Painting a bathroom or kitchen without damp or stains

Bathrooms and kitchens are the hardest-working rooms in the house. Steam, splashes, cooking fumes and grease put the paint under pressure every day, and they are cleaned more often than the living room. Ordinary wall paint does not hold out for long: you then see specks of mould in the corners, flaking above the shower or greasy edges behind the hob. In this article you will read how to paint these rooms so the result stays crisp and easy to keep clean.

1. Why these rooms are different

In a bathroom, humidity rises sharply after every shower. That moisture condenses on cold walls and ceilings, and where it cannot escape quickly, mould grows. In the kitchen, grease adds to this: cooking fumes leave a thin film on walls and cabinets, which new paint adheres to poorly. On top of that, both rooms are cleaned often, which quickly wears down a soft matt paint.

That is why painting in these rooms calls for a different system from the bedroom. It starts with the cause of the damp, then a thorough preparation and only then the choice of paint.

2. Ventilation first

Even the best paint will not last if the moisture has nowhere to go. So first check that the mechanical ventilation works properly and that the vent in the door or window can open. Leave the extractor fan running for a while after showering and open the window slightly if you can. In the kitchen, a cooker hood that vents outside helps.

Especially in smaller bathrooms without a window, which you sometimes come across in older homes in Wormerveer and the rest of the Zaanstreek, this is the foundation. How a painter goes about it in those homes can be read under interior painting in Wormerveer. A bathroom ceiling that often gets wet can also benefit from spray work with a suitable paint. More on that can be found on the page about spraying a ceiling.

3. The preparation

In damp and greasy rooms, preparation is half the job. Without good preparation, even the best paint will come loose again. A skilled painter does at least the following here:

• remove mould thoroughly with a special cleaner
• degrease walls and cabinets, especially behind the hob
• sand away loose paint and flakes down to a firm surface
• fill cracks and joints and apply a suitable primer

Only when the surface is clean, dry and sound does the first coat go on. What you can get ready yourself before the painter arrives can be read in the checklist for preparing painting work.

4. The right paint and sheen

For bathrooms and toilets there is special wall paint that is more resistant to moisture and mould. In the kitchen, a scrub-resistant paint in satin or a tough matt variant is practical, because you can easily wipe away splashes. The higher the sheen, the more washable, but also the more any unevenness shows.

Oranje Kwast works exclusively with premium brands such as Sigma, Sikkens and Wijzonol, and advises per room which product suits. Curious about the difference between the brands? Read Sikkens or Sigma.

5. Kitchen cabinets and tiles

Lacquering kitchen cabinets is a popular way to refresh a kitchen without replacing it. It does require precise work: thorough degreasing, light sanding, an adhesion primer and then a tough lacquer that can withstand daily use. Doors and drawers are often treated separately for a crisp result without runs.

Painting over tiles is possible with a special system, but in wet zones such as the shower area it is less durable than you might hope. Around a washbasin or as a splashback in a kitchen with little wear, it can be a nice interim solution. Not sure whether you can manage this yourself? Take a look at painting yourself or hiring a painter. Our painter is happy to take a look during a free advice session.

In practice this topic belongs with interior painting and commercial painting. There you can read about the approach and the options, or request a free, no-obligation quote straight away.

Further reading: Choosing a window frame colour, How do you compare quotes from painters?, What guarantee do you get on painting work?.

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