I fixed a leak last weekend - We've had the heating up to dry the ceiling, but now we're faced with a strong musty smell.

Whats the best soloution to stop the smell and clean or hide the stain.

The plaster is (original 1890's?) straight on to smaller (1") battens which go left-right across the room, they're fixed to the larger flooring beams that go from front to back (right angles).

I don't mind putting on a fresh coat of emulsion but don't want to see the stain appearing after a few weeks.

Is there an anti-fungal paint? or sealer that would also stop any smell?

Thanks for any ideas guys...

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Don't buy a dwarf with learning difficulties,
It's not big and it's not clever.

I have used an oil based undercoat in situations like this to cover the stain and stop 'bleed through' in the future, followed by 2 top coats.

I think the smell might go away with time.


Unless the pros' have either ideas.



John

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Growing old is compulsory, growing up is not!

We always used matt glaze to cover any stains like that.

S

Oil based u/c is fine for small water marks but that's a nasty stain. Prob a lathe and plaster ceiling, from your description, the water has pooled between the joists and was probably pretty filthy. I wouldn't mes about - use Zinnser (shellac) and give it 2/3 coats (it dries really quick so it won't take long).

The smell will probably go in time, though I'd be surprised if it was coming from the ceiling, did the floor get soaked?

I would go down the oilbased Undercoat route, plus the smell of the undercoat will mask the damp stain

BTW, how long ago was the ceiling actually painted before you had the leak?

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I would rather want something I dont have, that have something I dont want

The ceiling was painted years ago, possibly 3/4+years, otherwise much longer.

We bought the place 3 years ago. Before that it was let to tennants, and we know the landlord had it empty for a long time before selling and had to get the place cleaned up.

Will that make any difference to the paint or finish I will notice?

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Don't buy a dwarf with learning difficulties,
It's not big and it's not clever.

Stain wise i sorted a very badly stained ceiling with 2 coats of polycell stainblock. Not the aerosol type, brush/roller job.

Musty smell, i gather thats the smell of wet plaster, i expect it will go once its all dried out. A selection of glade plugins in the mean time!?

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Why isn't the number 11 pronounced onety one?

Yes, thats why I asked, if its been painted a while ago and if you UC a certain part, specially if its a biggish area, what happens is that when you come to emulsion sometimes where you have UC will show up whiter through the coats of emulsion.

I know this sound weird what I am saying, but this has happened to me a few times in the past, so I would UC the actual stain first, then when dry, go over the whole ceiling including the stain again with a thin coat of UC.
When this dries, and you emulsion it, get your sun glasses ready lol, as your ceiling will be sooo white its unbelievable.

If you dont UC the whole ceiling what can happn and like it did with me, (learned my lesson the hard way) that the bit where you sealed the stain is like a brilliant white, but the rest of ceiling is a duller white.

Maybe by using other products this dont happen, but I prefer this way, as the client is over the moon by the whiteness of the ceiling.
Just make sure you thin the UC down with white spirit or you will be labouring, use an old roller sleeve cause you will have to chuck it away after.

I promise you it will be worth it.

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I would rather want something I dont have, that have something I dont want

The old Zinnser B.I.N sealer always works wonders for me on stains that normal oil based undercoat won't hold back.
Just remember to use an old paintbrush cos it ain't gonna be of much use afterwards.

Get in quick with meths and your brush should come up fine - I'm too grippy to bin a brush after one use!

Excellent answer from bobbie-dazzler there.
If the ceilings just been slightly stained with cigarette smoke for example,in the past, it will show if you don't do it all.