Asked on Feb 17, 2012

Does anyone know what this is? We are painting the wood paneling and wood trim and molding in our house.

Kory S
by Kory S
We have painted Latex Kilz primer on the all the areas and two coats of latex paint and these spots started coming through.
  50 answers
  • Is this a wall or a ceiling? When did it first appear? Did it appear after a rain? Is this wood and was it painted before?
  • Kory S Kory S on Feb 17, 2012
    It is a stained wood trim that was just recently painted. It was wiped down with de-glosser, primed and then painted. No, it didn't appear after a rain.
    • Linda Worrell Linda Worrell on Aug 24, 2017

      get a cheap can of hairspray and spray the wood then repaint . the hair spray acts as a sealer


  • Donna McCrummen Donna McCrummen on Feb 17, 2012
    Looks scary, maybe you should have used Bin Zinser (sp) alcohol based primer. It is lethally stinky but I used it to seal old cedar paneling in my family room. It only needed two coats of paint on top of that.
  • Peace Painting Co., Inc. Peace Painting Co., Inc. on Feb 17, 2012
    It looks like tannin bleed which is the resins in the wood. Shabby Daze suggestion is your best shot. However it will be harder to seal now that you have three coats of other paint. So it may take two coats of BIN. Best, Charles
  • I'm in agreement with Shabby Daze & Peace Painting. Cedar can be difficult.
  • When I first saw the photo it looked like a metal shower wall that has rusted. Sounds as though you need to remove the finish and re-prime let dry and then repaint. Cedar has its own oils that can easily bleed through if not properly prepped.
  • Kory S Kory S on Feb 18, 2012
    Thank you for the replies. We are going to try the primer you mentioned. I will let you know how it goes.
  • Donna McCrummen Donna McCrummen on Feb 18, 2012
    Please Kory get a respirator. A good one. Contractor grade at the paint store. It is well worth the money not to get sick. Trust me this stuff is brutal. But it Will work.
  • Peace Painting Co., Inc. Peace Painting Co., Inc. on Feb 18, 2012
    Great advice Shab. You don't get used to the chemicals, just more sensitive.
  • The Bin is the answer but it is just alcohol odor.
  • Try Zinser Coverstain..it's an oil-based primer...one coat will typical prevent tannin bleed-through which is what this appears to be. You do want to use a respirator and crack a window and it will stink the inside for a bit. You don't have to remove the previous finish coat...just prime it, let it dry and spot prime again over any lingering troublesome areas. LUCK!
  • Kory S Kory S on Feb 20, 2012
    Thank you for all your replies. The BIN Zinsser did the trick. Thank you!
  • Donna McCrummen Donna McCrummen on Feb 23, 2012
    I'm so glad it worked for you Kory.
  • Glenda H Glenda H on Feb 23, 2012
    Can you share a picture of the new and improved finished project?
  • Kory S Kory S on Mar 14, 2012
    Sorry! I have been out of pocket for a bit. The primer worked great! Here is a picture after the primer and paint.
  • Donna McCrummen Donna McCrummen on Mar 14, 2012
    Beautiful finish!
  • Peace Painting Co., Inc. Peace Painting Co., Inc. on Mar 14, 2012
    No mystery there. That was an easy one. Nice job. CP
  • Glenn C Glenn C on Aug 09, 2014
    It the sap bleeding through the paint from the wood. The only way to get rid of it is replace the wood. Its poorly dried wood or not dried it all.
    • Vicki Piper Vicki Piper on Aug 09, 2014
      @Glenn C check out the finished product!!! Being determined and asking for help can save us alot of time and trouble, dont you think? I know I will keep these primers in my "bag o tricks"
  • Glenn C Glenn C on Aug 09, 2014
    Yes, it worked for now. Just wait 30 days. It will reappear.
  • Maribeth Merton Maribeth Merton on Aug 09, 2014
    I hope Mr. SUNSHINE is wrong, and it works perfectly! The only thing wrong with DIY is when you have to DIY it OVER! My fingers are crossed for you!
  • Marion Nesbitt Marion Nesbitt on Aug 10, 2014
    Old fashioned shellac will seal just about anything. Then prime and paint.
  • Debbie Debbie on Aug 28, 2014
