What causes dark lines on ceiling? A: The dark areas are often called ghost stripes and they are not unusual. The basic cause is moisture that collects along the underside of ceiling joists or trusses, and sometimes along wall studs.
What are the dark lines on my Ceiling?
A:The dark areas are often called ghost stripes and they are not unusual. The basic cause is moisture that collects along the underside of ceiling joists or trusses, and sometimes along wall studs.
What causes long black ceiling stains in buildings?
Long, narrow, parallel black or gray ceiling stains in buildings may be due to thermal tracking as we explain here. The size, shape, location, pattern of any building stain form important clues in diagnosing its cause.
Why does my cathedral ceiling have black streaks?
Cathedral Ceiling Stains: Alan Carson, a home inspection educator and researcher, points out that on cathedral ceilings, where we see dark streaks following exterior studs or roof joists, (on cathedral ceilings very often), this is often associated with condensation on the wall or ceiling surface, and dirt in the air sticking to the condensation.
Why is my wood lath/plaster ceiling so dark?
This is especially noticeable in older uninsulated wood lath/plaster ceilngs. You can see where the wood with at least some insulation value is (lighter) and where the cool plaster and plaster keys are as they’re significantly darker.
How do I get rid of ghost stripes on my ceiling?
Create a solution that is 1/4 bleach and 3/4 water. Thoroughly soak the affected areas of the wall until it is saturated with the solution. Let the solution soak into the affected areas for 5-10 minutes. Scrub the affected area with a brush until the mold stains are removed.
Why do dark lines appear on the ceiling?
A: The dark areas are often called ghost stripes and they are not unusual. The basic cause is moisture that collects along the underside of ceiling joists or trusses, and sometimes along wall studs.
How do I get rid of black marks on my ceiling?
Clean scuff marks with one-half cup vinegar and one-quart water. Wear rubber gloves and squeeze out as much liquid from your sponge as possible before gently scrubbing the scuff marks away. Clean grease stains with a water and cornstarch paste.
What are the dark patches on my ceiling?
What Are Brown Spots on My Ceiling? When you see brown spots, or patches, on your ceiling and interior walls, they are water stains caused from a leak above. This leak could be a malfunction in your commercial roof systems or a leak with another part of your facility, such as HVAC units or leaking pipes.
What is ghosting on a ceiling?
“Ghosting,” to a builder or painter, refers to apparently unexplainable dark streaks or patches on walls, ceilings, and carpets. A séance won't help you deal with these ghosts. They are actually caused by the slow buildup of dust, soot, and sometimes mold, and there are several root causes behind the buildup.
Can see seams in ceiling?
The most likely culprit is the manner in which your drywall was installed. For the seam between drywall panels to disappear after painting, that joint between drywall panels must be covered with compound in a specific way—in a series of layers, with each layer wider than the last.
What causes black streaks on walls?
Soot comes from incomplete combustion of a carbon-based material. Any material that can burn can produce soot, including natural gas, LP, wood, oil, candle wax, gasoline, diesel fuel, tobacco smoke, dust, dirt, cooking oils, and carpet fibers.
Why is there black soot on my walls?
Small black soot particles can be found on light switches and outlets because of static electricity. Temperature differences in the wall can cause ghosting, which is the buildup of particles on the wall, creating black spots or streaks.
What do you do if you have a water stain on your ceiling?
Conceal an unsightly water stain on the ceiling—and put a stopper on the leak that caused it—with these stain-fighting tips.STEP 1: Identify and repair the root cause. ... STEP 2: Clean the stain with bleach. ... STEP 3: Apply a base coat of stain-blocking primer. ... STEP 4: Cover the primer with ceiling paint.
How do you know if your ceiling has water damage?
Other than the obvious water leaking from your ceiling, some things to watch out for include:Slightly discolored spots -- usually copper, yellow, or brown.Peeling, cracking, or bubbling wall surfaces.Discolored growths.Odors indicative of mold or mildew.Stains on ceiling.Sagging ceiling.Bulging drywall.
How long does it take for a water stain to appear on a ceiling?
Look for mold. Moisture creates a hospitable atmosphere for bacteria, and materials such as drywall, carpeting and insulation are especially friendly to fungal growth. If bacteria has had time to set in, it means the water spot has been on the ceiling for at least two or three days.
What if black stains are mold?
