[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Sitting in your living room and looking up to see brown stains on the ceiling is one sure way to get you in a bad mood. You might have been noticing them to slowly accumulate over time or those spots seem to have just come out of nowhere. These types of stains are actually fairly common in most homes in Alabama, especially in homes that lack consistent maintenance. There are a variety of brown stains that could form on your ceiling. However, there are a few common causes of those brown spots on ceilings.

Common Causes of Brown Spotting on the Ceiling

Brown stain on ceiling but no leak –

The primary culprit to these stains is water build-up. Your first goal is to identify whether the source of the water is from a hole in the roof, a leaky pipe from the upstairs bathroom, or whatever possible cause there is. This should be fairly easy since whatever should be directly above the ceiling is often the main cause of the stain.

If there is no identifiable direct cause above the ceiling, leaky pipes around the house could cause some water to drip long the rafters or beams inside the home. On the other hand, water stains from a leaky roof need further assessment by a professional roofer. The state and the specific type of damage on your roof have to be identified.

Water Damage/Stains

Brown water stain on ceiling – 

The most common cause of ceiling discoloration is definitely water damage from the rain. The reason there is staining is that the water goes through the building materials and carries some particles before finally landing on the ceiling. Sometimes, the water droplets dry out and only leave behind the stains while in other cases, the dripping seeps through the ceiling and you have a brown water stain on ceiling.

Mold Damage

Aside from water damage, mold growth on your ceiling is also a likely cause of the brown spots. While the cause for mold growth is also related to moisture getting in the internal foundation of your home, it is not the moisture or water that causes the browning directly. A damp ceiling can lead to mold growth and as the mold continues to grow, it changes from a light yellow tint to a rich dark brown spot. The actual spotting may vary depending on the type of spores that have started to grow. The main causes of mold growth are moisture, as well as the humidity in the area.

Ghosting

Another cause of brown spotting on your ceiling is known as ghosting. This is not as commonly known by most people. Ghosting is when there is an accumulation of soot, dirt, and dust particles on your ceiling. When left for long periods of time, these can cause a permanent stain. Unlike mold growth or water stains, ghosting can form linear patterns on the ceiling where you will experience brown stain on ceiling but no leak. These lines are formed because of the internal framing of the ceiling which is a bad insulator that causes the adjacent areas of the ceiling to cool and condense quicker than the surrounding area. Because of the condensation on those linear areas, the particles ten to stick to the ceiling.

If someone smokes inside your home, the smoke contains dust particles that can also cause staining if not cleaned constantly. When these stains become apparent, scrubbing them off may no longer be a viable option. Instead, you will need to put a fresh coat of paint to cover up these types of stains.

How To Deal With Brown Spots

If you decide to just paint over the spots or replace the ceiling without first addressing the main cause, you are likely to encounter the same problem again in a few months. The first thing you need to fix is whatever is causing the water or moisture to get to your ceiling in the first place. After you have fixed the broken pipe or faulty roof, you can set to fixing the ceiling next.

After you are certain that the main source has been fixed, the affected ceiling might need to be replaced if the damage is severe. An experienced contractor should be able to tell you whether you’ll need a new ceiling or just need a fresh coat of paint to restore it. If you caught the spots early on, you might only need some primer and paint to get your ceiling looking brand new.

The worst mistake that any homeowner can commit is to allow the spots or stains to grow. The small spots that you see are not signs that moisture or water is seeping in. It is a sign that it has been accumulating on the inside of your ceiling for a while. At the earliest signs of spotting or staining, assessment of the roof, ceiling, and plumbing should be made.

Contacting an experienced contractor is an easy way to help you understand what the cause of the problem is and to get an estimate of how much repairs would cost. To avoid reaching a point where you might need to replace your entire ceiling because of the damage, taking action sooner is recommended. Avoid having to get a whole new roof and ceiling.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]