What can be causing holes in the ceiling, and how can I fix it?

Can you get into the space above the ceiling? Spots like this can occur from leaks. A friend of mine is in real estate. She said to check with your agent who handled your purchase. Depending on the cause this could be an undisclosed defect.

Hi Manas, I would definitely get someone in to do tests on the holes. It doesn't sound right . Perhaps you can contact the developers and/or agent who sold your townhouse.

It looks like a roof leak or maybe a pipe is leaking above the ceiling , you generally will see a brown stain start to develop around the area if it’s water, have a moisture test done or get in the attic above I guarantee u will find the culprit causing this is a water leak

Hello there,

Check out what's happening in the loft! Could be many things...................

Oh that is weird. Usually with leaks you will see rings with discoloration. The paint will appear like something has stained it. For holes to appear without any of that, I am tempted to say you might have a pest trying to come through. Not sure but when I lived in the city, rats would get in the dryer vent area and I would hear scratching in the ceiling and the walls. Lets hope not, but you might want to get an inspection. Terminix could go up in the attic and detect if something is up there and then they will help set up a plan. Maybe I'm completely wrong.....others may have more ideas:). Good luck!

If you just bought it three months ago, try the builder/ seller. Also see if neighbors are having the same problem.

Wow ! I agree to get a hold of the builder !!! Could you post a close up pictures of the hole...and some of the other holes as well . Check the exterior of your home , look for around or venting that looks out of place , or where a small animal could have got in . Do you hear any scratching or running ? Go back into the attic , during the day timecard if you see any light coming through any possible gaps . While up there look for any insulation that may be been disturbed . Good luck !!!

One of the post I read suggested water damage. You might want to get in from above if you can and see if that is possibly the culprit. https://www.wikihow.com/Fix-Holes-in-a-Ceiling

I had something similar and it was wasps making a home in my ceiling. They were getting in though the exterior side of the house. We could hear buzzing so we figured out what it was. Does anything come out of the holes?

Can you get up above to see? It's pretty strange - if it isn't water damage I'd be concerned about rodents or insects.

Call you real esstate sales agent immediately and look at the disclosure sheet of your paperwork. Now is when you learn if you have a good agent or not. If the townhome is new, warranty work must be done.

I read many good comments above. Since when we zoom in on the pic, it’s fuzzy, please show & tell us more about the holes. Thanks.

Is the black stuff powdery or moist or?

Are these actual holes that go all the way through or is the ceiling “fish eying” on a large scale?

My gut tells me it’s mold and Stachybotrys makes people very ill and sometimes fatally ill.

Whatever it is, time is not on your side, after 3 months, so get that real estate agent working on your behalf ASAP.

Good luck.

It looks like a poor repair job in the past and settling is causing this issue. Double check there wasn't any disclosures and maybe reach out to the seller.

As for repair, inspect from above (attic space) and see if you can figure out the cause. You may need to replace or re-do the repair rather than just patching it.

Manas

Here is something I found that may be the cause of the holes appearing. https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/2458927

If I were you I would get this checked as soon as possible as the hairline fractures along with the hole indicate that there could be a problem with your ceiling.

Friend had her ceiling fall down over the kitchen. It made a huge mess and they ended up having to do a lot of repairs to damage to the kitchen and furniture caused by the fall.

It could also be foundation problems. If this is a new home, contact your builder and your Realtor agent. If this is an older home, contact your agent and see if it were disclosed. If not you have a lawsuit if the agent cannot get the money to fix the problem.

Ok you said you bought a new townhouse 3 months ago. New to you? Or new construction? If new construction, depending upon what state you live in, the builder is on the hook for 10 years or more for construction defects. If something was not disclosed on purpose . . . Then you have a lawsuit on your hands. First give everyone the benefit of the doubt and let them step up and repair on their dime. If not, then go after them in any manner possible. Typically I go after the builders license, very effective. No license, no work = no money. Also consider hiring your own licensed home inspector to go through and find any other violations or defects to get them repaired in one fell swoop. Certainly worth a few hundred dollars for peace of mind. And check with your neighbors, if they have similar issues, band together - a group is a threat to the builder and they may just hop to it. Good luck and keep us posted.

When a house settles the nails start to pop through the sheet rock all that needs to be done is to bang them in and compound them and paint over the spot

If you've seen squirrels in your attic there is a good possibility that's where the holes are coming from.I worked as a Painter for a large property management company and we had a big problem with squirrels getting in to the attic and chewing through the sheetrock.If the hole is wider on the attic side of the sheet rock and smaller where it actually pokes through then you've got squirrels!

There are a few possible causes of holes in a ceiling:

1. Water damage: If the ceiling has been exposed to water, such as from a leak or a flood, it can cause the drywall to become weak and develop holes.
2. Age: As a ceiling age, it can become weak and start to sag or develop holes.
3. Insects: Certain types of insects, such as carpenter ants or termites, can cause holes in a ceiling by burrowing into the wood or drywall.
4. Physical damage: Holes in a ceiling can also be caused by physical damage, such as from a falling object or from people walking on the ceiling.

To fix a hole in a ceiling, you'll need to first determine the cause of the hole and take appropriate action. If the hole is caused by water damage, you'll need to repair the source of the leak and replace any damaged materials. If the hole is due to age or insects, you may need to replace the entire ceiling. If the hole is due to physical damage, you can patch the hole using a drywall compound and a piece of drywall.

Remember to use caution when working on a ceiling, as it can be unstable and may contain electrical wires or other hazards. It may be necessary to hire a professional if you are not confident in your ability to fix the hole safely.

If the town house is new contact the builder and find out who is responsible.