What Causes Yellow Streaks in Ceiling Paint?

Improperly Mixed Paint

• When you use a lighter color of paint on the walls, especially a custom color, then the paint may contain yellow dyes. The paint mixer adds yellow to a white paint color when making cream and pale yellow shades. As the paint settles in the can, the colors begin separating. When you apply the paint to the ceiling, you risk developing yellow streaks caused by the yellow shade added to the finished color.

Environmental Factors

• Yellow streaks may appear on the ceiling due to certain environmental factors. The ceiling in your kitchen catches smoke and grease that rise off cooking foods. In living rooms, bedrooms or shared spaces, the yellow streaks may relate to cigarette smoke. The nicotine released by the cigarettes waft toward the ceiling and leave behind yellow marks or streaks. Even some candles may cause streaks as the smoke from the candles build up on the ceiling.

Not Cleaning

• Even if you do not smoke or use candles, someone that previously lived in the house may have done so at one time. When you apply paint to the ceiling, the paint roller or paintbrush pushes the debris around the ceiling, mixing the smoke stains with your paint. When you use a lighter paint color, the paint picks up the yellow already on the walls and makes it more visible. The yellow stains appear both underneath the paint and on top of the paint, resulting in streaks.

Using Multiple Coats

• Painting multiple coats on the ceiling may also result in streaks. The problem arises when you apply a second coat before the first paint coat dries. As you push the roller or paintbrush over the ceiling, you also push the previous coat around. The original coat streaks across the surface and looks like streaks under fluorescent light. If the paint color uses a yellow-based dye, then you also risk developing multiple layers of streaks caused by the yellow dye separating. Mixing the paint carefully with a paint stick should stop the streaks from developing.