How to fix ceiling stain from a leak

[rgraves]

We had a toilet leaking upstairs from the water intake valve and it made a stain on the ceiling below (see attached photo). We got the leak fixed as soon as we saw it. Not sure if it was leaking for a while or just that morning.

You can also see some water has got between the floor joist and the drywall ceiling.

Can this just be sprayed with a mold remover and then painted over or does the drywall need to be replaced altogether?

 

[Jadnashua]

If the drywall is not swelled or soft, if it's just stained (often appears with brown streaks), and not from mold(often black and splotchy), priming it with a good sealer (something like Kilz), then repainting it will work. If you don't use a quality primer designed for this, the stain will often telegraph through your new finish coat. If it's messed up too bad, replace the drywall.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Terry]

Kilz and other stainblocking primers work nice. Yep!

 

[Dj2]

With Kilz you will need multiple coats (depending on the stain), but a better primer/stain blocker is Zinsser.

 

[rgraves]

Thanks very much everyone. It just appears to be stained, no visible mold or ruined drywall so I will just paint over it. I wondered if it's possible there's mold that's not visible - however the leak was fixed quickly so I'm thinking it's fine.

 

[Dj2]

"It just appears to be stained, no visible mold or ruined drywall so I will just paint over it."

The stain will bleed through the paint right away.
Before you paint, use Zinsser.
Do it right, do it once.

 

[rgraves]

That's what I meant to say - use the sealer, then the paint.

Thanks again.