5 Mistakes You’ll Want To Avoid When Painting a Bathroom!

Preparation for painting a bathroom - masking and removing fittings
Updated, 1 July 2024 by Stephen Cochrane

Is your DIY dream of painting a bathroom at risk of becoming your worst nightmare? Bathroom painting might seem straightforward but it’s what you don’t know that could lead to DIY disaster.

Preparing for painting a bathroom.  Mask and use drop clothes, remove fixtures and fittings.

As Perth painters for almost a century, we’ve seen enough DIY painting fails to last a lifetime! In this article, you’ll learn the top 5 biggest bathroom painting mistakes we see DIYers make and how you can avoid making them, too.

1. Painting Over Mould

Don’t even look at paint samples before you prep your bathroom. Most DIYers know prepping a surface before painting is recommended – but many underestimate the importance. All internal house painting needs meticulous preparation to get a polished and professional finish, but painting a bathroom requires taking it up several notches.

When it comes to wet areas like bathrooms, the impact of painting without adequate surface prep is magnified – especially if you fail to remove mould colonies. Painting over mould and mildew will not kill it. Instead, the mould spores will continue to grow underneath the paint which will eventually cause the finish to look uneven, or even bubble and flake.

Don’t let mould ruin your bathroom painting! Take these steps to prep the area.

  1. Remove all traces of mould and mildew from any surface you intend to paint. Use a mould cleaner designed to kill existing spores.
  2. Ensure adequate ventilation during the cleaning process.
  3. Allow the bathroom walls to dry completely before you begin painting.

2. Using the Wrong Paint

The paint you choose for bedroom painting is not the paint you need for bathroom painting.

Choose a wet area paint specifically formulated to:

  • withstand damp environments and high humidity
  • inhibit mould growth
  • cope with frequent cleaning and the wear and tear of high traffic areas

3. Not Removing Taps and Fixtures First

The Instagram-worthy finish of a deep sage paint will look fabulous on the walls but not accidentally dappled or swiped on your black taps and fixtures.

Taping around the toilet cistern and tap flanges might seem like a good solution. However, paint droplets or brush swipes are common. So if you want to avoid a future of noticing paint spots on your tapware every time you take a shower, take the time to remove them before painting.

Removing taps and fixtures allows you to deep clean any mould that’s lurking beneath. Painting behind the fixtures also ensures an even finish as opposed to the telltale signs of having been painted around.

4. Skipping the Primer

Primer is the key to a beautiful paint finish and no professional painter would dream of skipping it! So if you want a professional finish, don’t forget to buy primer when you’re buying paint.

A primer is especially useful when painting a bathroom as it:

  • smooths the surface to be painted
  • enables the new paint to adhere better to the walls
  • can disguise old stains

5. Painting Wet Walls

There’s nothing like the enthusiasm of a DIY painter – and we love to see it! But don’t let your excitement lead to rushing the process.

For example, cracking the paint tin thirty minutes after taking a steamy shower is not ideal. You want to ensure the bathroom walls and any other surfaces you intend to paint are completely dry first. If they’re not, this can affect paint adhesion and create an uneven finish.

Ensure you allow for adequate drying time between the first and second coat of paint – and definitely don’t take a steamy shower in between! The amount of drying time needed between coats will depend on the type of paint you’re using so always read the directions on the tin. Rushing to apply the second coat can result in a finish that has a heavy stippled texture.

Still Want To Paint the Bathroom?

If all of this sounds like hard work, that’s because it is – and we didn’t even get into bathroom ceiling painting!

If you’re pressed for time and want a professional finish, outsource your bathroom painting to experienced residential painters who guarantee a flawless finish.

Need help painting a bathroom? Contact AJ Cochrane & Sons to arrange a quote.

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