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Choosing the right paint
Bathrooms are essential spaces in every home because these are the places where we take care of our hygiene. Due to the nature of bathrooms, they are usually painted differently compared to other parts of the house.
When it comes to choosing colours and types of paint for your bathroom, there are a lot of factors to consider, such as moisture retention rating of the paint, moulding, how long it lasts, how it ascents your trim, to mention but a few. Considering these factors, many paints are specially manufactured as bathroom interior paints.
In this article, we shall aid you in how to decide and choose the perfect colour paint for the bathroom.
What type of paint should I use for my bathroom?
Painting your bath area is a smart way to give it a sparkling new look. It is preferred to tiles or marble if you are the cost-conscious type. Many property owners prefer glossy or semi-gloss paints because of the ease of cleaning them.
Satin paints are also a good alternative as they are easy to clean too, although they are less reflective. It is always complex to decide what paint to use in bathrooms because of their nature, being a high moisture area, and because they house a lot of accessories and other items such as bathtubs, showers, counters, and many others.
There are vital considerations that should influence the choice of paint for a bathroom. First, bathrooms are exposed to moisture, so you need paint that will withstand a high level of bacteria and humidity. You also need paint that will prevent peeling.
For ease of cleaning, high gloss paints are highly recommended.
In addition to the ease of cleaning, high-gloss paints do not trap harmful substances that encourage the growth of mould; you also need to apply moisture-blocking paints with anti-microbial additives to prolong your paint’s lifespan.
Generally, any paint you choose for your bathroom should have the following qualities:
- Washable finish
- Mildew and mould resistance properties
- Tight structure
So long as your paint of choice has these three properties, you have made a good choice.
Tips for choosing paint for your bathroom
Wall reflection
Most bathrooms are painted grey, white, cream, or pastel for a reason; they are calm, easy on the eyes, and produce fantastic reflection in the bathroom. These colours produce natural shades that do not recast light in a manner that will change your complexion in the mirror.
If you decide to go with vibrant green or blue colours, they can produce an unnatural reflection on your skin when you look at yourself in the bathroom mirror. This is due to the interaction of the bathroom light and the wall’s colour.
So, if anyone uses the bathroom for things like adjusting makeup or hairstyles, it is better to go for natural wall colours such as grey, white, or cream.
Mould and mildew protection
You should also look for paints that offer some form of protection from mould and mildew. Bathrooms naturally retain moisture for an extended period, thus making them prone to mould and mildew, especially if the bath area is not well planned to allow enough ventilation.
To handle this and prevent health hazards, paint with anti-microbial paints that protect from mould infection. Today, there are many such paints: Zinseer’s Perma-White and Aura Matte, both from Benjamin Moore.
These paints are produced with ingredients that kill existing mould while preventing new ones from forming and growing.
Peeling
It is not uncommon to see paints peeling off the surface, mainly in showers with high moisture exposure and in largely unventilated spaces. When choosing paint for your bathroom, look for one that does not peel. This is done by applying a coat of moisture-resistant primer to the bathroom’s ceiling or wall before applying anti-mildew paint.
A gallon of moisture-resistant paint can save you a lot of money in the future because there won’t be a need for touch-up paint jobs in the future.
Semi or high gloss paint
Instead of using mould-resistant paint, you can paint your bathroom walls with semi or high gloss paint. While glossy paints are ineffective in preventing mould, they are much easier to clean and maintain than other paints. Even if mould grows, it will be easier to remove it.
If you are the type that doesn’t like glossy paints, you can go for satin. While satin paints are not as reflective as glossy paints, they are easy to clean.
Ventilation
Another factor to consider is ventilation. Proper ventilation is essential for the paint to last long. Air flows properly through the windows, doors, and open vents when you provide adequate ventilation. Do this and watch your bathroom paint last for years without any touch-up.
How to paint your bathroom
Materials required
Paint roller, Philips screwdriver, sash brush, flathead screwdriver, paint ray and liner, plastic sheeting, latex paint, and painter’s tape.
Step one: Select the best paint for your bathroom
Bathrooms are always wet, and no matter how hard you try, water will always get on the walls. So, it is crucial to go for special paints explicitly produced for bathrooms. While there are many such bathroom paints in the market, they are of varying qualities.
Some of the cheap ones have the same pigment as the expensive ones, but they have lesser solids. Solids are the components that dry to form an acrylic latex layer on the wall. Therefore, it is better to buy the expensive type because the acrylic latex layer makes the painting more durable.
Step two: Estimate the quantity of paint you need
Calculate the amount of paint you need for the bathroom. There are many ways you can do this.
One easy way is to calculate the space area to be painted. This is done by calculating the areas of the walls and subtracting the size of windows and doors. Then take your measurement to a paint shop and ask them for the quantity of paint to cover the area you measured.
Step three: Clean all the surfaces to be painted
Soap scum can mess up your paint and cause it to peel off quite fast, so you need to get rid of it thoroughly before you begin painting. Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) can be used to remove soap scum before you start the painting. A good thing about it is that it is inexpensive, removes the scum fast, and does not interfere with the painting.
Before you apply any paint to your bathroom wall, it is vital to clean the wall and remove any existing mildew. You can use a variety of DIY methods to get rid of these mildews. One standard procedure is to mix water and bleach in a ratio of three is to one. Then block off any part you don’t want to paint, such as doorways, corners, and floorboards.
Step four: Remove the toilet tank
You might find it nearly impossible to do an excellent job with the toilet tank in place. Although removing the toilet tank may sound complicated, it is not.
Toilets are typically installed in two sections: the base and the top tank. The messy part is the base which will not be removed; you only need to remove the top tank.
Turn off the water supply from the wall, flush the water to empty the top tank, place some old towels on the floor, remove the top tank, and place it on the towel.
Step five: Remove other things that may obstruct the painting
Remove the mirror, towel racks, bathroom vents, and any other item in the room that may constitute an obstruction.
Step six: Cover areas that will not be painted
Use tape to cover any area that won’t be painted. These include ceiling, bathtub surround, backslash, trim, and others. You can also use clothes to cover areas like sinks, mirrors, bathroom vanity, and flooring.
Step seven: Paint the bathroom with a roller
Open the paint can and pour out some paint into a tray. Dip the roller cover into the paint and mix thoroughly. Apply the paint gradually on the wall using a roller.
Step eight: Apply a second coat
Wait for the paint to dry for about two hours (this may be longer if there is no proper ventilation in the room). Repeat the painting process and apply a second coat on the first layer. After applying the paint, leave it to dry for some time before using the bathroom.
Step nine: Clean up the area
After the paint has dried, remove the painter’s tape and the drop cloths. Properly dispose of the plastic sheeting. Fix back the toilet’s top tank and return all the accessories, such as mirrors, towel racks, etc., that were removed earlier.
If there are drops of paint where there shouldn’t be, try and clean it up immediately.
Bathroom painting may need experts
If you are considering a total overhaul of your bathroom or simply repainting the walls, it will be better to consult an expert. An expert will guide you on the best paint to use, the best colour to go for, and other bespoke choices that may be unique to your bathroom.
While some or most of the painting can be done by yourself to save cost, it is wise to get advice from a bathroom designer. They will offer you the best advice by leveraging their years of experience and expertise, saving you so much money in the long run.
