Could this mysterious ring on our refinished ceiling be an intentional design element, or is there a hidden cause we’re overlooking?
Asked by Deniz Durmaz 
4 months ago
Last Updated: July 30, 2024
Hey, got any thoughts on this? We recently painted and evened out our ceiling, but now there’s this mysterious ring that popped up a few weeks later. It feels hard to the touch, no sign of moisture, and doesn’t seem hollow – more like it was intentionally designed that way. We’ve checked for leaks and there are no pipes in the attic. Any ideas on what could be causing this?
Did they paint latex over oil? When was the building built?
Mentioned that the house was built in 1950 and had plaster over drywall. As far as I know, there is no oil used in the construction.
I’m guessing there was a leak at some point.
Hey Amy, I’m wondering why old leaks are causing new marks weeks later and how can I address that without a current leak?
Those appear to be tape marks. You have the option to remove them, reapply mud, sand, prime, and paint. Alternatively, you can sand, prime, and paint.
Mentioned that we have repeated the process of mudding, sanding, priming, and painting twice. The issue only seems to arise after a few weeks.
Checked the insulation for any signs of moisture.
Seems like there’s a patched section there that requires some attention. It should be redone entirely or at the very least touch up the edges.
Could you please take a quick look in the attic to see what is above this spot?
Fixed spot.
If you’ve already fixed the leak but it returns, there’s a chance you still have a leak. Place some paper towels above the spot in the attic and check after it rains to see if there are any leaks.
Thank you, I’ll bring a moisture meter next time it rains. Currently, it seems drier than the rest of the house
Or a large sheet of kraft paper. It will clearly indicate any water leakage.
It appears to be water damage, which suggests there may be a slow leak in the roof.
Thank you, I’ll bring a moisture meter next time it rains. Currently, it seems drier than the rest of the house
It seems like there is moisture coming from somewhere. If it looks good when you’re done fixing it but the issue persists, it’s probably still getting wet.