It could be powderpost beetles. I'd definitely have a insect inspection.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powderpost_beetle

Paging Stephen King, paging Stephen King...

Anonymous wrote:Is it near chimney? sounds almost like ashes.

No, it is not near chimney, and I don't use fireplaces at all for the past years. That area (where the crack located) is exactly right next to our neighbor's townhouse, and they are renters which I bet they never get onto their attic. I doubt it, but wonder could that be coming from my neighbor's attic?

You should take a pic so people can see.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Please tell me what should I look for when I get onto the attic, no experiences here. I remember at the last inspection, the inspector told me there are a lot of insulation up there. Do I have to remove/lift up insulation, looks for bugs? rotten wood/beam? Can I walk on attic with shoes, will I cause a hole on the ceiling? Sorry, never been up at the attic.

OP, you look for where the "black dust" is coming from and, yes, most likely, you will have to look underneath the insulation. If drywalled, don't step on it. You will indeed put a hole (or worse). You can walk on wood frames.

OP here. Yes, it is drywalled. I don't trust me walking on the attic even though I am petite, and I am afraid that I might cause more damages. If I want someone to check out, should I call handyman, termite inspector or mold inspector or animal inspector? I am still not sure what they are yet, so not sure whom I should call. And, I do also want to have someone to fill out the crack between drywall ceiling & vertical drywall.

Any places to do free inspection you know?

Is it near chimney? sounds almost like ashes.

Anonymous wrote:Are you sure it's not mold? I'd get it checked.

OP here. Yes, I am sure it is not mold. They are fine pure black powder dust that looks like iron dusts and can be picked up when my finger rub on it & stick on my finger individually. When I rub on them, they don't discolor, but they break into more tiny dusts.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Please tell me what should I look for when I get onto the attic, no experiences here. I remember at the last inspection, the inspector told me there are a lot of insulation up there. Do I have to remove/lift up insulation, looks for bugs? rotten wood/beam? Can I walk on attic with shoes, will I cause a hole on the ceiling? Sorry, never been up at the attic.

OP, you look for where the "black dust" is coming from and, yes, most likely, you will have to look underneath the insulation. If drywalled, don't step on it. You will indeed put a hole (or worse). You can walk on wood frames.

Are you sure it's not mold? I'd get it checked.

sometimes I receive a flyer in the mail for free termite inspection, do you think those free termite inspection guy will go up to attic to do a free inspection?

OP here. Please tell me what should I look for when I get onto the attic, no experiences here. I remember at the last inspection, the inspector told me there are a lot of insulation up there. Do I have to remove/lift up insulation, looks for bugs? rotten wood/beam? Can I walk on attic with shoes, will I cause a hole on the ceiling? Sorry, never been up at the attic.

Fill the ceiling cracks and repaint. New paint makes the dust way less (not sure why, but I find this true every time I paint ceilings).

Anonymous wrote:I think you'll need to look in the attic.

Me think so 2.

I think you'll need to look in the attic.

I have not cleaned that room for more than 5 years. Today, I decide to clean the room, and after I move out some stuffs, I find some black dust powder thing on the baseboard. I look up, and see that those black dust powder thing are coming from the attic crack. We live in 1989 year townhouse, and there is a crack between the (above is attic) ceiling drywall & the wall, and I recall that my real estate agent says it is foundation settling crack, just cosmetic, no big deal. Those black dust powder looks like black pepper powder/coal dust things, and they are fine in textures. Are they drywall termite poop? I am really worried. I am planning that room to be a nursery.