eHow: Repairing a Ceiling After an Ice Dam

Ice dams can lead to leaky ceilings.

An ice dam, the buildup of ice along the edge of a roof, subsequently traps water which can leak through the roof and damage your ceilings. Take care of the ice dam and roof damage first, then repair your water-damaged ceilings.

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Utility knife
• Self-adhesive drywall patch
• Joint compound
• Trowel
• Putty knife
• Sandpaper
• Sanding block
• Paint
• Paint brush

1. • 1
     Ensure the ice dam is gone and that the source of the leak in the roof is fixed. You do not want to fix the ceiling before the roof is fixed, as more leaks might occur.
   • 2
     Allow the water-damaged area of ceiling to dry completely. Use a utility knife to cut out the damaged area.
   • 3
     Measure the size of the resulting hole. Purchase a self-adhesive drywall patch to cover the hole.
   • 4
     Remove the protective cover from the patch. Center the patch in the hole. Firmly press along the edges of the patch to ensure the adhesive sticks to the existing, undamaged drywall.
   • 5
     Apply drywall joint compound. Fill the mesh patch holes. Apply at least two layers, using a trowel and putty knife. Blend the compound into the existing drywall and allow it to dry for 12 hours.
   • 6
     Sand the compound with a fine-grit sandpaper so that it is flush with the existing drywall. Paint over the patch to match it to the ceiling.

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