Problem with ceilings in house with steel beams
Canyouhelpme
| Posted in General Questions on
Our house is about 25 years old. Has steel beams. Dirty or discolored lines have appeared on ceilings and also on some walls. LInes are evenly spaced at locations of steel beams. What could be causing this? Contractor says it’s not mold or water problem.
I can try to have ceilings professionally cleaned and/or re-painted, but don’t want problem to recur.
What can be the cause of this?
Thank you.
GBA Detail Library
A collection of one thousand construction details organized by climate and house part
Search and download construction details
Replies
Thermal bridging thru the highly conductive steel
the cold surfaces attract particulates and moisture
Deborah,
A permanent solution isn't cheap. You need to install a continuous layer of rigid foam insulation on your walls and ceilings -- on either the interior or the exterior.
Another contributing factor may be "smoke"
do you burn candles?
are there any smokers in the house?
a fireplace?
here is some more info
http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/digests/bsd-150-black-stains-on-carpets-and-ghosting-of-framing/files/bsd-150_black-stains-on-carpets-and-ghosting-of-framing.pdf
We don't smoke and only occasionally burn candles. We do have a wood-burning fireplace in great room. However, this is a vacation house and we probably only use fireplace 15 - 20 times/year. House is in mountains. Cold winters, warm summers. All the ceilings have same problem -- even in bedrooms.
25 years.... wash clean, repaint as needed. Other solutions will cost more than your budget. Paint with top quality washable paint.