A ceiling repair rattles owners of a 1912 home — fellow homeowners suggest a $100 DIY option

A plumbing repair in a 1912 home left a young couple facing another unexpected project after a leak farther up the pipe meant opening their ceiling.

One of the homeowners took to Reddit's r/CenturyHomes community to ask for help and advice, telling the forum, "I'm so stressed and scared!"

Here's what to know

In the thread, they explained that they had lived in the 114-year-old house for just over a year and that the trim had been "busted up" to address a drain pipe leak. "Now the situation might be worse because the leak is now higher up in the horizontal parts and they'll have to cut the ceiling open," they wrote.

The original poster added, "Please tell me things get easier…and it's not a big deal."

One user reassured the poster, writing: "In the grand scheme of repairs, patching a ceiling hole is nothing. Likely will cost a few hundred bucks, or you can learn drywall on your own." 

Another added: "As someone with anxiety issues, wanting a century home and then getting one is…something…special. … Things I've learned: Fixing one problem will almost always unearth some others. And most things that seem like a big deal really weren't that bad after all. … You got this!"

A third commenter wrote: "Size of the hole is pretty irrelevant. The cost of hiring someone to patch a 1-square-foot hole and a 5-square-foot hole is not much different."

Someone else tried to calm down the poster by explaining, "Anything that can be cut open can be patched to look like it never happened." An electrician similarly added: "I rewire old houses constantly. I have personally cut about one trillion holes in old house ceilings and walls. Once they're patched up, it looks like we were never there." 

Having lived with a ceiling hole for weeks, the third commenter said the homeowner could leave the opening until there was time to patch it. They estimated that basic tools and materials might cost $100.

Where can I learn more?

For other homeowners, a damp ceiling or hidden leak has brought similar worries. 

• A century-old home's cracking bathroom floor raised collapse fears, but plumbers said showering could continue.

• One homeowner paid to open a wall before plumbers pointed to the shower instead.

• Another homeowner opened a ceiling after two summers of drips and discovered uninsulated ductwork.

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