    My concern is , what is behind that wall ? Chimney ? If that is a chimney wall , it is Creosote soaking through and needs inspected .
  • Janet M Janet M on Aug 28, 2014
    I don't know what it is but the Latex Kilz does not work. I have tried it a couple of times and it didn't work and I have had many people tell me not to use it because it doesn't work. The oil based Kilz is wonderful and covers everything even smoke. You may have to repaint using the oil based. Good luck. I love painted paneling.
  • Sue A. Stevens Sue A. Stevens on Aug 28, 2014
    Whenever & I do mean WHENEVER I have to seal an issue, I always use, I mean I ALWAYS use Bin Zinsser Shellac base, It does have an odor, but never have to have a RE DO :( I have used it for 30 years, just ventilate area. No matter what the others promise, never have I been disappointed in using it, A little more cost, but SO WORTH IT ;)
  • Jackie Johnson Jackie Johnson on Aug 28, 2014
    Zinsser BIN primer is so tough it is acceptable as a cover for lead-based paint as opposed to taking down sheetrock or plaster that has been painted in it. It was a home inspector who told me about it lo those many years ago, and I've used gallons of it since then. If it can prevent lead in paint from leeching through I'd think it would work on whatever is coming from wood on a cabinet that was made nearly a hundred years ago. Glenn C You seem awfully quiet on the topic. This was first posted in March of 2012; I think your thirty days have passed, yes?
  • Nancy L Sires Nancy L Sires on Aug 28, 2014
    Could be the glue they use on wood paneling
  • Joan Joan on Aug 28, 2014
    my guess is blood
  • Amy Amy on Aug 28, 2014
    We did all the paneling in out place but I read up first and knew about this issue. You HAVE to use the smelly oil based stuff no way around it, except to take paneling down I guess. Be prepared to steer clear of the room and leave all ventilation sources for the room open a couple days
  • Jane Heath Jane Heath on Aug 29, 2014
    I have to agree, it is the sap bleeding through. Sorry. You will have to replace it. Jane Alton, Il.
  • Eileen Hall Eileen Hall on Aug 31, 2014
    Kory S, we bought a home built in 1986. The owners didn't seal or paint the woodwork. After 20+ yrs of heavy cigarette smoke we bought it.e. We liked the patina until we decided to paint the sunroom. It took 2 coats of paint, 3 coats of Kilz and it still bled through.I was ready to replace the wood when I was told about Zinnser BIN primer. It took ONE coat and covered beautifully. We put latex paint on over this and it is now 7 years later and there is no bleed through. Zinnser BIN is really the best primer around.
  • Jane Baier Jane Baier on Sep 02, 2014
    I always heard that you needed to use an oil base primer, not a water base one. It's probably the stain from the old wood finish coming through.
    • Amy Amy on Sep 03, 2014
      Yes it's unfortunately smelly but the only thing that works... You only make the mistake once, I know it's a ricey lesson to learn
  • Karyn Workman Karyn Workman on Sep 06, 2014
    My guess is there was Old English in the pores of the paneling. They used to use it to give luster to the old stuff.
  • Charlene Taupadel Charlene Taupadel on Sep 21, 2014
    You can try an oil primer. It should seal it from bleeding out. Then you can use latex primer paint. Give it a lite sand first then oil primer and a second coat if needed. See what it does before going any further. Then I would be using primer paint which is a bit more for cost. This should be your answer you need. TNT painters
  • David Scaramangos David Scaramangos on Oct 11, 2014
    Pine sap bleeding...use oil base primer (the best) Sherman Williams, allow to "cure" not just dry, primer should cure in a week's time. if you paint too early bleeding occurs. TGE
  • Sue Rindflesch Sue Rindflesch on Oct 30, 2014
    Looks like grease seepage to me. Where is it located? That might lead to a clue.
  • Coram Stiner Coram Stiner on Nov 21, 2014
    Looks like Old English furniture polish this oily stuff will bleed thru anything.
  • Carolyn Hoxton Carolyn Hoxton on Dec 08, 2014
