Best kind of paint to use for these wall applications
June 12, 2017 12:14 PM Subscribe
So we painted the bathroom a couple of years ago, made bad paint choices and it's peeling. We need to repaint, but I am at a little bit of a loss. Also, other painting questions within:
I have noticed that many successfully painted bathrooms have sort of glossy paint. We got the paint that was recommended at the hardware store, but it is not very glossy.
What brand and type of paint would you recommend for use in a small, poorly ventilated bathroom? We live in an old house, air circulation is poor and so humidity is a real problem. Low-smell paint is not nearly as important as moisture-appropriate paint.
Also, do you recommend any particular wall prep for bathroom walls that have already been painted? (Obviously we will wash them.)
We have also painted some other walls, and I feel like the paint gets marred really easily. I think this is because we got cheap paint and didn't know what we were doing. What brands and types of paint would you recommend for non-bathroom interiors?
Again, low-smell is not as important as durability. Price is no object in this instance since even expensive paint isn't too expensive over small areas.
The more specific your recommendations, the better.
I have noticed that many successfully painted bathrooms have sort of glossy paint. We got the paint that was recommended at the hardware store, but it is not very glossy.
What brand and type of paint would you recommend for use in a small, poorly ventilated bathroom? We live in an old house, air circulation is poor and so humidity is a real problem. Low-smell paint is not nearly as important as moisture-appropriate paint.
Also, do you recommend any particular wall prep for bathroom walls that have already been painted? (Obviously we will wash them.)
We have also painted some other walls, and I feel like the paint gets marred really easily. I think this is because we got cheap paint and didn't know what we were doing. What brands and types of paint would you recommend for non-bathroom interiors?
Again, low-smell is not as important as durability. Price is no object in this instance since even expensive paint isn't too expensive over small areas.
The more specific your recommendations, the better.
I would scrub down with TSP (and then scrub down again to remove the TSP before painting; painting bathrooms is a total hassle.) TSP not only takes off grime, it adds a slight rough "tooth" to the surface you scrub. Is not great in wastewater but probably better than an extra paint job.
I would also worry that the peeling was somehow because there was moisture *in* the walls; that's usually what pushes paint off a surface. Unless you painted thickly on a not-scrubbed surface, in which case it could mechanically fall off. Is it worse on the ceiling or the walls? On an exterior wall or an interior one?
posted by clew at 1:13 PM on June 12, 2017 [2 favorites]
I would also worry that the peeling was somehow because there was moisture *in* the walls; that's usually what pushes paint off a surface. Unless you painted thickly on a not-scrubbed surface, in which case it could mechanically fall off. Is it worse on the ceiling or the walls? On an exterior wall or an interior one?
posted by clew at 1:13 PM on June 12, 2017 [2 favorites]
Do you take long, hot, steamy showers ? Do you have an exhaust fan to get the steam out ? Make sure there's a fan to remove the moisture. Humidity does lots of damage.
Normally, surface prep is what makes/breaks a paint job: cleaning the walls (dust/dirt are TSP but mildew is bleach, be sure to rinse when done), patching drywall as needed, putting a good coat of primer on etc.
You want gloss/semi-gloss because they wipe down easier (than matte, flat or eggshell) and help repel/bead water condensation.
Use a mildew resistant primer (or add the pack of mildew inhibitor to the primer at the paint store) and add a pack of it to the paint. I don't have specific brands, though we'll be re-painting one of our baths in the next year or two. Paint the ceiling and the walls.
posted by k5.user at 1:16 PM on June 12, 2017 [1 favorite]
Normally, surface prep is what makes/breaks a paint job: cleaning the walls (dust/dirt are TSP but mildew is bleach, be sure to rinse when done), patching drywall as needed, putting a good coat of primer on etc.
You want gloss/semi-gloss because they wipe down easier (than matte, flat or eggshell) and help repel/bead water condensation.
Use a mildew resistant primer (or add the pack of mildew inhibitor to the primer at the paint store) and add a pack of it to the paint. I don't have specific brands, though we'll be re-painting one of our baths in the next year or two. Paint the ceiling and the walls.
posted by k5.user at 1:16 PM on June 12, 2017 [1 favorite]
Prep is way more important than the brand paint that you use.
Here's what I'd do:
- Scrape off any loose peeling paint
- Clean with TSP substitute
- Sand all surfaces lightly with 120 grit sandpaper. This does two things: knocks down any highspots, makes a "key" for subsequent layers to grip to.
- Prime with a stain-killing primer like Kilz or Bin 123
- Paint with a semi-gloss
posted by octothorpe at 2:14 PM on June 12, 2017 [1 favorite]
Here's what I'd do:
- Scrape off any loose peeling paint
- Clean with TSP substitute
- Sand all surfaces lightly with 120 grit sandpaper. This does two things: knocks down any highspots, makes a "key" for subsequent layers to grip to.
- Prime with a stain-killing primer like Kilz or Bin 123
- Paint with a semi-gloss
posted by octothorpe at 2:14 PM on June 12, 2017 [1 favorite]
Did you perhaps paint over old oil paint ? That might account for the peeling. I think there's a kit to test what type of paint was there.
I always use kitchen/bath paint.
posted by Ftsqg at 4:41 PM on June 12, 2017
I always use kitchen/bath paint.
posted by Ftsqg at 4:41 PM on June 12, 2017
Gloss paint. Prep w/ TSP and bleach. Mildew resistant primer.
I like Ace Hardware's store brand paints which have stood up to our boisterous ways rather well.
posted by nixon's meatloaf at 4:58 PM on June 12, 2017
I like Ace Hardware's store brand paints which have stood up to our boisterous ways rather well.
posted by nixon's meatloaf at 4:58 PM on June 12, 2017
We've always used "satin" (semi-gloss) finish anti-mold paint made specifically for bathrooms. Also worth getting an extractor fan installed if at all possible. Makes a big difference.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 12:38 AM on June 13, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by EndsOfInvention at 12:38 AM on June 13, 2017 [1 favorite]
Kilz is a primer-sealer with great adhesion, and there are other primer-sealers that are also excellent. I mention this because "classic" Kilz has murderously strong fumes that almost did me in when I painted a large closet. One brand I've used is Zinsser; Zinsser and Kilz both offer various primer-sealers with different bases.
These are doubly great because they not only adhere stubbornly to the wall, but paint sticks to them very well. But some of the paint that's already on your walls may not be adhering properly; any finish you put on top of unsound paint can peel.
posted by wryly at 2:58 PM on June 13, 2017
These are doubly great because they not only adhere stubbornly to the wall, but paint sticks to them very well. But some of the paint that's already on your walls may not be adhering properly; any finish you put on top of unsound paint can peel.
posted by wryly at 2:58 PM on June 13, 2017
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posted by padraigin at 12:29 PM on June 12, 2017