Water marks on ceiling boards

**steamboatwilly** · 20-11-2009, 05:16 PM

Folks,

We've had some minor leaks in our attic and the ceiling boards have stains along the joints and around the drywall screws. Will it be OK to just paint them over or should I use some stain block before?

**Frosty** · 20-11-2009, 05:21 PM

Always use some form of stain block otherwise it'll just bleed through again.

A product called "Zinser BIN" is extremely good.
Or if you've got some old oil based undercoat (not gloss) you can use that.

**steamboatwilly** · 20-11-2009, 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by Frosty

Always use some form of stain block otherwise it'll just bleed through again.

A product called "Zinser BIN" is extremely good.
Or if you've got some old oil based undercoat (not gloss) you can use that.

Thanks F....presumably both a stain block and an oil-based undercoat wouldn't show if I painted the whole ceiling again? The ceiling was decorated just a few months ago (of course!) so ideally I'd just like to paint over the patch.

**Frosty** · 20-11-2009, 05:51 PM

Well, to be honest you're better painting the whole ceiling, possibly a couple of times, as either product will probably show through as a slightly different white in patches.

If the emulsion's a quality product such as Dulux or Crown, one full coat should be alright.
I'd never personally "patch coat" as it will always be seen from different angles/light sources, due to different brush/roller directions and a small edge being formed on the new paint.
Without getting too technical, painting any surface should always be completed over the whole area with a "wet edge" being overlapped all the time.

Hope that helps.

**steamboatwilly** · 21-11-2009, 06:40 AM

Yes, that makes complete sense to me....THANKS!!

**wildjetskier** · 21-11-2009, 02:54 PM

To reiterate what Frosty said I agree with him. Use Zinsser Bin the red can not blue. The red being oil based the water based, blue can, is no where near as good

**steamboatwilly** · 21-11-2009, 05:14 PM

Thanks wild!

**Render Systems** · 21-11-2009, 05:56 PM

fix your roof first

**Hatcher** · 21-11-2009, 08:28 PM

As Above fix the soucre of problem and always stain block with oilbased undercoat (allow to dry) treat the affected area and Feather out into existing paintwork making tramlines less visable, depending on how new the paint work is will depend on how much repainting touching up u have to do,It will also depends on colour too dark colours worst offenders for flashing, also if there are a lot of areas to do it will prob be quicker to just do the whole ceiling.if u do decide to just touch up effected areas let dry completly and ur not happy once over the whole lot will do nicley

Good Luck

ZinnserBIN is good shorther dying time than oilbased undercoat but but more expensive when undercoat will do the same job u req

**steamboatwilly** · 22-11-2009, 07:33 AM

Thanks folks.....the house is brand new with no leaks. The stains have appeared when there was a temporary leak from the sprinkler system, all fixed now.

Cheers again!