tongue and groove ceiling

robbet10 · 11-05-2011, 05:57 AM

I brought a house that was built in the 70's. It has tongue and grove ceilings which are beautiful. But, since I have lived here for the last 3 years I notice a yellow dust continuously on my furniture and hard wood flooring. The ceiling appears to never have been sealed. I did paint our bedroom ceiling which also get this yellow dust on the furniture. Could the dust be coming from the ceiling? Are the boards expanding and contracting and releasing dust? If so what can I do about it?

Kader516 · 11-05-2011, 06:28 AM

If there is a room above the tongue and groove ceiling, than walking up there may cause the dust. You should seal the tongue and groove with a varnish or lacquer sealer. This will help seal the wood and prevent the dust. Be sure to pay close attention to the groove part of the ceiling. If there is not a room above the ceiling, it could be an issue in the attic.

robbet10 · 11-05-2011, 06:34 AM

There is no attic. The roofing is above that. Do I have to chalk the groves?

Kader516 · 11-05-2011, 06:59 AM

I would hit the tongue and groove lightly to see if the dust is coming from the wood. If it is, than the sealer would help. Do not caulk the joints or you will spend you life caulking as the wood expands and contracts. If the roof is above the dust may be coming from the sheathing material that the tongue and groove is amounted to. If you can't solve the problem with a sealer, I would use spar varnish if it is stained, than you may have to lightly caulk and paint it. Try hitting the wood first to be sure it is the ceiling first. It may not be coming from there.

Blondesense · 11-05-2011, 11:18 AM

Do you have your windows open much, or do you notice is more in certain times of year? We have issues with pollen seasonally.

Toofarfromfenwa · 11-06-2011, 12:38 PM

Let's try this again.

I bet your ceilings look like this.

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h1...del2011004.jpg

(ETA: Picture were HUGE. Fixed link)

I had the same problem. Never did figure out what it was.

I fixed that problem.

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h1...del2011023.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h1...del2011022.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h1...del2011021.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h1...del2011020.jpg

Put insulation up there, ran my electrical, and put T&G Southern Yellow Pine up over top. Added to my R-Value, and still kept the T&G look of wood that I love.

My house was built in 1955, and it was VERY common then.

Good luck!!