Bathroom Painting Mistakes To Avoid 

Bathrooms are one of the most utilized rooms in a home, second only to the kitchen. While these personal hygiene rooms tend to be some of the smallest spaces in a home, they are sometimes the most complicated to paint. 

Despite their appearance and the fact that they normally have very little furniture to remove before starting the project, painting a bathroom can be more than what you may imagine. From choosing the right type of paint to preparing the surfaces, bathrooms can be a handful! 

Here are a few things to consider and mistakes to avoid if you have bathroom painting on your to-do list this weekend. 

Avoid Painting Over Mold or Mildew 

Bathrooms are warm, moist areas that tend to accumulate unwanted mold and mildew, especially around the toilet, sink and shower/tub areas. Do not start painting until all mold or mildew has been cleaned with proper solutions to ensure that they will not immediately grow right back and cause your paint adhesion to fail. 

Once the mildew has been successfully cleaned away, it may be smart to wipe the area down with a mixture of bleach and water to kill off any remaining problem areas. Additionally, priming with a mold and mildew-resistant primer can also assist in these circumstances. 

Use the Proper Paint & Finish 

As we just discussed, bathrooms are prone to the growth of mildew. Therefore choose a paint that is mildew-resistant and a finish that will allow for the walls to be wiped down after a hot shower causes condensation build-up. 

Finishes such as the higher gloss varieties will help you keep the walls and other surfaces wiped without ruining the paint itself. Paints with eggshell or semi-gloss finish are more durable and can handle the high level of moisture that a bathroom can put off. 

Only Paint Dry Walls 

Part of the painting process for a bathroom should include having good ventilation to keep the walls dry. Before the first coat of primer is applied, the walls should be bone dry which may take hand drying with a microfiber cloth or the use of a fan or exhaust system. 

Even damp walls could cause paint failure and adhesion erosion! 

Don’t Rush the Second Coat 

Rushing a second or third coat of paint is never a good thing but it is made worse in a bathroom setting due to the high moisture level. 

Be sure that proper time is given between the primer and main coat and a second coat of the primary color. If a second or third coat is not thoroughly dried it may cause the next coat to be tacky and not spread well. Your final look could then be subpar. 

Painting a bathroom may look easy due to its size and lack of movable furniture, but without consideration of these issues, you may find yourself fixing avoidable errors in the future. Talk to our team at Jerry Enos Painting about your painting projects and how our experts can create the professional and finished look you want. 

Categorised in: Bathroom Painting