What are the faint outline/shadow of ceiling joists supposed to mean?

Question

We've noticed in the past year that we can see the faint outline/shadow of the ceiling joists in our one story ranch where the beams run and the area where it looks like the nails are.

Answer 1

Without looking at your ceiling, it is hard to say for certain. There are a couple of things that can cause the joist lines to become visible.

It is possible that the drywall is sagging just a bit between the joists. This happens more often when the ceiling members are spaced 24" on center with 1/2" drywall. The slight angle of the drywall near the joists causes light to reflect just a bit different. 1/2" drywall on 24" centers is not always a problem, usually it is fine. Some brands of drywall are a bit softer than others. Not much you can do if this is the cause other than replace the drywall. You should not add another layer, as the added weight could be more than the ceiling joists are designed to handle.

The other possibility that comes to mind does have to do with condensation, but not as another poster has described. The root cause here would be insufficient insulation or poorly installed insulation.

In the winter, your attic space should be cooler than the inside of the house. Attic insulation keeps the ceiling warm from the heat inside the house. Ceiling joists conduct heat much better than the insulation, so if there is no insulation on top of the joists the joists cool down the strips of drywall where there is contact. If the humidity in the living space is a bit high, it will condense on the drywall in these cooler strips and cause a very light stain. Adding insulation, or in some cases just rearranging what is there will take care of the problem but you will need to paint to cover what is already there.

If you have no insulation, the reverse can happen with the spaces between joist being cooler than the strips, but again wood conducts heat much better than insulation so you would have to have very little if any attic insulation for that scenario to take place.

Answer 2

Given that the outline is faint, it is probably humidity condensing into the drywall caused by the cold air in the attic. The joists would help insulate the area directly below them and prevent the moisture from forming. This would cause the joist to appear whiter than the rest of the ceiling.

Add insulation in the attic and repaint the ceiling if it is bothering you.

Answer 3

circulate into your attic and discover the middle of two of your joist. discover the middle of your 2 joist on have been your hammock is to be. Us 2 2x4s on the interior your joist discover them on the outsides of your middle hammock region. do not forget that those 2 blocks would be 12,18,or 24in in length, and that they might desire to be placed vertically. the middle would desire to have a 2x6 and be put in horizontally. Make a hollow each and every of how via , and installation your eye-bolt making use of a washer then yet another washer then nut. it relatively is going to likely be greater advantageous than adequate power for what you're doing. submit to in techniques in simple terms approximately each and every chippie's nail has adequate power to hold 120lbs each and every. good success!!!

Answer 4

You may have a roof leak and the water is running down the joists. The moisture is seeping into the paint and making the lines you see.

Answer 5

do you have a fire place or maybe oil heat a lot of times I've seen lines caused from the static electrical fields and the pollutants in the air I cant explain it but I know it happens I've seen it in a lot of homes I hope that helps with your problem

Answer 6

Simple..the house is settling a little bit..this is common

Answer 7

Look up "ghosting"