How do you repair water stained walls & popcorn ceilings?

Gen13277473
by Gen13277473
Roof leaks caused by Hurricane Irma have stained walls & popcorn ceilingS . Wondering if I can repair or if they have to be replace.

  8 answers
  • Cheryl A Cheryl A on Dec 30, 2017

    you need to be sure there is no mold before painting or doing repairs - if there is mold then you will have to call someone in to take care of this for you - if no mold, paint with a stain killer such as Kilz product then paint over the primer

  • Linda Sikut Linda Sikut on Dec 30, 2017

    I don't live in hurricane territory so I don't know for sure, but it seems to me that the water that stained your walls would be tainted with unwelcome bacteria. I do know that my brother & sister-in-law were hit with Harvey and they had to rip out all stained dry wall. In addition, the studs and other wood behind the walls probably got wet too. That is a breeding ground for mold as far up as the roof, because water coming from the roof doesn't always come straight down. It follows the beams. I really think you should have a professional look at it before you do anything. This is just my opinion. I wish you the best & hope the New Year is better for you.

  • Sharon Sharon on Dec 30, 2017

    I would think I would have ripped out all drywall immediately to prevent mold, this would have been covered by your homeowners insurance. I would cut out a few sections of drywall in that area and check for mold on the back of the drywall and the wood. before any repairs are made.

    Check your homeowner's insurance to see how long you can file a claim after the storm.

  • Ohiorn Ohiorn on Dec 30, 2017

    You need to rip out the stained wall to be sure you don't have mold growing and that you don't have anything leaking from inside the wall. Popcorn ceilings are something many folks want replaced. You need to wet the ceiling and scrape the popcorn stuff off (see You Tube). Be sure to check above the ceiling to see if you have any leaks.

  • Michelle Leslie Michelle Leslie on Apr 21, 2021

    So sorry to hear that. You can use Kilz 2 to repaint the ceiling and the walls. It comes in a spray and paint-on version. If brushing, you will most likely have to paint the entire ceiling and use a thick nap roller for that job.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Sep 12, 2021

    Hi. Did you make a claim on your Home Buildings Insurance? If not and it is only stained, then If dried out, cover with a product called Stain Bloc from your DIY Store. Once dry you can paint.