Water leak from toilet, water dripping from living room ceiling

[Ashley Brown]

I had a water leak in the toilet overnight, broken washer in the fixing, had a plumber come and fix it, but it was leaking probably a good 10 hours before I woke up to find toilet floor flooded out with about an inch of water, managed to stop additional leaking, but then all day water been dripping through the ceiling in the living room on 2 or 3 spots, out the light fixture and down one of the walls, I’ve now drilled a few holes and quite a bit of water came out that had clearly been pooling. Overall probably water been dripping onto the ceiling plasterboard and pooled water dripping for a good 20 hours or so.

I can’t see any sagging of the plaster, but obviously a few obvious wet patches in the ceiling now.

With it being so warm at the moment, I’m hoping it dries out in a few weeks and will be ok with minimum repair work needed, hoping I can spray stain sealer on it and repaint in about a month and all will be well.

Does anyone who has experience of this type of thing have any idea if a leak of that length of time, with that amount of water seeping through the plaster will damage the ceiling beyond repair or should it dry out in time and still be structurally sound. I know it’s probably impossible to answer without seeing it but any sort of rough idea would be good or any advice welcome.

Many thanks.

 

[JCplumb]

Once it's dried out have a poke at it you'll know the answer then.
I've seen ceilings sag and break from a small drip, also seen ceilings that have survived after being wet through by a proper full bore leak.
Depends what it's made of, how well it's fixed to the joists, whether it was sealed/primed etc.
You could be lucky