    I thought it looked like Rust, but whatever it is, you need something better to cover it up. Good luck.
  • Ted Hallett Ted Hallett on Dec 09, 2014
    Use KILZ MAXยฎ Primer or KILZ MAXยฎ CLEAR to get the job done. KILZ MAXยฎ CLEAR is the best stain blocker on the market. As a Commercial & Residential General Building Contractor this has never failed us.
  • Monique Clouatre Monique Clouatre on Jan 03, 2015
    Hi. I would sand it and then apply aluminium paint on and then paint your colour again. Usually this works good. Monique
  • Lynn Lynn on Jan 29, 2015
    Look like nicotine staining where someone didn't get it all. They sprayed cleaner to clean it off but never got it all.
  • Robin Miller Cresci Robin Miller Cresci on Jan 29, 2015
    I sold paint in a hardware store for 19 years. It is bleeding from whatever is underneath (glue, stain, etc). It has to be primed with oil based primer. One to two coats, and then topcoated with your paint. Unfortunately you will have to do some sanding before applying the primer again. Good luck. Also, be sure to have plenty of ventilation when using oil based products indoors.
  • Kaioverbeck Kaioverbeck on Apr 06, 2015
    I smoked in my house for 20 years and decided to change so used TRW and washed all the walls in my house. Then hired a painter who specialized in removing cigarette smoke stains. I left the house for a day and he sprayed my rooms with stain covering paint. It worked beautifully. And then, we quit smoking.
    • Alice Shockley Alice Shockley on Jun 23, 2015
      @Kaioverbeck Good for you! I've smoked on and off for many years. The last 7 years we smoked, we did not smoke in our house. (Made other smoker friends nuts when we'd all have to go outside.) Quitting is hard, I quit last November. I think that having your house cleaned and painted was a great idea. That lingering smell, nasty as it is, can cause cravings.
  • Diana Deiley Diana Deiley on Dec 01, 2015
    BIN 123 will work great as a primer as well .
  • Fiona Loper Fiona Loper on Apr 08, 2016
    i had similar issues in certain places in my house and found a spray on primer concealer worked best... took me 14 different experiments to find the right one tho.. spray on concealer/primers.... just patch spray where needed... also... dont use latex paint... long term they arent worth the money
  • Kathy Lewis Kathy Lewis on Apr 08, 2016
    If that's nicotine! I'd stop smoking immediately if the walls don't release it ..it has to be sand off I'm scared for your lungs...I wish you only the best... I hope sanding first works for you...then primer then your paint!
  • Jill Simpfenderfer Jill Simpfenderfer on Apr 12, 2016
    I had paneling in a kitchen before (70s trailer house) and used TSP to wash the walls down before painting them. That would've been my suggestion prior to painting them.
  • Sherrie Sherrie on Mar 03, 2017

    Tannin bleed through it happens. You can use a sealer I usually use shellac to seal it and then repaint. It's probably the old stain causing it. It happens all the time Especially with older stain. Shellac is easy because it dries quick. If shellac is over six months old it won't work. This isn't nicotine I paint all the time older pieces and have this happen on a weekly basis.

  • Brahm Zuckerman Brahm Zuckerman on Mar 03, 2017

    An alcohol based primer will do it. The stains you see are a chemical in the wood.

  • Flo11875819 Flo11875819 on May 25, 2017

    Looks like someone painted over raw pine wood

    that was bleeding sap.

  • Mary McPartland Mary McPartland on Jul 26, 2018

    Hi! I found this post and looks like I might find good info for my dilemma. We just put up 2500 sq feet of raw pine board and batten on the exterior of my house, one mile from the ocean and bay in NY. Painter primed entire exterior with BIN Advanced shellac primer, then put another coat of BIN. Then one coat of Olympic white solid stain. Pine knots bleed through in under a month on wvery board. I read the BIN label - says it seals knots. Definitely did not. Also says only spot prime, not whole surface. What do I do now? Will this all peel off?