What about this grey paint in the attic?

[Clint Dorris]

I know this is used in a fire sometimes, but this doesn't look like a fire. What else is this paint used for? What do you think this is? Oh, by the way, this house is a foreclosure. It actually needs only minor repairs, then I saw this.

 

[Pilgrum]

I think I would question the rat's nest of wiring and junction boxes before I worried abut the grey paint.

 

[CANative]

Radiant paint.

http://www.radiantbarrierguru.com/page/2/

Scroll down to January 4.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

Radiant paint maybe but I would suggest you make an inspection requirement and lest an expert figure it out, or check the local fire department and see if they've ever had a fire at that address.

Silver paint is an effective seal and it used to keep smoke smell from permeating the place.

 

[Mile High Trout]

Hi C D

Because it looks sprayed on and potentially diluted, I would guess it's some sort of weatherproofing. The fact it's on one side, indicates the person applying it felt that was the moisture side.

Perhaps it's something like this:
http://www.protekwoodstain.co.uk/wood-stain/wood-stain-protector-warm-grey

Just a random internet hit though. It's likely to be some sort of protectant, which is good.

See, your picture suggests a sensible application, which was probably limited on the near left side, because their supply of the protectant paint ran out. It's applied uniformly throughout most of the rest. You can tell it's not fire cover up because of the exposed wood between the bars. You can see healthy looking grains there.

Some of the expanding foam and such is not as sensible because it conceals materials and is difficult to remove.

Now the load bearing capacity of the design is another story. Many woods there would be better served by brackets throughout, but that's probably not an appraiser issue as long as it's holding up and done to typical market standards.

How long is that attic? It's kind of creepy....

 

[Mile High Trout]

Radiant, or protectant? What do you think is more likely?

 

[VegasWayne]

This looks like an amateur did an addition. The trusses and wiring don't appear to be professionally done. Have you checked for permits and inspections?

 

[Calvin the Airedale]

I know this is used in a fire sometimes, but this doesn't look like a fire. What else is this paint used for? What do you think this is? Oh, by the way, this house is a foreclosure. It actually needs only minor repairs, then I saw this.

If there was no fire, there is one other good reason to use this sealant.

If the attic suffered mold (as can happen for instance if the bathroom vent fan was not vented to the outdoors but instead just vented into the attic), the cure would be to spray the mold with bleach, let it dry, then spray paint to break any contact with the cleaned surface and oxygen.

I've seen mold remediation done exactly like this several times. It doesn't look like a fire.

 

[Tom Woolford]

I guess I'm the only one that noticed that most of the painted joists have been doubled, suggesting they were damaged somehow, dryrot, mold or something. A radiant spray does not make much sense since the whole thing is not sprayed.

 

[Mike Plumlee]

I can tell you that this is a half done amateur attempt at applying a radiant barrier paint job. You can buy Heat Block 75 and do it yourself or you can hire a professional company to do it for you.

This process is very common here in the south to reflect radiant heat from melting your attic space.