What could be causing persistent drip marks and circular stains on interior and exterior walls of a new construction home, even with a dehumidifier installed and low humidity levels?
Does anyone know what these weird drip marks and circular stains are from? They popped up when we were doing some new construction over the summer. I tried wiping them away but they kept coming back a few weeks later. We had a dehumidifier installed to help with the high humidity in the house, which seemed to do the trick for a while. Now that it’s colder outside, the marks have stayed away for a couple of months. The humidity levels have been good since we got the dehumidifier, and the winter weather has helped keep things dry.
Most of the stains are lower down, around 4 feet up, but we’ve also seen some higher up in the bathrooms. Any ideas why these streaks keep showing up, even though humidity isn’t an issue right now? The stains are on both the inside and outside walls of the whole three-story house.
How did you remove them? They appear to be standard water stains that typically originate from behind the wallboard. And water stains cannot simply be wiped away.
Recommended using a damp cloth. We suspect it is condensation caused by high humidity in the summer. We cut back the drywall in one section to inspect and did not find anything wet.
Do you have children or pets?
Hello! Those streaks were present on all three floors, ruling out the kids as the culprits, especially since they’re higher up in the bathroom. It seems like the issue goes beyond them.
Hey there! The image on the right seems more like a smudge or patch of early mildew. I can’t spot any streaks in these photos on my phone, but based on what you’ve described, it sounds like the streaks could be from humidity condensation. Remember, paint tends to darken when wet. You might be noticing streaks where condensation has recently dripped and is still damp, or it could be residue from past drips that has dried and become more permanent. If this is the case, you might want to invest in a better dehumidifier that monitors the humidity level in your home. Try scrubbing the walls with a 1/2 bleach, 1/2 water spray solution or bleach Tilex. After it dries, if the stains persist or return, consider repainting the walls with a satin or eggshell finish instead of flat to make it easier to wipe off streaks. Opt for a high-quality paint like Sherwin Williams or even some of Walmart’s surprisingly good options. ‘t forget to mix in a cheap bottle of mildew preventative additive into your paint. It’s possible that the builder used the cheapest paint available. Best of luck!
It depends on the location of the new construction. I’ve witnessed imported labor using insulation as a restroom. It’s shocking!