Bathroom makeover: What you should know before you paint

When it comes to painting, bathrooms require a little more thought than other rooms in the house. Recurring problems can develop from the constant presence of water and steam, which can be frustrating, not to mention expensive. If you’re planning on painting your bathroom, it’s a good idea to look into the necessary requirements before you pick up a brush.

Preparing to paint your bathroom

Correct preparation makes it much more likely that you’ll achieve the results you want in your bathroom - a great looking finish that will stand up to the demands of constant usage. Because of the wet issue, bathroom surfaces need to be prepared in order to ensure that dampness does not become a problem. There are a few things you need to do before you begin to paint:

• Seal any gaps or cracks with a waterproof sealer
• Ensure that all surfaces are smooth and free from flaking or loose particles
• Clean away any mould or mildew from walls and ceiling
• Apply a waterproof compound to the walls, ceiling and fittings

Waterproofing work needs to comply with council regulations, and certified plumbers can help you to understand and meet these requirements. If you decide to undertake the work yourself, you’ll need to get a licensed waterproofing contractor to check the work in order to ensure it has been done according to the right specifications. The contractor will issue a waterproofing certificate if it meets all the regulations.

Why waterproofing is vital

Waterproofing is the most important step when preparing to paint or renovate a bathroom and a substandard job at this point will cause you a lot of problems over time with dampness and possible water damage to your home’s structure. Many people employ a contractor who is licensed for waterproofing to carry out the prep work for this very reason; a bad job at this stage could mean huge expense later.

Choosing the right paint for your bathroom

Once you’ve prepared and waterproofed your bathroom, the next step will be choosing the paint and, again, the special conditions in a bathroom require a paint that can withstand moisture.

Professionals generally agree that either a semi or full gloss paint is the best choice for walls and paints that have been designed specifically for bathrooms contain an anti-mould additive. Flat paints with anti-mould can be used on ceilings, especially in older homes as the flat paint will downplay any imperfections.

However you choose to decorate your bathroom, correct preparation is key. Careful and meticulous waterproofing is vital whatever the finish, but if you’re painting you’ll also need to ensure using materials specifically designed for the bathroom environment. Bathroom conditions are unique and require appropriate attention; following correct methods for decoration will ensure a finish that will stay looking good – and protected - for many years.