Fort Lauderdale Real Estate Home Improvement And Repairs: Water Stains

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In a new series here at the Fort Lauderdale Real Estate Blog we will be tackling some home repair questions that we get from time to time. The kinds of repairs and fixes we will discuss will be able to be done by the average homeowner with little to no experience by following simple steps.

In the Fort Lauderdale real estate market, we are no stranger to severe thunderstorms and sometimes hurricanes. Although we have some of the most strict building codes in the country, sometimes your roof may leak. Leak detection and roof repair is a specialty and should not be undertaken by the average homeowner. The water stains that you will see left behind will be the focus of this repair guide.

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Here are the steps to follow to repair water stains on your ceiling of walls.

1. Get the leak repaired. Call a local roofing contractor to come to your property and do a leak detection to find the offending leak. Once the leak area is detected, it should be easily repaired. Moving on without completing this critical step will result in having to repair water stains again the next time it rains.

2. Prepare the surface of the stain. The stain itself must be thoroughly dry before you apply anything to it. Even if the stain is dry to the touch on the side facing you, the middle or opposite facing may still be damp. The best way to be sure that the stain is feel the stain and make sure it is not damp then wait an additional 72 hours before moving on. Once you know the area is dry, you may need to lightly sand the exposed area to match surrounding areas.

3. Seal the stain. Without this critical step, the stain will “bleed” through your pain job and keep coming back. There are a number of very good sealers on the market today, but for those homeowners looking to do it themselves, we always recommend using water based paints and primers. I would recommend the product Kilz. It can often be found at your local home improvement store.

4. Let the area dry thoroughly. Make sure you wait 24 hours after you seal your stain before painting. Without letting the sealer “cure” you might have problems in the next step. Remember, patience is a virtue.

5. Paint to desired finish and color. Now that you have finished preparing the stain and sealing it, you are ready to finish your job. We always recommend, especially when painting areas of the ceiling, to cover the floor and nearby furniture with disposable plastic or drop cloths. The extra few dollars and minutes preparing to paint can save you hours of frustration later.