along the top of my wall where it meets the roof, I can see dark areas at each spot where the 2x4's are. Is it dirty or is it mold coming through? House is almost 7 years old.
2007-03-04 02:31:23 · 8 answers · asked by lynna 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Mold needs moisture to grow. You can test for moisture using a meter like the one shown in the link below. But it may just be that the wall was not properly primed before painting. New drywall should be primed with PVA primer. Otherwise you may get some discoloration where it has been taped, as well as at the nail or screw locations. You should try repainting the room, giving it a coat of PVA primer first.
2007-03-04 03:22:01 · answer #1 · answered by Tech Dude 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mold on drywall can show up as pink or gray or black.
If it apprears to be at every joint it is probably not mold. Mold grows where there is moisture. With drywall if it gets wet at any point, before it is up or after it is up and when it is not sealed the mold will begin showing in 48 hours. Mold is agressive. And drywall is a perfect host.
One way is to smell the area. Any musty odor can be mold. Or take a screwdriver and push it into the drywall. If it readily goes in then you have water damage. This is how insurance adjusters check for mold.
If you have a roof leak, the shadow of the mold can show there.
Clean the area with a combo of water and bleach (1 gal/1/2 cup)
This will kill the mold at least on the outside. If it shows back again, you have a mold problem and need to replace the drywall and find the leak.
If you live in an area where you get snow and it sits on the roof, you can get a "freeze back " problem and it can get in under the tiles and cause mold. This is common.
Good Luck
2007-03-04 02:46:31 · answer #2 · answered by Nevada Pokerqueen 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on where it is and what's causing it. For example, in a bathroom you can get black mold growing on the ceiling and tops of walls where the moisture condensates. A roof leak might produce a brownish discoloration on the sheetrock. No matter what the cause, you need to identify it as your attempting to do. I guess I would suspect a roof leak if it's not in a bathroom.
2007-03-04 02:40:49 · answer #3 · answered by bobweb 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
drywall compound? Sounds like it old. You could scap off the top layer and add some beach and stir. Or replace. Its about 11 bucks for 5 gallons. They sell 1 gallon buckets as well as a dry mix. 20 - 90 min setup. Mix only what you want/can use.
2016-03-28 23:17:07 · answer #4 · answered by Beth 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you live in a cold enough climate and your house is NOT properly insulated it could actually be simply dust-soot from your furnace (Oil gas) as the 2x4 will conduct the heat out faster then the insulated part.
I have seen this, but it was in the Yukon, so there, it is Cold.
2007-03-04 02:49:18 · answer #5 · answered by occluderx 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You just need a new paint job. Go with a eggshell paint, u can take wet rag and clean if something gets on it. Also, eggshell will not discolor like a latex paint.
2007-03-04 02:41:28 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
i would guess that the insulation at the upper plate line is minimal and there probably isn't enough in the attic
2007-03-04 02:39:19 · answer #7 · answered by alexnlulu 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Need more info or picture otherwise you will have a roomful of guesses
2007-03-04 02:34:51 · answer #8 · answered by J B 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