Mystery leak, stains on ceiling getting worse. Piglet John?

[windchimes23]

A couple of weeks ago two small water stains (yellow) appeared on my hallway ceiling. They got worse so I called a plumber to investigate. There are no leaks from the central heating system (pressure tested). So the plumber took up the floorboards on the first floor landing, and in the bathroom. Everywhere is dry, no sign of a leak anywhere. He even took out the boxing which holds the pipe work in the dining room, all dry in there too. All the joists look dry.

But I'm not happy, as the stains have grown again since Saturday. They have to be coming from somewhere? The part of the hallway where the stains are is in the centre of the house, no bathroom directly overhead. But I guess that water seeps to the lowest point.

I'm now googling stuidly expensive companies who will investigate with CCTV as I need to find this bloody leak.

Has anyone manged to find an undetected leak?

PigletJohn if you're out there can you talk some sense into me?

Rogue suggestion.

Am I looking at it right that it's a sloping part of the ceiling, where the stairs are, with a wall to one side, and thus it's a sort of a corner?

Is there a radiator on the wall near the part where the stains are?

And you painted in April 2014? ie this is the first winter it's had?

Is it possible that with the recent cold weather, you are running the heating more and the high corner is acting as a heat trap. The heat is warming some kind of oil under the paint and producing these stains?

Grumbleina I have my suspicions about that too. It's in the hallway under the stairs and is the lowest point. I know for a fact that it hadn't been painted since 2003 as the previous owners never decorated.

Heat rises, water falls, who knows eh? I've drilled a couple of holes and the drill came out dry.

Going to wash with bleach next and see what happens. I can't believe I'm obsessing about this.

We had lincrusta a couple of houses back, did you use the right sort of paint? I can't remember what it was now but I know I had to use something specific.

Ooops no, just Dulux Trade emulsion. I think my leak may now be my poor decorating skills Apparently the oil based paints used before (assumption) can seep through the emulsion.

Whole blimmin' house is covered in friezes and dado panels. I think I'm going to be busy.

I think that might be it then. I have spoken to my Dad (they have had lincrusta forever!). It has to be oil based unless you use a specialist primer. He uses an oil based eggshell.

I hope that is good news!

PigletJohn you are fab. Has MNHQ furnished you with a special klaxon that goes off when your name is mentioned?

Damp Meter arriving tomorrow, watch out for exciting updates

Waiting patiently.....

Damp reading 7% not sure if that is bad or not. Off to google ;)

Just a paint reaction, bloody hell you either must like spending money or mesmerized by people who the highlight of their life is reading the readers digest. Get some water based gloss paint like and paint the thing then go over with emulsion. Oh my days when ed ballsup is chancellor you will be selling the furniture to buy a loaf , get a life please . \next question

It's as exciting as my dog licking his spare bits

cough

Roneik do you think it will make my house price crash?

Or perhaps my dog just pissed on the landing? The stains are yellow after all

No I think that bit of board may have been contaminated by two paints reacting , or it may have been cleaned at some point with something that has caused it to yellow. Maybe as far back as when it was fitted it got something oily on it and has penetrated through now. Whats to lose paint it with a paint to seal and then go over with emulsion. I certainly would not be pulling a house apart before all the cheap options had been tried . Common sense , maybe that's why I could afford to retire at 55

Cough My dog never pissed in the house, we have civilized habits here oop north

My dog has bladder control unlike some of these southern dogs that have been overfed ,and are so obese their willeys become hidden by mountains of blubber even and as well as. Their owners very often are often similar in appearance to Mr blobby. This is all leading up to why they piss up the walls and on occasion manage the ceiling too.

To be continued in episodes

Oh and if the dog continues pissing everywhere you wont have to worry about a crash, it will collapse

from erosion