I have stain marks in the ceiling that look like water marks but the ceiling is bone dry. No leak in the attic
Question:This stain started afew months ago. I thought it might be due to a leak in the roof. I checked several times but there is no leak. There is a big joint of AC ducts on top of this stain. I thought it may be due to the condensation and dirty firty so I took care of that. I also place a tray under this duct to trap any drip. No luck. The stain is still growing. Is the a fungus that may cause this problum? I did have a few mice in the attic which lived on top of this stain. I cannot make any other connection. Mice cannot pee that much? Can they?
Answers:
Yep, they can, but the stain area may be a low point of the cieling, with the water coming from another location and travelling. Have you checked the roof, soffit and facia and insulation errors nearby? That's a good bet. It may also be a combination of errors, not just one thing. Better bet.
Perhaps at one time there was a leak and it's just now working it's way through the paint job. I'd try a good oil-based stain blocking primer such as Kilz and follow it with whatever paint was used on the ceiling. If the stain continues to grow or if the drywall feels a little soft, then you might have to replace that section of ceiling.
could be the ghost of leaks past. try using a white pigmented primer lie KILZ to paint over it and see if that makes the stain stay undercover.
mice pee alot.. they are usually that smell in the pet store! that might be your problem since you took care of the mice has the stain gotten any bigger?
Don't know if the mice can pee that much, but I can recomend spraying PURE BLEACH on the stain, Not only will it kill a fungus that could be growing, but It will DEFINATELY take care of that stain, You may need to spray it several times, but it will get the stain out, and it is safe, just protect EVERYTHING underneath and DEFINATELY have it well ventaliated SPRAY AWAY good luck
Some roof leaks occur away from where the stain shows up; the rain water seeps in through the leak, then runs down a rafter or pipe before dripping onto the ceiling, so you don't see a leak right above the stain.
Yes mice can do the stains! It happened to my aunt's house. Put traps or D-Con up there. For your ceiling, if it's white you blot bleach on the stains with cotton pads (protect your eyes and clothing from drips). You gotta get rid of those critters!
Kilz works on covering some stains, not all.alot of contractors use polyurethane it is clear wait until it dries and paint over it it will cover any stain.
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