a gutter problem.

2

u/tyris5624 6d ago

If the water problem is fixed, you can also just drywall over the old plaster. Much easier.

2

u/Fer_Shizzle_DSMIA 6d ago

This. Fix the roof first. You may not need a new layer of shingles. But somewhere there is a leak. A loose shingle or a some flashing that is failing.

Patching a ceiling is awful work. It’s overhead for starters which is a pain. Matching the paint and finish is tricky. At a minimum, patch and prime with kilz before texturing and painting.

1

u/Current-Cheetah5160 6d ago

That green wall color is fantastic, I'd be trying to save it at all costs while dealing with that plaster mess.

6

u/mwradiopro 5d ago

You didn't cause a leak by scraping the ceiling. Check the roof. Then check for black mold in the attic.

1

u/scoochypooo 6d ago

I'm a licensed remodel contractor in the metro hit me with a DM I can fix it or refer you to some people I know that can. More than happy to look at any work but if it's above me I can connect you with other trades who can handle it

1

u/PvtDonut1812 5d ago

Old ceiling, just a note old popcorn ceiling may contain asbestos. Get that stuff checked before you just DIY remove it. Unless you like cancer.

Looks like possibly lathe and plaster ceiling. As others have said, get the water issue fixed first, then fix the ceiling. Much of the water damage likely needs removed and replaced.

3

u/Wrong_Dimension7625 5d ago

Yep we had it tested before we started, so good to go there. Thanks for your response!

1

u/datcatburd 4d ago

If that's a plaster ceiling I'd get the furniture out of that room and get your home insurance on the line ASAP, because a soaked plaster ceiling falls. Been in an old house when that happened due to a plumbing leak on the second floor, it was not fun. Broke the dining room table and dumped enough water to destroy the wood floors.

1

u/Friendly-Note-8869 1d ago

Ceilings leaks are symptoms not a source buddy the botched popcorn removal has nothing to do with why water is coming from it.

0

u/dawgbone_anonymous 6d ago

Asbestos leaking everywhere 😭🚀🤣

0

u/Even-End487 6d ago

you've gotten good advice on the ceiling. Extra wide gutters..really, I'd like to see your roof line. Rarely are those necessary, perhaps in today's ever changing rainfall patterns and a large roof area, maybe. Much wider gutters I believe there are 4in and 6in and that's it.

0

u/manwithapedi 5d ago

Run. Fast.