Strange brown/orange stains on integrated garage ceiling

[emmaamme]

Hi, my house is 13 years old and I have a double integrated garage (walls/ceilings were plaster boarded and painted by builders rather than left as concrete block).
I noticed today that the ceiling is covered in faint small brown/orange circular stains/marks all over (more concentrated in certain parts). A double bedroom is above the garage. Not sure what this is as I thought mould is usually black?
I've taken a couple of pics but they are a bit faint as couldn't get any closer with ceiling being quite high. Anyone any ideas? Was just thinking of painting over it.

Untitled

• emmaamme
• 24 Feb 2015
• 1

Untitled

• emmaamme
• 24 Feb 2015
• 1

 

[Burnerman]

Can you remove the spores with some bleach solution on a sponge, Emma?
You're right, mould is often black but organic spores can be a variety of colours.
The paint firm Zinsser have a good range of stain blocking paints.
John

 

[emmaamme]

Thanks john, the ceiling is really high (was going to attach a paint roller to a long pole to paint it originally) but could try to somehow attach a sponge to it.
How many parts bleach to water would you suggest? And I take it that it would be best to try to remove mould before painting? I've got normal white emulsion and dulux bathroom anti mould paint - would either of those be any use or better going for the one you recommend?

 

[Burnerman]

Hello again Emma!
I think it's a reasonable idea to see if that mould rubs away.....personally I just use Flash kitchen cleaner with bleach for jobs like this.
The bleach won't necessarily kill any spores, but it will help to clean things up-
I appreciate the height of that ceiling too!
If it was mine, I'd give it a once over with the bathroom paint.....theoretically that should be reasonably mould resistant and see how it goes.
As for the source of the mould, well that's anyone's guess but I have noticed it before where people store timber for logs in the area.....it may or may not be relevant.
Nothing to worry about there! Have a good evening.
John

 

[emmaamme]

Thanks again John, there might be something in that timber idea as my dad was storing a load of different types of wood and pallets in the garage to make us a shed last year. Also we store potatoes and onions over the winter that we've grown.
Thanks for your help.
Emma.

 

[emmaamme]

Just a wee update in case anyone else has same problem. Found a wall paper brush in garage, attached to long pole and tried brushing ceiling - found the stains just brushed off - sore arms now but clean ceiling! Whether they return or not remains to be seen!

 

[Burnerman]

I guess the spores got up there when the garage humidity was high for some reason.....parking a wet car or whatever.
Hope you didn't get a sneezing fit when you brushed the mould away
A coat of your bathroom paint will certainly help things in future, if you think it's necessary.
Thanks for the post back!
John