What if the black stains are actually mold? If you call a professional and determine that the black stains are actually mold, you have a few options depending on how severe the mold is. Regardless of what you do, it is essential that you contact an expert to assess the situation and determine the health risks.
What is mold on the walls?
Usually, they describe the mold patterns as black stains or spots on the walls and ceilings that seem to follow the framing of the house.
How to stop ghosting on walls?
The first step you need to take to stop ghosting on walls is to eliminate indoor air particles. Stop burning candles, firewood, or incense. The next step is to monitor the relative humidity inside the house. Buy an inexpensive humidity and temperature meter and try and keep your indoor humidity below 55 percent during the cold winter months. You can typically do this by turning on bath fans, which will have a drying effect on your home as you vent out moist warm air and replace it with dry cold air. Finally, you will need to use stain-killing paint to seal up the stains and repaint the walls and ceilings.
How to prevent mold from forming in bathroom?
To prevent mold from forming, check out the following tips: Make sure to run your bathroom’s fan while bathing and after to prevent moisture from accumulating. If possible, shower with the door open to encourage circulation and proper ventilation. Mop up any significant spills from water or other liquids quickly.
What does it mean when a wall is not insulated?
If you see the staining developing in larger patterns on the wall or ceiling, in places between the framing, this indicates the wall or ceiling is likely not insulated correctly. Unfortunately, the only fix is to open up the wall or ceiling and insulate it properly.
How to get mold stains out of walls?
Create a solution that is 1/4 bleach and 3/4 water. Thoroughly soak the affected areas of the wall until it is saturated with the solution. Let the solution soak into the affected areas for 5-10 minutes. Scrub the affected area with a brush until the mold stains are removed. Repeat until stains have been cleansed.
What happens when you burn candles in a building?
As air moves through the building, typically up walls and across ceilings, debris in the air, particularly soot such as that left by burning candles (scented candles may be more of an IAQ issue), adheres more to the damp surfaces than to others, leaving black marks or "tracks.".
Can you get air movement out of a ceiling duct?
If the stains are really ONLY at ceiling A/C air supply registers and those ducts and registers are used only for cooling, then yes, there can be air movement in and out of ceiling ducts and registers, by convection, during cold weather even when the A/C system and blower are turned off.
Why do ceiling joists get condensation?
The moisture is condensation that collects, usually in winter, because the joist areas have less insulation than the cavities surrounding them.
How to prevent stripes from forming?
One is to reduce the relative humidity in your house, which should be no more than 50 percent; this will help prevent condensation. Also, stop burning candles. If you must use the wood stove, make sure it is properly vented and kept clean.
How to get rid of gloss on paint?
First, try rubbing a spot briskly with a clean cloth soaked in warm water. Try to saturate the spatter to soften it. Then try scraping carefully with a plastic scraper to see if you can dislodge any of the paint.
Why does my ceiling have mold?
The Causes. There are a few possible causes of mold stains. These include roof leaks, high humidity, moisture and lack of ventilation. I wrote a more detailed article covering the common causes of ceiling mold (with solutions). You can check it out here.
What is the most common type of ceiling stains?
Water Stains. Water stains are probably the most common types of ceiling stains and man are they UGLY! These stains are very easy to identify by their unique characteristics.
What color are nicotine stains?
It’s really not that important, to be honest, but I’ll tell you anyway…. Nicotine and tar stains are brown in color. Unlike other stains, they tend to be more consistent and uniform, like a thick layer of brown dust, spread evenly across the ceiling.
Why does my roof have water stains on it?
Roof leaks are the main cause of water stains on the ceiling. To identify a roof leak you should look for the obvious factors like missing or damaged shingles/roof tiles, torn flashings or loose screws on the exterior of the roof.
Why does Popeye have tar stains?
Again, very obvious but nicotine and tar stains are primarily caused by cigarettes. They can also be caused by old-school pipes (the type Popeye always had in his mouth) and cigars.
What causes a roof to leak?
Another potential cause for a roof leak, although less likely, is a hot water geyser leak. This will obviously only be a possibility if your geyser is located above the ceiling/in an attic. To fix this problem, you will most likely need a specialist.
Can you repaint over white ceiling stain?
In fact, most (if not all) of these stain blocking primers come in white, so if your stain is on the smaller side then there may not even be a need for you to repaint over the stain (if your ceiling is white of course!).
