Have any of you encountered a mysterious square on your ceiling while painting, and do you have any advice on how to fix it?
Asked by Emma Niemi 
2 months ago
Last Updated: October 11, 2024
Hey everyone! This is my first time posting in this group. I’ve been working on painting all the ceilings in my house, and I’ve come across one that has me stumped. I’ve attached a picture for reference. Initially, I thought the previous owner had missed a spot or just didn’t paint the entire wall, but even after painting it last weekend, there’s still this weird “square” that won’t go away. It’s not a drywall indentation – it’s pretty smooth. Has anyone seen this before or have any advice for me? Thanks in advance!
I’ve encountered a similar situation in the past, and we had to bring in a priest to bless our house to resolve it!
Have you checked for any water damage? You could also give priming a shot to see if that covers everything up.
Has no water damage. I think I’ll start with the priming process first.
Shaking my head. Maybe we should talk to these advice seekers before taking action, what do you think?
Primer is key, always use primer. The type of primer depends on whether the surface is old or new. I’d suggest going with a stain blocker/sealer, unless the paint is chipping. If it is, investigate that area. It’s a strange situation – possibly caused by using two different types of paint. In any case, primer is usually the solution.
Can no chipping at all? I’ll try using primer first since I have it handy. Thank you.
Follow up: Should I apply primer on top of the first coat I put on, or do I need to remove the paint first before applying primer?
You know, you can actually put primer right on top of the paint without having to strip it. Or you could opt for an all-in-one paint/primer combo that might only need one coat. It’s worth investing in a high-quality paint for that room. Just keep in mind that some people prefer separate primer and paint. Everyone has their own opinions on this matter.
Primer is like magic in a can! It works on just about any surface, even ones that are already painted, to help the new paint adhere better.
You’ll want to make sure to seal any raw drywall or mud patches with a primer/sealer before using all in one paint/primer to get a smooth and consistent finish.
Believes that primer is essential for addressing various wall and ceiling problems before painting. He suggests using specific primers for different issues, rather than opting for paint that includes primer.
I personally think that having primer separate from paint is more effective.
You know, there’s a little flaw in the drywall seam.
Just grab some drywall putty and feather it out.
And if you go with flat paint instead of satin or semi-gloss, you won’t even notice it.
Always goes for flat paint on ceilings… I don’t think I’ve ever come across a semigloss ceiling paint.
I remember seeing semigloss on a ceiling before. Wasn’t a fan of it.
Shouldn’t use that type of paint… it messes up how the light looks in the room and shows the colors of the walls and floor
Thank you. I grabbed a bucket of ceiling paint from HD because I had numerous ceilings to cover. I’ll go for flat this time and give it a shot. I haven’t used drywall putty before, but I guess I’ll have to for all the ceilings, so I’ll start with flat paint.
Are you referring to the marks on the ceiling?
Looks like a line of tape… hard to figure out the reason from that photo
I’m on board with using primer first; certain stains that keep appearing through layers of paint could be a chemical reaction. Applying primer might help. Give “Kilz” a shot – they have different types.
Before painting, did you remember to prime the ceiling?
I haven’t applied primer yet, but I’m planning to do it now. Should I apply the primer over the first coat of paint, or do I need to remove the paint before applying the primer?
Why not give it a shot and try applying a good primer over the problem area before repainting? Good luck!
Is that a shadow coming from the ceiling light? Have you tried using a floor lamp shining straight up to see if it disappears? You could also test by shining a flashlight horizontally to see if the ceiling is flat or not. It might just be that the ceiling isn’t level.
Hey , it actually doesn’t. The shadow appears lighter during the day due to natural light coming in from outside. It becomes more pronounced at night.
Seems like a patch! A pretty big one! Maybe for running wires to that light that might not have been there before?
To get rid of imperfections in the drywall, you should apply compound and use a 10in or 12in knife.
Hey , quick question – should I apply compound to the entire ceiling or just the rectangle? I’m new to this, so I appreciate your guidance.
Hey there, ! Are you referring to the line you mentioned? If so, you don’t have to cover the entire ceiling. It’s better to use a wider knife for spreading and a smaller one for application. After that, use a sanding block along the edge. Remember, less is more.
Thank you, .
Consider applying a few coats of primer.
When painting, make sure to maintain a wet edge while using a well saturated roller and brush on the entire surface without taking breaks.
Use Killz as a primer before painting.
The vertical line in the picture seems to be from tape, not stain seeping through.
Hey , do you think using primer could solve this issue, just like some others have recommended?
Hey there, , actually it’s just a shadow. You can try adding more feathering with spackle and a wide knife, like some others have already mentioned. The lighting really plays a big role in this.
Try placing a straight edge on that fold to check if there’s a gap along the edge. It resembles the sheetrock outline, the opposite edge is to the left of the light. You might want to do some touch-up with joint compound.
It’s a bit tricky to tell from the picture… but it seems like a whole sheet was switched out, probably because of a leak. The whole ceiling got painted… the new drywall has a different shine to it. You might want to prime the entire ceiling before painting it.
Probably didn’t apply the first coat to the new sheetrock.
The house looks great, it all fits together nicely.
They did a pretty bad job finishing the seams from what I can tell.
Shellac is an old school method that always gets the job done. Crayon, ball point pens, sharpie… it doesn’t matter. Just apply some shellac and paint over it, no bleeding.
I usually opt for a spray can of semi gloss verithane for the first coat, then a second coat to cover it. Once the second coat is still slightly sticky, I roll over it with my roller and it’s done for spot treating stains, markers, etc.