What Causes Water Spots On The Ceiling of My Manhasset Restaurant?

7/17/2020 (Permalink)

Let SERVPRO keep your Manhasset restaurant up and running after a water loss.

SERVPRO Can Help Perform Water Damage Restoration in Your Manhasset Restaurant Eliminating Any Stains

The main reason people visit your restaurant is to sample the cuisine and other services that you offer. However, other aspects such as the ambience can influence such visits, especially if they can get similar services at other restaurants within the Manhasset area. One thing that can ruin the ambiance at your restaurant is the development of water stains on the ceiling. Various water-related issues can cause such spots to appear, ruining the general atmosphere at your facility. Stains are more of a nuisance than an impediment to business, but it is best to fix them.

How do the stains form?

Whenever brownish or dark patches appear on the ceiling, it is a sign of underlying moisture issues. However, before deciding what water damage restoration procedures your Manhasset restaurant requires, it is essential to understand the underlying problem fully. The colored patches on the ceiling can signify:

• A roof leak
• Leaks in plumbing lines or HVAC ducts
• Condensation of moisture from various sources
• Mold growth 
• Ghosting

Although all the problems are moisture-related, the steps necessary to ensure complete elimination of the problem can vary. You may think that the solution is to apply a fresh coat of paint to conceal the unsightly patches. However, cosmetic solutions such as painting over the surface or replacing the ceiling panels without addressing the root cause of the problem might only offer a short reprieve. You should also note that the staining is the least of your worries since beneath the surface, the excess moisture might eat into the materials diminishing their structural strength.

I know the cause of the staining, what next?

Unlike a stain on a fabric such as a carpet or curtains that you can remove by cleaning, you have to take several steps to restore the ceiling surface to its preloss state once water stains form. Our SERVPRO technicians can help complete all the necessary restoration steps, making any staining disappear, "Like it never even happened." We can locate leaks on the roof or plumbing networks within the property and help you find a building contractor or plumber to fix the damaged sections. 

After addressing the source of the water ruining the ceiling, we can proceed to fix the deterioration that manifests as browning on the ceiling surface. The ceiling is an assembly of different materials, considering it hides power cables, ducts, and lighting fixtures, which can complicate the restoration process. Technicians might need to perform some demolition to remove damaged materials, especially when rot or mold is involved.  Drying the area may also be necessary if the stain was the result of a continuous leak. Directing airflow to the area helps improve evaporation rates, thus speeding up the drying rate.

How do I restore the finishing of a stained ceiling patch?

The refinishing process of a ceiling after it is stained by water intrusion must address several issues, including:

• Removing flaking paint
• Blocking or neutralizing stain remnants
• Matching the new paint with the existing color shade 

Refinishing the damaged area involves the application of a fresh coat of paint, or replacing some ceiling panels. The new materials must match the texture and tone of color in the surrounding areas for a uniform look. When repainting the area, a couple of precautions are necessary, including removing any flaked paint to ensure a smooth finish after repainting. Removing traces of the existing stains is also crucial since they can show through the fresh coat of paint once it dries.

Our SERVPRO technicians take different steps to accomplish the intended goal. We use abrasives such as wire brushes or sandpaper to remove all loose paint flakes and the discoloration caused by water. In case the surface is smooth, we clean the area with a bleaching agent to remove the browning, ensuring that stains do not show after repainting the area. In the case of a colored ceiling, we use oxygen bleach instead of the regular chlorine bleaching agents. 

Finally, we can paint the ceiling to restore the ambiance your customers are used to. Matching the repaired area to the rest of the ceiling is crucial; otherwise, you would end up with a patch of a different color, which is no better than a stained ceiling. We can repaint the entire ceiling if it is not very big. Alternatively, we ensure that the paint we use to repaint the areas is the exact hue as the rest of the surrounding areas.

Timely water damage restoration can help prevent major problems at your business premises. Call SERVPRO of Great Neck / Port Washington at (516) 767-9600 to assist. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.