Bathroom Paint Keeps Peeling or Going Mouldy? Here’s What I’d Use

Bathrooms can be one of those rooms that are tricky to get right when it comes to paint.

You decorate, everything looks lovely and then a few months down the line you start noticing little patches of mould appearing, paint beginning to peel around the ceiling or areas that just don't seem to be coping very well with all that steam and condensation.

If that sounds familiar, the paint you've used could be part of the problem.

There are lots of paints that will happily cope in a well-ventilated bathroom, but if yours gets particularly steamy or you've had problems with mould and peeling paint before, I would definitely think a little more carefully about what you're putting on the walls and ceiling.

One of the products I'd look at is Zinsser Perma-White. So, let me explain why.

Why does bathroom paint start peeling or going mouldy?

Every time you have a hot shower or bath, you're adding lots of moisture to the air. When that warm air hits colder walls and ceilings, you get condensation.

If that moisture hangs around, particularly in a bathroom without great ventilation, it can eventually start causing problems with your paintwork.

Poor preparation can be another culprit. Painting over a surface that's damp, dirty or already starting to flake isn't going to give your new paint the best chance of lasting.

And sometimes, it's simply that the paint you've used isn't really up to the job.

It's worth remembering though that even the best bathroom paint can't fix an underlying damp problem. If you've got a leak, water coming through a wall or a serious ventilation issue, you need to deal with the cause first.

The same goes for existing mould. I wouldn't recommend simply painting straight over it and hoping for the best.

I've actually written a full guide on how to remove and prevent mould in the home, so if mould is your main problem, I'd start there first.

So, what would I use in a problem bathroom?

If I was decorating a bathroom that regularly gets very steamy, suffers from condensation or has had problems with mould in the past, Zinsser Perma-White would definitely be one I'd consider.

It's been specifically designed for areas with persistent high humidity and frequent changes in temperature, which is exactly the sort of environment you can get in a bathroom.

It also contains a biocide which helps protect the finished paint against fungal growth, making it particularly useful in rooms where mould has been a problem before.

But that's not the only reason I like it.

Zinsser Perma-White is washable, scrubbable, stain resistant and moisture resistant, so you're getting a finish that's designed to cope with the realities of a busy bathroom rather than just look nice when it's first painted.

It's also low odour and quick drying, becoming touch dry in around 30 minutes and recoatable in around two hours.

Does Zinsser Perma-White need a primer?

This is one of the really handy things about Perma-White.

It's self-priming and designed to bond to existing solvent-based or glossy paints, so depending on the surface you're working with, you may not need a separate primer.

That doesn't mean we can skip the prep though!

Any loose or peeling paint still needs removing, and the surface should be clean, sound and properly dry before you start painting.

Good paint still needs a good surface to stick to!

Can you use Zinsser Perma-White on a bathroom ceiling?

Yes, and this is probably one of the places I'd be most likely to consider it.

Bathroom ceilings tend to take the brunt of all that warm, humid air rising from showers and baths. If you've previously found yourself repainting the ceiling only for mould spots or peeling paint to appear again, it's worth looking at whether the paint you're using is actually suitable for that environment.

A specialist product like Perma-White gives you a finish that's much better suited to those high-humidity conditions.

Just make sure any existing mould or peeling paint is properly dealt with before you start.

Is Perma-White just for bathrooms?

Not at all. Bathrooms are probably one of the most obvious places I'd reach for Perma-White, but they're definitely not the only place it can be useful.

It's really about the conditions in the room rather than what the room is called. If you've got an area that regularly struggles with high humidity, condensation or has had problems with mould in the past, that's when I'd start thinking about a specialist paint like this.

That could be a steamy kitchen, utility room or any other room where condensation and moisture tend to be an issue. 

So don't think of Perma-White as simply a "bathroom paint". Think of it as an option for those trickier areas of the home where a standard emulsion might need a little more help coping with the conditions.

Can I put Perma-White over existing paint or mould?

In many cases, you can apply Perma-White over existing paint, provided the surface is sound and properly prepared.

But there's an important difference between painting over existing paint and painting over existing mould.

Mould-resistant paint isn't the same thing as mould remover.

Perma-White can help protect the finished paint against fungal growth, but it isn't there to get rid of mould that's already on your walls or ceiling.

Existing mould needs to be properly treated first, and the surface should be clean and dry before you redecorate. You'll also want to work out why the mould appeared in the first place so you don't end up back in the same position a few months later.

If you're currently at the mould-removal stage rather than the painting stage, have a read of my guide to removing and preventing mould first.

What if my bathroom paint is already peeling?

Don't be tempted to just paint over it.

You'll want to remove anything that's loose or flaking first and get the surface back to something solid before repainting.

Depending on how badly the existing coating has failed, that could mean scraping away loose paint, sanding the edges smooth and thoroughly cleaning the surface.

If you've got particularly troublesome areas of peeling or unstable paint, a bonding product such as Zinsser Peel Stop can also be useful before you redecorate.

And, as always, make sure everything is completely dry before you start painting.

When would I choose Perma-White?

For me, Zinsser Perma-White is a really good choice for bathrooms, particularly if you're dealing with lots of steam and condensation or you've had problems with mould or peeling paint before.

It's designed to cope with those high-humidity conditions, while giving you a washable, scrubbable and moisture-resistant finish, which is exactly what you want from a bathroom paint.

But as with any paint, getting the preparation right is just as important. Make sure you've treated any existing mould, removed loose or peeling paint and dealt with any underlying moisture problems before you start.

Get those bits right and you've given your new bathroom paint the best chance of staying looking lovely for much longer.

Happy decorating,

Helen x