Though typically smaller than a living room or kitchen, bathrooms can be one of the most challenging rooms to paint in a house. There are several important factors to consider when painting a bathroom and many things that can go wrong during the process. Understanding the common challenges of painting bathrooms will enable you to determine if you can tackle the job yourself, or if you should hire a professional. Dunbar Painting provides complete interior painting solutions for bathrooms of all shapes and sizes. Their skilled painters will work with you to understand your needs and provide a top-quality solution for your home.
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Painting a Bathroom: Challenges and Considerations
Bathrooms can pose many painting challenges that may not be evident at first glance. Common bathroom painting challenges include:
Masking
When it comes to painting bathrooms, many surfaces need to be masked prior to starting the job to protect them from splatter. These surfaces include countertops, tubs, showers, toilets, floors, and cabinets. In some cases, it may take more time to properly mask vulnerable surfaces than it does to paint the room.
Latent Moisture and Humidity
Bathrooms have extremely high humidity and moisture content compared to the rest of your home. If a shower has been used recently before painting, applying paint can release latent moisture. This can create flashing and lead to extended periods between coats. The paint used for bathrooms must also be exceptionally durable to withstand high humidity and to seal wood that may be exposed to moisture. This paint must also be applied properly, so it is highly recommended to contact a professional to ensure that the job goes smoothly.
Degreasing
A common challenge that is often overlooked when painting bathrooms is the fact that most walls will need to be degreased before painting. Hair products, deodorants, and air fresheners can get into the steam from showers and attach to walls. This creates a slippery layer that leads to uneven strokes and flaws in the paint job. Areas around the shower, behind the toilet, and walls by the sink commonly need the most degreasing. That said, every wall in the bathroom should be degreased and dried before applying paint.
Inadequate Bathroom Fans
If your bathroom is equipped with an old or low-power fan, it may not be able to effectively remove the moisture in the air. In cases like this, it is important to ensure that enough time has passed between showering and starting to paint. More time will also need to pass between applying each coat to ensure even and full coverage.
Effectively dealing with these challenges can be difficult. To ensure that these challenges are properly solved, reach out to the team at Dunbar Painting by phone at 604-788-3382 or through their online contact form.