Last week my cousin called me about water stains on a cathedral ceiling along the ridge.
When I arrived at his house, there were what appeared to be water stains along the false ridge beam. The stain was jagged with some of the marks extending about 18″ down the ceiling. The stains where not along the entire ridge. There were a few on an interior wall up by the ridge. These stains looked like someone cracked open a beer and it sprayed on the wall and ran.
It is like something is leaching through the drywall.
I checked the roof, ridge vent, and the intersection of the roof and house. No problems there.
I went back in and climbed up the ladder. I was able to wipe the stains off with just a damp rag. Some areas were slightly tacky like it was poly.
All was ok for three days. At the end of last week, we had cool nights and mornings with their furnace and humidifier coming on, and during the day, it was getting into the mid to upper 70’s (Pittsburgh).
They have been in this house for 3 years. The furnace and humidifer were installed at the beginning of last year (07′). These marks never showed up until last week.
Perhaps the new humidifier is having an effect. It has been turned off. Any thoughts are appreciated. Thanks
Dave Otto — Otto Construction — PA
Replies
Sounds like condensation to me. Very common in catherdral ceilings and the addition of extra humidity this past winter took a while to show results.
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I think Piffin is right.
Just a guess, but the places with the stains, are where the insulation is thinner, and the surface enough cooler that things condense there. The stickiness, is probably from candles, potpourri, or those scented oil emitter things.
Edited 4/20/2008 3:22 pm ET by Jigs-n-fixtures
I asked about candles and they are not burning any, but that was one of my initial thoughts.
As an aside, I spent my Honeymoon at Glacier Ntl Park. I'm not sure how many hours away it is, but you folks have some awesome country to live and work in.
Dave Otto -- Otto Construction -- PA
Edited 4/20/2008 9:15 pm ET by DOtto
DOtto,
Bees? I have seen several ceilings get stains from bee nest in the framing. Just a thought.
Russell
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I considered bees as well. I am no entomologist, but it seems like it would be early in the season for them to be active.
As Piffin stated, condensation. I am betting that the cathedral ceiling is packed with inso and no provision for air flow *i.e. baffles.
Time to do some cutting I think.Dave Otto -- Otto Construction -- PA