Updated on Sep. 16, 2024
Confused about which paint to use in your home's dampest environment? We asked an expert about how to choose the best paint for bathrooms.
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Bathrooms are, by definition, dripping wet places that can be a breeding ground for musty mold and mildew. Damp painted surfaces can also be susceptible to peeling and chipping — especially if walls aren’t properly prepped and maintained. When deciding which bathroom paint to buy, there are several factors to consider.
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Expert tip: If your bathroom doesn’t already have one, install an exhaust fan right away. It’s the first step in alleviating mold and mildew problems.
Bathrooms have their own unique set of challenges when it comes to keeping condensation and fungus growth under control. And, that’s why choosing the right paint may require a few extra steps.
When prep work is warranted, doing it right can be the difference between a mediocre and stellar bathroom paint project that will stand the test of time. Your efforts on the front end will pay off in the long haul.
“For properly, well-vented bathrooms that have not exhibited any type of mold issues in the past,” says Vince Christofora, Engineer and hardware store owner. “painting a bathroom is no different than any other room.”
There is a host of different bathroom paint and coatings — in a range of qualities and price points — formulated specifically for use in very humid environments.
For a majority of paint jobs, priming is the first and most important step. Pros recommend cleaning and lightly sanding walls to de-gloss the surface before priming.
A good bathroom primer performs several important functions:
Expert Tip: In recent years, the paint industry has introduced “paint and primers in one.” A brilliant idea in theory, in practice the results can be iffy. That’s why many manufacturers and professional painters recommend priming surfaces separately — especially if working with bare walls or when going from a dark to a light color. Christofora likes PPG Gripper. A proven brand of acrylic primer-sealer, this all-purpose product works great and dries in 30 minutes.
Applying a paint that contains an antimicrobial additive will create a bacterial barrier to inhibit nasty, odor-causing fungus. A mildew-resistant standout is Perma-White Mold and Mildew Proof Interior Paint by Zinsser. A high-performing water-based formula, Perma-White protects moisture-prone areas and also prevents mold and mildew growth for up to five years. And, it’s tintable, so you can choose a custom color that matches your style and decor.
Protect bathroom walls and ceilings from the inevitable splish and splash with quality moisture-resistant paint, such as Benjamin Moore Aura Bath and Spa Paint. Aura’s high moisture-tolerant matte finish beautifully and effectively repels water droplets and is highly scrubbable, so if any mold does appear, you can wipe it away before it takes hold.
Christofora points out that many of his customers opt to paint over tile. Considered a short-term solution rather than a long-term fix, the right primer is absolutely critical in this situation. The primer needs to be a high-bonding primer to adhere to the tile. He recommends using Zinsser BONDZ Maximum Adhesion Primer. It sticks to surfaces that are typically resistant to coatings, creating a strong bond for any topcoat (even solvent-based paint and epoxies).
Perfect for DIYers, water-based epoxy paint, like Rust-Oleum Specialty Tub and Tile Spray Paint, is a heavy-duty water-resistant product for use on shower stalls and bath surrounds. Each can of Tub and Tile covers 15-square feet in one step, leaving behind a shiny, durable and hard finish.
In years gone by, it was common to paint bathrooms with a semi-gloss sheen. This was because semi-gloss paints were thought to be more moisture resistant and could be cleaned/scrubbed easier than flat (matte) surfaces. Today, however, flat, eggshell and satin sheen paints perform just as well against moisture.
Expert Tip: Once properly cleaned, prepared, and primed, Christofora suggests a top-quality interior paint such as PPG’s Interior Manor Hall Paint.
