The Roof is Leaking Over My Apartment
There are many ways for a water to get into an apartment unit. A roof leak is one of the most common sources of water intrusion, and it can appear in many different forms. Water from the roof will tend to puddle on the back side of the sheetrock on the ceiling; as the moisture begins to build up, that puddle will expand.
The standing water will continue to grow until it reaches a new path, this is usually at the seams of the sheetrock. Inside the apartment you will not see the seams; it is smoothed over during the original construction and textured. After painting, there are no signs of any joints in the drywall.
On the back side of this ceiling, the water will fill the joints and travel in that seam as the water rises in the puddle. The joint compound and texture will soften when in contact with the moisture. As the water sits and the joint compound softens, eventually the tape will fail. When this happens the tape will begin to slip and fall.
Often times you will see the tape coming apart long before seeing any water dripping through the sheetrock and into the unit. If you see this sort of damage, it may be an early sign of a leak, and should be addressed by the owner or property management.
View Larger Map
Comments(6)