(Painters/Decorators/Builders/DIYers) Painting a bathroom

[DrDonnyBrago]

Hi all,

How necessary is it to use a bathroom/kitchen specific paint when painting a bathroom? I ask because I already have a cheap can of normal emulsion knocking around and would prefer not to buy any more.

It's a fairly new house so only a layer or two of original paint, this has pealed off near the shower to reveal a grey/green stuff which I assume is the plaster?

I was thinking of scraping off all of the loose paint, going over the area with sandpaper then sticking multiple coats of normal emulsion on it. It doesn't need to last forever, but I don't want it to look shite or peel off again within a year or two.


Cheers guys.

[Suntan Sid]

Never had any problems with emulsion in a bathroom, when it's been away from areas that don't recieve a direct hit from water, (top of walls, ceiling etc). But, I'd have thought if it's an area that's likely to get splashed, on a regular basis, then you'll need to go with the specialised paint.
____________________
"Everybody needs money, that's why they call it money!"

[daemonoid]

I've done it a few times and the non waterproof paint does tend to rub off if you have any condensation build up. I've had problems with the kitchen / bathroom stuff too - but we had a small badly ventilated bathroom.

After quite a few years (DIY level) experience I'd say cheap paint is a false economy and using the wrong stuff to 'make do' is just as bad.

Try freecycle though - lots of people have half tins of paint laying around if you only have a small bit to do.
____________________
current: ducati monster 750
past: hyosung gt250r, bajaj pulsar 180, hyosung gt 125 comet
@thomasgarrard | www.straitjkt.com | www.racingseven.com

[Imonster]

[Codemonkey]

After originally painting mine in normal stuff, then watching it crack & flake/rub off after 6 months and having to re do it all again with proper bathroom stuff, I'd always go with that in future. An extra few quid on paint is less cost to me than a day or 2 of having to repaint it all!
____________________
Test Passed 10/05/2011 Current bike: XJ6-N

[Quirky]

My bathroom's pretty small so the condensation gets everywhere really. I painted it with emulsion when I moved in and within a year it was flaky and peeling, looked diseased. Sanded it all down and repainted with kitchen and bathroom paint and it still looks new now, 3 years later.

Definitely worth the extra £££ in my opinion.

[DrDonnyBrago]

Cheers for your thoughts guys.

It is a small, internal bathroom with an extractor fan rather than a window and the peeling bit does get hit by water, seems the consensus is to use the proper (and expensive ) bathroom stuff .


distributed.

[kerr]

Bathroom paint is overpriced imo, use masonary paint if you can get it cheaper.
Make sure you seal the bare areas with pva before you paint.
____________________
aprilia 125 Af1 Futura >> Suzuki gsxr 600 srad >> J1 zx6r >> cbr 600rr >> Speed Triple

[Tenko]

Use the proper stuff. I wish I did - painted our shower-room two months ago in some B&Q immulsion I had left over from another room, and really regret it now. It is already flaking off and I will have to rub it all down before I do it properly, which will be a messy ball-ache...

[whitedevil]

Pay the extra few £ and use the proper paint mate.
____________________
GPZ500 sold ~ CBR600FS-2 sold ~ ZX6R sold ~ Street Triple R

[Cunnington]

I did our bathroom in some paint I bought for the bedroom at our last place and never got round to using.

Having taken the mirror down, emptied and moved the cupboard out and done all the prep, painted the walls having to cut in around all the tiles trying not to get paint on the grout, and finally put down the new flooring, it looks shit when you have a shower and the patches of fresh plaster from the repairs and various other marks show through.

Given the time and effort involved, I'd much rather have spent an extra £20 on a decent tin of paint and not spent the last year thinking that I really need to do it all again after every shower.
____________________
'82 C50, '81 CB100, '84 GS125, '95 NTV650, '00 Bandit 600, '06 SV650, '56 Z1000, '89 NTV600
The Shaggy D.A. wrote: "You are invisible. Those who can see you are trying to kill you."

[angryjonny]

Tiles all round

[Charlie]

I know nothing about painting.

But couldn't you paint it in normal paint and then layer it up with PVC?
____________________
Past: Honda x8rs, Honda City fly, Honda Hornet 250, Honda VFR750, Yamaha xt600e.
Current: Honda CBR929RR & Yamaha XT660Z Tenere

[Handsome]