What to do about ceiling damage

Well I remember all those times the ex-husband insisted I stand and watch him "do things around the house"--mostly in the line of repair. My job was to watch and learn, as well as hand him things. I did not want to be his assistant. He didn't really need my help--he just wanted me there, not in a connected way, but just to take my time.

 We've been divorced seven years now and how many times, I repeat, how many times have I used all those things he MADE me learn that I did not want to learn. One is how to repair a cracked ceiling, not a specific he made me learn, but as in general repair of sheetrock.

This is how it looked after the roofers put on a new roof. What was a visible crack now looked considerably more like a fissure. OK, I exaggerate, but the crack doubled, tripled in size and depth, plus it now was opened and so very obvious. There was no way of not seeing this long crack that ran about six or seven feet in a broken line.

I asked at the local home repair business how to repair it. Does it fall open, they asked. Yes, to some degree. Well, then, they informed me, the sheetrock has been too wet to repair and you must replace it.

I know my limitations and knew I could never attempt that kind of repair, so what else could I do? That's when I reverted to the good ol' ex's demonstrations. Use spackling compound to "glue" those two pieces together. So I did. The finished job is not professional by any standards, but it will suffice until I can afford to have it properly repaired.

 

The repair actually resembles a healed scar, but is less noticeable than an opened crack! 

 

This is the water damage to the ceiling after the roofers put on the new shingles. The flashing around the skylight was not properly sealed and water got under the shingles, causing this horrid result!

Again, I reverted to the ex's training and  came up with this result: The photo is taken from nearly the same angle as the damage shot. The lighting is different and makes the color of the photo different. Both of the damaged ceilings were shot under incandescent lighting (bulbs), causing a yellowish glow, while the water damage was shot under natural light, causing the white cast.

But notice that you can hardly see the damage on the "white" ceiling. So far all I have used was one coat of Primer in oil-base. You can see faint outlines of the two stains, but I feel sure those will disappear with two coats of ceiling paint, which the ceiling needed to begin with.

As a word inserted at this point: I am publicly thanking the ex for his teachings even under duress! Thank you, Ex!

New roof, more ceiling damage

What to do in such a case? 

I had a new roof installed recently but gained several ugly new stains on my ceiling as a result. I never know what to do in these circumstances.

By learning to blog, I am learning to add links. Adding links led me to information concerning costs of roofing, information I never thought to check before hiring someone. I have learned that the cost of my roof is reasonable. Two problems remain: those huge new ceiling stains in the Great Room and a long crack between the kitchen and Great Room, where a previous owner of the house added on and did the work himself. He told one of his neighbors (my neighbor now) that he didn't care about lasting quality. He wouldn't be in the house long enough to experience any problems.

one crack between kitchen and Great Room

 two new stains after new roofing was in place

That same guy added a swimming pool and gazebo, but built up the side of the hill where house meets deck and reinforced the area with dirt and huge railroad ties, which have now rotted and are crumbling, as is the hill. Everyone tells me I have to reinforce with concrete. I know enough about concrete to know I cannot afford such an expense. So? My pool goes sliding down the hill? Then what? I have no idea.

But the roof. It still leaks along the lower side of the chimney and along one skylight. Serious leaks, The roofer came back and repaired both, replacing an old vent, which was supposed to have been replaced in the first place. And the area along the chimney was damaged  during the roofing process.

They also were reroofing the gazebo when I arrived home one day. I promptly called their office--all the workers spoke only Spanish--to let her know I would not pay for something I clearly stated I did not want. So they had to deduct that expense--$300. They have repaired the chimney area. I'm waiting for the next rain before I complete payment.

I know I did this process all wrong now. One nice thing out of all this is meeting the owner and his wife, both very nice people. He even invited me to their home for Thanksgiving because they thought I was totally alone. I thanked him and told him I have family nearby.

For more information concerning roofing costs and how to figure them, please go to:

http://www.nrca.net/consumer/fyi.aspx