General paint questions...

[The_Tick]

1. What type of paint would you use for a bathroom?
2. What type of paint would you use for a bedroom?

What is the best option for repainting a room that has semi-gloss paint? I need to clean the walls, and then probably run a primer coat?

What you you "experts" normally do when you repaint?

I am asking...because I have repainted two rooms that had semi-gloss paint before and I didn't properly prepare the walls. If you set something up against them for a day or two...the paint will come off, and this is a year later.

[Drunk Tank]

1. What type of paint would you use for a bathroom?
2. What type of paint would you use for a bedroom?

What is the best option for repainting a room that has semi-gloss paint? I need to clean the walls, and then probably run a primer coat?

What you you "experts" normally do when you repaint?

I am asking...because I have repainted two rooms that had semi-gloss paint before and I didn't properly prepare the walls. If you set something up against them for a day or two...the paint will come off, and this is a year later.

1. For a bathroom, I have always used eggshell or satin-enamel. I am not a fan of semi-gloss.

2. For bedrooms I use flat or eggshell. I have done stripes before alternating flat and eggshell, using the same color.

If you need to paint over semi-gloss, you need to use something like Jasco Liquid Sander to de-gloss and prep the surface for the new paint. It comes pre-mixed and you dont have to rinse it. Just let it dry and wipe down the wall with a clean cloth. If you dont need to de-gloss, then I'd use Jasco TSP Substitute. They are both very easy to use and work very well. They are a little pricey though.

[Sullyute]

1. What type of paint would you use for a bathroom?
2. What type of paint would you use for a bedroom?

What is the best option for repainting a room that has semi-gloss paint? I need to clean the walls, and then probably run a primer coat?

What you you "experts" normally do when you repaint?

I am asking...because I have repainted two rooms that had semi-gloss paint before and I didn't properly prepare the walls. If you set something up against them for a day or two...the paint will come off, and this is a year later.

My wife is the painter in the family. She used oil base for our bathroom and latex for everything else. She uses a quality primer/sealer like Kilz over everything then adds paint. You will want to fill any holes, dents, etc with spackle before you put on the primer. I will have to ask her for more details and get back to you...

[Solon]

My wife is the painter in the family. She used oil base for our bathroom and latex for everything else. She uses a quality primer/sealer like Kilz over everything then adds paint. You will want to fill any holes, dents, etc with spackle before you put on the primer. I will have to ask her for more details and get back to you...

The reason people sometimes prefer oil-based paints in the bathrooms is because latex can "bubble" up from water condensation - sometimes getting pretty big. It was a pretty good practical joke to ask a new guy to poke the ceiling bubble, then to see the thing pop and dump paint-tinged water all over him.

I don't think this is usually a problem in newer constructions (this building where I worked was from the 60s). I've seen plenty of latex-painted bathrooms in homes today without bubbles.

[creekster]

The reason people sometimes prefer oil-based paints in the bathrooms is because latex can "bubble" up from water condensation - sometimes getting pretty big. It was a pretty good practical joke to ask a new guy to poke the ceiling bubble, then to see the thing pop and dump paint-tinged water all over him.

I don't think this is usually a problem in newer constructions (this building where I worked was from the 60s). I've seen plenty of latex-painted bathrooms in homes today without bubbles.

Latex is not a problem for bathrooms. I have used it in ours for twenty plus years without a problem. My choice is facilitated by California's restrictions on buying oil based paints, however, but either way it works just fine (assuming the surface is prepped and there are no leaks or damp spots, etc.)

[Northwestcoug]

Latex is not a problem for bathrooms. I have used it in ours for twenty plus years without a problem. My choice is facilitated by California's restrictions on buying oil based paints, however, but either way it works just fine (assuming the surface is prepped and there are no leaks or damp spots, etc.)

This is usually true. However, let me stress that the existing wall needs to be sufficiently prepped before applying latex, something like DT suggests. I was a housepainter in my previous life, and I thought I could get away with latex in my Massachusetts bathroom. Other than sanding the walls, I didn't think too much about prepping them.

I had bubbles within 2 years. Humidity might have been a contributing factor, though. You might not need to worry so much if you live in an arid climate.

[grapevine]

Get a brick home you never have to paint the outside. I know a proffesional painter that painted inside of house with not a yellow color but light yellow color. No more dinosaurs in office part of home. I can't stand the smell of paint for a few days. Something I try to avoid myself.