Is a stained ceiling in Riverside South a drywall or a roofing job?

A stained ceiling means water got there, so the first job belongs to whoever deals with the source: the roof, the attic or the plumbing above. Drywall work comes once the source is found and stopped. Note where the stain sits, roughly how big it is and when you first saw it; the person tracing the source and the drywall contractor will both ask.

Once it is, the drywall side can range from re-taping and finishing a small area to cutting out and replacing board. What decides the scope on the drywall side:

• whether the board is soft, crumbling or pulling away from the framing, or only discoloured
• the size of the affected area
• the finish level wanted on the repaired area
• texture matching, where the rest of the ceiling has a texture
• whether primer and paint are included

On permits, the City of Ottawa's 2026 flood-repair FAQ says removing drywall or other interior finish to let insulation dry needs no permit, while replacing structural framing such as joists does. If structural damage is suspected, the City recommends a suitably qualified professional, such as a professional engineer.

Ask for the written quote to say which board comes out, what replaces it, how the new section is joined to the old ceiling, and whether the whole ceiling is repainted or only the repaired area; if paint is not included, that is a separate job for a painter.

We found only one published source for ceiling repair prices, so no range is given here; ask for the removal, the new board and the finishing priced as separate lines, so two quotes can be compared line by line. Ask the contractor what they will check on the framing once the damaged board is open.