Some sureshot signs that your ceiling has a leakage problem * "If you see wet spots on your walls or ceiling during monsoons, it's due to rain water seeping through your external walls or indoor humidity. Such wet spots later develop into hairline cracks," says architect Ajay Nahar.
* You can see small cracks in your walls or ceiling. They can later spread over the wall or at a particular region
* The paint on your walls is chipping off
* Check whether your walls are moist or damp. However, don't do this just after switching off the AC because AC water makes the walls damp
* You can hear the continuous sound of water (like a running toilet) even when none of the taps are running
Hiding it
* Do a paint job over the cracks and cover it with murals or tapestries. A wallpaper covering or a huge painting are also good ideas
* Place pots under the ceiling from where the water drips. It will not only water your plants but also prevent water pools on your floors
* You can also do a wall art job to conceal your cracks. Fill the cracks with more paint to hide them. Putting some wall appliques on them will make it look more decorative. But this is merely a temporary solution
Leaky solutions
* Waterproofing the roof or terrace prevents external leakage. Realigning or replacing the fractured tiles on your roof will stop the raindrops from falling on your head. Fill up the cracks in your terrace with sealant to protect it. Check the building maintenance in terms of cleaning of the sewer pipes, the overall plumbing system as well as cleanliness.
* Leakages also afflict external walls. Try doing a paint job or using fibreglass sheets with chemicals to fix it.
* Toilet leakage is the most harrowing. One has to either replace the plumbing pipes in the affected area or change the WC pot. To fix a leaking ceiling, break open the plaster right till the reinforcement then coat it with anti-corrosive chemicals to the bars and re-plaster or repaint the surface. Another solution could be to paste fibreglass sheets on the ceiling or walls that already have a coating of waterproof chemical or tar, and re-paint the surface.
* Waterproof paints are a good option. Moist wet patches or tiny wet spots can be treated with sand plastering or waterproofing chemicals.
* Many companies and contractors undertake waterproofing work with a guarantee of few years. The best option is to sign a maintenance contract with them.
* Many a times people fix tiles on the affected areas. But remember, this in fact hides the problem but doesn't cure it. This is truly a dangerous solution, in this case there are chances the tiles might get wet from behind and just fall on your head some day.
