Nothing gives your bathroom a facelift like a fresh coat of paint. Whether you are changing up colors, renovating or getting your property ready for sale, the right paint can revive your bathroom and improve its overall appeal.
However, with multiple bathroom fixtures, you may need a few tips and tricks to guide you. With over 90 years of experience in the paint industry, we have a few expert bathroom painting tips to help you complete any bathroom paint job.
When you are painting the bathroom, quality is everything. Bathrooms have a unique environment. They are exposed to humidity, spills and splashes, requiring high-quality paint that is moisture resistant and easy to clean. Our first painting bathroom tip is to pick a primer and paint specifically designed for the bathroom.
Options branded as bath and spa paint are formulated with color lock technology that protects them against fading quickly. This type of paint is also moisture and mildew resistant.
Bathroom walls can collect dirt over time. Whether from products, dust or soap, this dirt can hinder the paint's performance. Before you start painting, wipe down all the areas you plan to paint. You can use warm water and a cloth or a sponge and all-purpose cleaner. Let the wall dry completely before you begin applying primer and paint.
Paint jobs can get messy, and there will undoubtedly be spills. To protect the surfaces you aren't painting and yourself from a hectic cleanup, you'll want to cover all the areas you don't intend to paint. Use a drop cloth or durable builder's paper to cover the floor. Patch the paper with tape, and you won't have to worry about it bunching together like a drop cloth would.
However, a drop cloth is still the best option for basins and tubs. Remove fixtures like towel rails, frames and hooks to minimize obstructions and protect them from splatters. Cover smaller fixtures you can't remove with masking tape.
Cutting in helps you achieve a clean and professional paint job while saving you time and money. For added comfort, you'll want to use an angled brush. Remember not to excessively load the brush when cutting in. After dabbing the brush into the paint bucket, drag it across the inside of the bucket lid to remove excess paint. Have some wipes or a damp cloth in your toolkit to correct any mistakes.
One of the hardest parts of painting a bathroom is getting your roller or brush behind the toilet. Most rollers are too thick to fit behind the small space between the wall and the toilet tank. Even if you find a way to stick a brush or roller behind the tank, getting a smooth and even layer is nearly impossible.
There are two tips for painting the bathroom that you can try. Purchase a thin paint roller, such as an inch-wide roller. Dab it in paint like your regular roller and reach behind your toilet tank. You can use clean refuse bags to cover the toilet.
The second tip is to remove the toilet tank entirely. This option gives you full access to the space behind the toilet. Turn off your water supply, flush the toilet to drain the tank and loosen the bolts. Then, lift the tank and paint.
The final tip for painting bathroom walls is allowing the paint to dry correctly. First, let the primer dry completely before adding the paint. Then, allow the actual paint to dry between coats. A good rule of thumb is to wait two to four hours, but check the manufacturer's specifications. Once you have all the coats on the wall, you may want to wait a day or two before restoring the fixtures and taking a shower or bath.
Shop online for the best bathroom painting supplies, and find a store for a quick pickup. We have 32 convenient locations on Long Island.
