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How to stop paint peeling in your bathroom

How to stop paint peeling in your bathroom

By Benjamin Clarke | Published on 21st June 2022

If you've got paint peeling off the walls and ceiling of your bathroom then you're probably a bit disheartened and concerned at how unattractive the room looks. Peeling paint has the tendency to make a space look really scruffy, potentially lowering the value of your home and even possibly causing health issues if tiny paint flakes are breathed in.

In this article we'll take a look at what might be causing the paint in your bathroom to be peeling and what steps you can take to remedy this frustrating, but very common, problem.

Why is your bathroom paint peeling?

There are many reasons that can cause peeling paint generally, such as applying paint to a dirty surface, using low quality paint or paintwork that has been exposed to long and intense periods of sunlight. In a bathroom specifically however, the most likely reason that the paint is peeling is due to the amount of moisture generated in a room that typically has the highest humidity levels in a home.

Over time, water can penetrate paintwork in a bathroom, especially if the paint is old and has started to crack. The moisture can get in between the paint and the wall surface and break the adhesion between the two. If there are any leaks in a shower or basin, or gaps between skirting boards or tiling, this can exacerbate the situation and make the issue worse.

Some paint rollers applying different colours to a wall

Additionally, bathrooms in many homes are often the only room without a window so really heavily on extractor fans in order to ventilate the room and clear it of damp air. If a bathroom has an inadequately powered extractor fan, then the moisture in the air will it on walls and ceilings eventually damaging the paintwork. Extractor fans that need to be switched on separately from the light can also be problematic as users often forget to switch them on which also causes ventilation problems.

If condensation is left to sit in a high-humidity bathroom for long periods of time, this can lead to mould and mildew forming on walls, ceilings and in grouting. Not only is it unsightly and potentially bad for your lungs but it can also lift paint away from the surface and cause flaking.

What can you do to stop peeling paint?

The first thing to do is check for any leaks, gaps, old paint and the quality of ventilation in your bathroom. It's likely you are going to need to repaint in order to improve the situation but the problem may well reoccur if you don't get the above issues sorted out first. If you can resolve those then you can move on to preparing your bathroom for a new coat of paint.

Scrape off flakey paint

You'll need to remove as much of the old, peeling paint with a paint scraper so that the underlying surface is clean when you apply the new paint. If you don't do this then you are going to have loose paint particles underneath your fresh paint which will affect the quality of the finish and might start flaking off within a short space of time.

Using a paint scraper may be a bit of a time consuming job but it will be worth it in the end as you'll have removed all the flakey paint and ensure you're starting fresh with a clean surface. If you can't get rid of all the underlying paint then get rid of the peeling bits and clean the rest with sugar soap so get the surface as dirt-free as possible.

Choose a good quality bathroom paint

Don't waste time with cheap, poor quality paints. While you may be initially tempted by the low upfront cost, you'll probably find that the paint finish is unsatisfactory and could start to show its age much quicker than a better quality alternative.

There is dedicated bathroom paint available from many recognisable brands that is also resistant to mould and mildew. This type of paint would be a great option as the finish tends to have a slight sheen that allows moisture to freely run off it, rather than clinging and penetrating the paint as moisture might do to a standard matt paint.

Anti mould bathroom paint

To get the best finish, you may need to apply more than one coat. If you do this then make sure that you leave enough time for the paint to dry before applying the new coat. The manufacturer will provide instructions but always be a little conservative when it comes to your bathroom and leave a little extra time than the manufacturer recommends.

Another common reason for peeling paint is not allowing the previous coat to dry properly before putting on the next coat so, when it comes to such an important room like a humid bathroom, take your time and don't be tempted to rush the job.

Stop peeling paint happening again

Once you've applied the paint then the most important thing to do to stop with issue from happening again is to make sure your bathroom is well-ventilated.

When you take a bath or a shower, consider opening a window or switching on the ventilation fan. When you've finished, ideally you should keep the window open or fan running for about 30mins afterwards as this will help clear the humid air and dry the moisture on your paintwork.

Another easy solution is to invest in a good quality squeegee to keep in your bathroom. After you've had a shower you can quickly use the squeegee on the shower screen, surrounding tiles and walls to remove any lingering water. This will help the moisture to evaporate more quickly and will stop water hanging around on surfaces for any longer than necessary.

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