What Paint Can You Use in High Moisture Areas?
Are you planning to paint a bathroom, kitchen, or another high-moisture area? Tackling an interior paint project in a room with high humidity requires extra preparation prior to painting. If you don’t choose the right type of interior paint for your Connecticut home, it may end up peeling, cracking, or becoming a breeding ground for mold or mildew. However, you can prevent these problems by following these top three tips for painting in your home’s high moisture areas.
Tips for Painting Humid Rooms
Choose a Satin or Semi-Gloss Paint
What sheen of paint you use in a bathroom or kitchen has a significant impact on its longevity. Paints with a glossy sheen—like satin or semi-gloss—are best for humid rooms. Instead of absorbing moisture like a matte or eggshell paint would, they deflect it. Glossy paints can resist moisture because they have a harder finish. An additional benefit of using glossy paint is that it is easy to clean. You will be able to wipe away food splatters or soap splashes without washing away the color on your walls.
Prep the Surface
Before you start painting, take time to clean the walls and smooth out imperfections. This step is vital because cleaning the surface will help the paint adhere. In addition, you won’t have to worry about unattractive spots detracting from your new wall color. (One con of glossy paint is that it makes imperfections stand out more than other types.)
If the old paint on the walls is cracked, peeling, or moldy, use a stiff-bristled brush to scrape it away. (Be sure to wear a protective face mask if removing mold so that you don’t breathe in the spores.) Next, smooth out any rough edges with fine-grade sandpaper.
Use a suitable filler following the manufacturer’s instructions on the package. Once the filler has dried, smooth out the surface with fine-grained sandpaper.
Prime the Walls
Homeowners often skip this step when painting an room, but we don’t recommend skipping primer. Applying primer paint conceals wall imperfections like nicks and patches, helps new paint adhere to the wall, covers stains, and blocks odors. These benefits of primer paint are worth the extra cost and effort.
Now you know the secrets to painting high humid rooms without the risk of your new paint peeling or cracking in the future:
- Choose glossy paint.
- Prep the walls.
- Apply a primer.
The only detail you have to think about now is what color to choose. If you are looking for inspiration for your bathroom, check out HGTV’s Top 20 Bathroom Paint Color Ideas. Southern Living has put together a beautiful slideshow of Bold Kitchen Paint Ideas. For more inspiration for your interior paint project, check out our list of Paint Colors that are Reigning Supreme in 2021.
If you are looking for neighborhood painters to tackle your next painting project, give Franklin Painting a call! Our professional painting crews provide interior paint services for residents throughout central Connecticut.