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Strange stains!!!!

Womble | Posted in General Discussion on March 9, 2007 11:15am

My 2 story family room has a wood-burning fireplace. I believe the stains on

the ceiling come from smoke that occasionally leaks into the room.

The stains started to appear after we installed the wood-burning fireplace.

When the house was built there was a gas fireplace.

I could understand stains that match the rafter pattern – smoke “condenses”

on the colder areas (i.e. the rafters) but this pattern puzzles me greatly.

Anyone have any ideas what could be causing this? This is an NV Home built 4

years ago.

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Replies

  1. DanH | Mar 09, 2007 11:41pm | #1

    Either they're cold spots in the ceiling, due to problems with the insulation above (most likely) or they're due to roof leakage (not as likely, based on their appearance).

    So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
    1. wane | Mar 10, 2007 12:00am | #2

      My guesses

      cieling not primed adequately???

       no vapour barrier??

  2. Piffin | Mar 10, 2007 12:12am | #3

    That's easy! Either somebnody used wet insulation or the wrong thickness insulation in two spots.

     

     

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  3. JohnT8 | Mar 10, 2007 12:36am | #4

    Can you get up above the drywall and see if there is any insulation in those bays?

     

    jt8

    "The flower that follows the sun does so even on cloudy days."
    --Robert Leighton

  4. calvin | Mar 10, 2007 01:07am | #5

    Were you going to have a skylight and changed your mind?

    A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.

    Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.

    http://www.quittintime.com/

     

    1. DanH | Mar 10, 2007 01:12am | #6

      Actually, they DO have skylights. The rockers just covered them over.
      So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin

      1. Womble | Mar 10, 2007 01:25am | #7

        Thanks to all who have replied.

        Yes, I considered skylights but they were never an option on this home and their placement would be a little strange.

        I cannot get above the drywall - this is the roof. I could go on the roof, remove the shigles, then the sheathing ...... but I don't think that will happen!

        Strange insulation job - is that what we are going with?

    2. Piffin | Mar 10, 2007 01:25am | #8

      Think the frost shows the same pattern on the roof? 

       

      Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

      1. DanH | Mar 10, 2007 01:49am | #9

        Definitely something to check.The OP should wait until the roof is covered with frost or a light snow (or a heavy snow, after it's melted a bit), then look at it and see what areas are bare. The bare areas are generally areas where the insulation is poorer and/or where warm air is leaking through the ceiling.
        So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin

        1. Womble | Mar 10, 2007 02:22am | #10

          Snow cover is uniform across the roof!

          It snowed 2 days ago!

          1. DanH | Mar 10, 2007 02:33am | #12

            The spots could also be due to a screwup with ventillation in the "attic". Normally with a vented attic it should be insulation down, airspace up, but if the insulation in those spots was somehow "up", it could cause the cold ceiling and accompanying dark spots, without corresponding clear spots on a snowy roof.Of course, one would need to know more about the roof construction and insulation/ventillation to decide if this were possibly the problem.
            So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin

  5. User avater
    rjw | Mar 10, 2007 02:23am | #11

    It's soot - likely from the fireplace, possibly from candles, even possible from furnace backdrafting (which would be rare, but very serious.)

    Moisture condenses on cold spots (where the skylight was planed and along some of the rafters) and the soot sticks to the condensation.

    Pretty common - difficult to clean.


    With my mouth I will give great thanks to the Lord; I will praise Him in the midst of the throng. For He stands at the right hand of the needy, to save them from those who would condemn them to death.

    - Psalms 109:30-31

  6. User avater
    Luka | Mar 10, 2007 01:16pm | #13

    Bout the size of shallow graves, aren't they ?


    Sometimes all it's about is just a good bowl of soup.

    ..and a sammich

    1. Pierre1 | Mar 10, 2007 10:35pm | #15

      lol. shadows of their former selves. They might even speak Spanish. Soon, the eyes and mouths will show through.

      Time to call an exorcist. No way I'd sleep in that house till then. 

  7. woodguy99 | Mar 10, 2007 09:59pm | #14

    That looks like someone screwed up installing the insulation.  I've seen the same thing, but in a more obvious pattern of gaps between batts.  Yours looks like the edges of the insulation got rolled over or pushed out of the way.  You can either paint it or cut out the sheetrock and fix the insulation.

    "This is a process, not an event."--Sphere

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