Ceiling in Bathroom Dripping

Hi, I’m one year into owning a fully renovated brownstone in Bed Stuy. The roof and all plumbing was brand new upon move-in. In the last months I noticed, however, the tell-tale signs of a leak in the ceiling of my upstairs (top floor) bathroom — discolored dryway, an apparent straining at the seams of the drywall panel. I inspected the roof for leaks and noticed nothing lacking. Just to be sure, I sealed around our skylight and around the collars of the vents. I know water can travel along joists before finally dripping. The leak hasn’t stopped — and now there’s an actualy drip over my bathtub through a rusted nail hole. My research suggests that the problem is probably condensation. This may mean that the builders didn’t insulate the fan vent pipes (or something else?) during installation. Given that I obviously have no attic in my brownstone, is there any other way to fix/diangose this other than ripping out the bathroom ceiling, insulating whatever pipes I find and hoping for the best? I’d appreciate your expertise and experience. Best, Patrick

sarla

in Roofers 12 years and 10 months ago

6

Please log in, in order to post replies!

6 replies

Newest Oldest

anonymous | 12 years and 4 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4877 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4865 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(4) "3470"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(9) "anonymous"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(9) "anonymous"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(16) "deviatar@alm.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2007-09-27 13:11:05"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(13) "loser spammer"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(3470)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(0) {
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(0) {
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(0) {
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Enhancedrr Roofing Contractor is a site for the business rated **best Roofing Company** in Katy Texas, and Houston Texas. Katy Roofing Contractor, LTD. easily the Best Roofer in Katy.

sarla | 12 years and 10 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4876 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4875 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "178824"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(5) "sarla"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BH78SxqcInDRvjJ0wonqK9Csec/c90."
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(5) "sarla"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(16) "sarla7@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(20) "/forums/users/sarla/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:36:09"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(5) "sarla"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(178824)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Thanks everyone. The only reason I don’t think that it’s a leak from above is that it sometimes drips when it hasn’t rained in days. However, either way, it looks like surgery is required, both to find the source and to make my ceiling pretty again. Do I know how to hang drywall and insulate pipes? No, but it’s time I learned.

anonymous | 12 years and 10 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4872 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4878 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(4) "3470"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(9) "anonymous"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(9) "anonymous"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(16) "deviatar@alm.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2007-09-27 13:11:05"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(13) "loser spammer"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(3470)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(0) {
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(0) {
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(0) {
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

I suspect that there’s a pretty large leak. I’d suggest hiring a plumber to get to the bottom of it if you’re too concerned about fixing it yourself. http://www.versarobes.com.au“>Builtin Wardrobes, Wardrobes Melbourne, Shower Screens

dylan621 | 12 years and 10 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4875 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4877 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "176815"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(8) "dylan621"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BBo.elPkwFHFomWgP85ERIuOMh2m/Y/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(8) "dylan621"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(22) "Jlproujansky@yahoo.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(23) "/forums/users/dylan621/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:25:50"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(8) "dylan621"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(176815)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

I had the identical problem.  In our case, we had both roof leaks and condensation which took a while to figure out b/c the bathroom ceiling would leak even when it didn’t rain.  We opened up holes in the bathroom ceiling to see where the water was coming from.  I can understand being reluctant to do that but it sounds like you’re going to need to replace some of the drywall anyway so you might as well cut a hole so you can pinpoint where the water is coming from.  Once we figured out which vent pipes were dripping water we insulated the part of the pipes that penetrates the roof and then put mastic around the joints of all the vent pipes over the bathroom ceiling.  We had A&W Cooling (which I found on this site) do the work and they were great and we haven’t had a problem since.  Hope that helps.

Bklnite | 12 years and 10 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4878 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4876 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(4) "7850"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(7) "Bklnite"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(7) "bklnite"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(26) "walter.wallace@verizon.net"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(49) "http://bstoner.wpengine.com/forums/users/bklnite/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:14:37"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(20) "1V5ZMAVHXeMndDuQZnyh"
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(7) "Bklnite"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(7850)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

I’d suspect a leak (rather than condensation) too. If you can’t find the source from above, often the only way to figure it out is to open up the cieling so you can see what’s happening.

timber | 12 years and 10 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4872 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4879 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "12567"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(6) "timber"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BECcKQMWTvxEKriDkOxFufw7fD/ke01"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(6) "timber"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(17) "WaltherTR@msn.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2008-07-10 17:38:58"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(6) "timber"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(12567)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

I’m guessing you missed a leak somewhere on your roof