How long do I wait until plastering a ceiling after a leak?

TEDDYRUKSPIN

I was wondering if you can help me on this as I am getting conflicting answers to a leak I had through my living room ceiling. It has been roughly a week since we stopped the leak and had the leak repaired.

Part of the ceiling has dried up and left major stains and damage to parts of the ceiling. Today, I have noticed another spot appear which is damp and causing brown staining. I've treated the visible mould up to now.

My question is how long do I wait for the ceiling to dry out before calling a plasterer to repair the damage?

Also, up to now I have had conflicting answers to the repair work.

(1) has stated to cut out part of the ceiling, treat the rot, patch it up and skim the whole lounge room. Quoted £600.

(2) has stated that he will go to the bathroom, rip up the boards and treat the damage for rot that way by spraying it with something. Then he will skim the ceiling for £250.

(3) Another could'nt even be bothered to come out but told me over the phone it will cost £570 and answered similar to (1).

What I can see and feel is that we have patches of brown staining in the living room. The joints where the water seeped through is still moist and damp. Some of the previous plaster has bubbled out.
Some water reached the lighting but has dried out.

With the current weather, do you think it is wise to wait until it dries out and then ask for it to be repaired? I'm worried if I get someone out to treat it now, the mould will just go through the new plaster.

southcoastrgi

it needs to dry, but unless it was leaking for ages then the joists wouldn't have rotted, they might be still wet but i doubt if they have rot, wet plasterboard just falls to pieces so that part needs to be replaced, however unless the area is massive i don't see the point in plastering the whole ceiling