Over the past few months I have noticed what looks like bubbling/peeling/flaking on part of my ceiling and I'm not sure what is causing it. I suspect it might be water leaking from somewhere as both bathrooms are above the area but I would like a second opinion and any advice on what I should do.
Thank you for any help!
You need to examine the rooms & flooring above, even if that means lifting the boards; as it's considerably easier & cheaper than fixing Victorian coving. If it really is impossible to reach above there without having to move toilets/bath etc, you can cut into the flat part of the ceiling, which is relatively easy to patch. Beware - the plasterwork will be filthy beyond compare above there.
If that's an outside wall, also check gutters, fall pipes & pointing. If it's a chimney breast, also check the chimney stack.
The usual suspect when a bath is above a room with those issues is a toilet that has the wax seal leaking.
If your toilet discharges through the back, take a look.
It could be drains or pipes leaking under a sink or in the wall, but my experience is in most cases it's the toilet seal.
Look on the floor for any signs of water seeping. If you have a tile floor, darker grout lines are a good indication of water leaking.
Bottom line, examine all the bath fixtures, before searching for something outside.
