5 Bathroom Painting Tips Everyone Needs

There are few rooms more difficult to paint than a bathroom. Bathrooms tend to have immobile appliances and cramped spaces which tend to frustrate DIY painters. However, that does not mean your bathroom’s color is destined to stay the same forever. Our painting pros are here to help. Here are five bathroom painting tips from CertaPro House Painters.

Dry It Out

In a room plagued by humidity and dampness, how do you start painting? The first thing is to ensure the space is dry. Paint cannot stick to wet surfaces, and bathrooms tend to be humid. Before starting, if the weather is nice, open a window (if the bathroom has one) and circulate some outside air. If the bathroom has no window, utilize the vent fan. Most vent fans will replace the air in a bathroom in less than fifteen minutes. If the vent fan also has a heater, turn it on as the heat will evaporate moisture more quickly.

Clean Up

It is also important that the space is clean. Ironically, bathrooms tend to be dirty places, so a good wipe down with soap and water goes a long way. However, this adds moisture to the room, so using the advice above, be sure the space is as dry as possible before starting.

Tank Removal

Painting some spaces in a bathroom can be challenging, like behind a toilet bowl. If you are handy, it is advised to remove the tank instead of trying to paint around it. This will result in a much more professional job and look much better. When painting around obstructions like the vanity and tub, use petroleum jelly or painter’s tape to establish nice, crisp lines around the fixture. That way visitors will focus on the beautiful tile job or expensive light fixture instead of the over-paint on the bathtub.

Specialized Paint

Special paint has been marketed in recent years to alleviate some of the common issues surrounding bathroom paint. Some have additives that prevent the growth of mildew, while others include a polymer that makes the walls super easy to clean. Using these paints may be a little more expensive, but you may pat yourself on the back every time you don’t spend thirty minutes cleaning a wall.

Paint Finishes

Paint finishes make a big difference in durability. Paint usually comes in flat, eggshell, matte, semi-gloss, and high gloss. Generally speaking, the shinier the finish, the easier it is to clean. That’s why the trim and doors of most homes have semi-gloss or high gloss paint, while the walls are flat or eggshell. Most pro painters recommend either a specialty paint made just for humid areas or using glossy paint in the bathroom. This makes the space much easier to clean and in most cases, more durable as well.