JennyL

On my bathroom ceiling, the paint started to peel away in a longish area that's about 1 foot x 6 inches. I scraped off the paint and repainted and it still peeled. I've also trying putting some drywall compound on it and now that too is powdering and not sticking.

The thing is there is another bathroom with a toilet which is directly above this one on the floor above.

So is this water damage? Is there an easy way to find out? The patch is not obviously wet to the touch.

Thanks for any help!

mudmixer

If it is interior and it pealed, it is probably due to moisture.

With a bathroom above your are near 100% certain it is dur to the bathroom.

Paint does not have to be wet to the touch to have adhesion problems. Water vapor is the cause and the bath above is the prime source.

Find the source of the moisture and take appropriate action, whether it is a leak ot a lack of ventilation.

travelover

Look for a bad seal of the upstairs toilet to the floor (a wax ring). If it rocks, this is a dead giveaway.