How To Repair A Falling Ceiling Under a Patio
If you have falling drywall on your patio ceiling, you’re not alone. Homeowners all over Arizona have this issue happen on the underside of their patio coverings. The sheetrock and drywall crumbles and falls before most of us even notice there is an issue.
This failure is unfortunately caused by a roof leak. In this case a Rosie on the House listener sent us photos of their patio ceiling. They have a flat roof, and due to the junction box next to the light, it became the easiest point of access for water to get into and damage the roof. Let’s get this fixed!
Rosie Romero’s Expert Solution To Repairing A Patio Ceiling
- Fix the roof | Don’t try to replace the ceiling until you have the roof leak fixed! Contact a Rosie on the House Certified Roofer to locate and fix that leak.
- Check the leak | Once the roof is fixed, place a sprinkler on your roof, or if you’re lucky you’ll have a rain in the forecast to show if there is still any leaking.
A close up of drywall damage on the underside of an Arizona homeowners patio - Get all the sheetrock down | We are not going to want to patch-and-match this job. A total re-do of the ceiling is the best plan for a proper fix.
Once you’re 100% positive the roof is leak-free, let’s get this ceiling put back together!
- Re-hang, tape and texture the entire ceiling | As mentioned above, don’t try to patch-and-match. It’s a hard task to get right, especially if you’ve got an old patio!
- Proper paint | Once you’ve gotten your ceiling re-installed, and textured, use ONLY exterior acrylic paint, and be sure to apply a full 2 coats.
- Caulk and seal | Use paintable silicone caulk to seal the joint between the patio edge and the stucco of your home. You will also want to seal around the light fixture between the junction box and the sheetrock.
Note: The edge of sheetrock is a totally exposed sponge and the silicone caulk will be a moisture barrier that will double the lifespan of your sheetrock!
The Final Step
Touch up those caulk points with your exterior acrylic paint and…
Bing Bang Boom! You’re done!
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Homeowner Handbook | #Drywall
PODCAST
Rosie shares his step-by-step expert advice for repairing patio ceiling drywall damage!
Podcast Archive With Expanded Content and Resources
PHOTO CREDIT
- Rosie on the House Listener & Arizona Homeowner
