Hello,

I have a question about my house...in the last two weeks I have noticed
black lines where all my studs are on exterior walls. When doing some
research (this newsgroup) I found that it may be because of "Cold
Spots" forming around the studs in the walls. I am working on my
basement and I have some drywall dust down there....is this sticking to
the walls and forming these black lines?

What are my options to getting rid of this or can anyone explain why
this is happening?

1. Do I need to add a dehumidifer to cut down any moisture? Do I need
to see behind the drywall if there is mosture forming behind it? Am I
going to have mold problems down the road now?
2. I was planning on repainting my whole upstairs this spring, so can
I cover these spots with a good primer and a good dark paint?
3. Can I wash these spots away? What do people recommend?

Thanks for your time and response.

Mike Jackson

wrote:

I have a question about my house...in the last two weeks I have noticed
black lines where all my studs are on exterior walls. When doing some
research (this newsgroup) I found that it may be because of "Cold
Spots" forming around the studs in the walls. I am working on my
basement and I have some drywall dust down there....is this sticking to
the walls and forming these black lines?

What are my options to getting rid of this or can anyone explain why
this is happening?

1. Do I need to add a dehumidifer to cut down any moisture? Do I need
to see behind the drywall if there is mosture forming behind it? Am I
going to have mold problems down the road now?
2. I was planning on repainting my whole upstairs this spring, so can
I cover these spots with a good primer and a good dark paint?
3. Can I wash these spots away? What do people recommend?

Thanks for your time and response.

If the house is not steel stud framed, I suppose that could also happen
with wood studs. Since the wood studs have less insulation value than
the insulated stud bay between them, the room air would condense on the
colder stud locations first. In that case the marks could be mold or
room dust that is sticking to the condensed water vapor. Room dust has
mold spores, unless you live in a clean room. Not all mold is toxic.

I've seen only seen the entire stud position marked like that with
steel studs. I think it has to do with magnetism and ionized dust, but
possibly the condensing water vapor thing as well.

R

Thanks for the reply.

We have wood studded frame...is there anyway I can get around this? I
keep the house around 60-65 degrees in the winter.....Increasing the
heat help?

Thanks,
Mike

MikeJackson79 wrote:
Thanks for the reply.

We have wood studded frame...is there anyway I can get around this? I
keep the house around 60-65 degrees in the winter.....Increasing the
heat help?

Thanks,
Mike

Take a cue-tip with bleach on it if it changes color after dabbing it it is
mold if it doens't change colors its dirt. I saw this on one of the home
improvement shows.

Rich

When I tryed that it did not change color so it must just be dust.

MikeJackson79 wrote:
When I tryed that it did not change color so it must just be dust.

That should be a relief for you!! Get the duster out, or SWMBO to dust?

Rich

Yeah I should....been working on the basement for the last year and I
am sure its drywall dust settling.....

Rich wrote:
MikeJackson79 wrote:
When I tryed that it did not change color so it must just be dust.

That should be a relief for you!! Get the duster out, or SWMBO to dust?

Rich

MikeJackson79 wrote:
Yeah I should....been working on the basement for the last year and I
am sure its drywall dust settling.....



Soot is a more likely candidate. Anyone in the house smoke or burn candles?

On 6 Dec 2006 15:49:35 -0800, wrote:

Hello,

I have a question about my house...in the last two weeks I have noticed
black lines where all my studs are on exterior walls. When doing some
research (this newsgroup) I found that it may be because of "Cold
Spots" forming around the studs in the walls. I am working on my
basement and I have some drywall dust down there....is this sticking to
the walls and forming these black lines?

I have something similar, although it is only where the nails are and
not the outline of the entire stud or ceiling joist.

I think it is caused in my case by running the oil furnace with a bad
oil/air mixture, which I did for a while. I also have dirt on the
back of the door that faces a heat duct, near other heat ducts
especially in the basement ceiling, and by the mail slot in the front
door (where there is some air leak and thus air currents.)

Others can say if this is the same sort of dirt as you have.

I think it should wash off with the right cleaner, but the mixture of
emulsifier I made, according to the instructions on the bottle, didn't
do it. I need to try a stronger solution, or TSP, or something.

What are my options to getting rid of this or can anyone explain why
this is happening?

1. Do I need to add a dehumidifer to cut down any moisture? Do I need
to see behind the drywall if there is mosture forming behind it? Am I
going to have mold problems down the road now?
2. I was planning on repainting my whole upstairs this spring, so can
I cover these spots with a good primer and a good dark paint?
3. Can I wash these spots away? What do people recommend?

Thanks for your time and response.

Mike Jackson

On 6 Dec 2006 15:49:35 -0800, wrote:

Hello,

I have a question about my house...in the last two weeks I have noticed
black lines where all my studs are on exterior walls. When doing some
research (this newsgroup) I found that it may be because of "Cold
Spots" forming around the studs in the walls. I am working on my
basement and I have some drywall dust down there....is this sticking to
the walls and forming these black lines?

What are my options to getting rid of this or can anyone explain why
this is happening?

1. Do I need to add a dehumidifer to cut down any moisture? Do I need
to see behind the drywall if there is mosture forming behind it? Am I
going to have mold problems down the road now?
2. I was planning on repainting my whole upstairs this spring, so can
I cover these spots with a good primer and a good dark paint?
3. Can I wash these spots away? What do people recommend?

Thanks for your time and response.

Mike Jackson

IMHO:

You have a point, it sounds like a 'ghosting'. You might want to
reduce your homes humidity, and control the dust level.

Just guessing.....

Tom @ www.Consolidated-Loans.info

On Thu, 07 Dec 2006 01:55:19 -0500, mm
wrote:

On 6 Dec 2006 15:49:35 -0800, wrote:

Hello,

I have a question about my house...in the last two weeks I have noticed
black lines where all my studs are on exterior walls. When doing some
research (this newsgroup) I found that it may be because of "Cold
Spots" forming around the studs in the walls. I am working on my
basement and I have some drywall dust down there....is this sticking to
the walls and forming these black lines?

I have something similar, although it is only where the nails are and
not the outline of the entire stud or ceiling joist.

I think it is caused in my case by running the oil furnace with a bad
oil/air mixture, which I did for a while. I also have dirt on the
back of the door that faces a heat duct, near other heat ducts
especially in the basement ceiling, and by the mail slot in the front
door (where there is some air leak and thus air currents.)

Others can say if this is the same sort of dirt as you have.

I think it should wash off with the right cleaner, but the mixture of
emulsifier I made, according to the instructions on the bottle, didn't
do it. I need to try a stronger solution, or TSP, or something.


You do realise that if it's depositing on the walls like that,
you're also breathing it, right?

Get an air cleaner.