Flat Paint in a Bathroom?

[Rob]

I bought medium-dark blue semi-gloss paint for a bathroom in my house, but due primarily to the old plaster's uneven nature, the darker color with a semi-gloss paint does not look great. You can see all of the imperfections in the plaster with the gloss in the paint.

I bought semi-gloss because I always thought bathrooms needed a semi-gloss for cleaning and due to the moisture. This bathroom has a window but no fan ventilation so I thought a semi gloss was definitely needed.

Is this the case, or can I get a flat paint instead for this bathroom even though the wall will get some dampness regularly?

[RicodJour]

It can be done. Look into scrubbable paints and maybe go with an exterior paint.

R

[RicodJour]

It can be done. Look into scrubbable paints and maybe go with an exterior paint.

R

[Doug Miller]

I wouldn't do it. Flat paint plus moisture equals breeding ground for mildew.

[RicodJour]

It can be done. Look into scrubbable paints and maybe go with an exterior paint.

R

[Levon]

why not put some mud on the ugly spots... i tell ya, if you can frost a cake you can smooth them spots over there is not right or wrong, i'd make 2-3 passes with drywall compound (it's bound to look better)

just say you used the paint to see the problem areas... now you know where to put the mud...sand and paint... watchit look like the rest of it...

[m Ransley]

Dont go flat, dark colors burnish when rubbed or bumped, it will have higher gloss areas anywhere bumped even lightly. Fix your walls or go a light color flat or make an even texture.

[Edwin Pawlowski]

Talk to the guy at the paint store. He may be able to add some mildewcide or something to help you. A real paint store, not the big box discounters.

[Joseph Meehan]

The real fix it to fix the wall. That aside I would use flat.

Yes I did see that comment about mold, but I don't believe it to be "exactly" true. Bath paints (and it is a good idea to use paint made for bath use) contain products to reduce the mold problem. Few "bath" paints come in flat. You can add the anti-mold materials to a flat paint.

[RicodJour]

It can be done. Look into scrubbable paints and maybe go with an exterior paint.

R

[RicodJour]

It can be done. Look into scrubbable paints and maybe go with an exterior paint.

R

[RicodJour]

It can be done. Look into scrubbable paints and maybe go with an exterior paint.

R

[Phisherman]

It is better to use a Kitchen/Bath paint which has some gloss to it. There are big differences in quality between brands, but generally it doesn't matter much if you plan to repaint again in 5 years.

[newsreader]

I just finished painting my downstairs powder room about an hour ago. I also used a medium blue, and i think it looks great.

I did do some minor patching & some sanding.

I then painted with my most favorite type of paint, Pittsburg Paints Manor Hall in an Eggshell finish. Have used this stuff for years in several homes. It's quite scrubbable if you soil it. It has just a bit off gloss, but not like semigloss. Put it on with a good quality 3/8 roller. Be sure to prime any patched areas first.

It's all dry now. The few drywall joint ridges I did not re-work are now less noticable than they were with a semigloss off-white.

[lwhaley22000]

Never use a flat paint in a bathroom, period. Even if you add a fungicide, it will just not be durable enough or water resistant enough for that use. I agree with the other guy that you should smooth out the wall if appearance is an issue for you.

I am a big fan of high-gloss paint, appearance aside. It dries hard, fast, and is super durable and waterproof. I even prefer an oil-based paint where wetness is expected. I know latex is what everone uses but if you try the oil based finish you will be surprised at the difference in the finish compared to any latex.

Just think about it, an oil has got to be more resistant to moisture and abrasion than a latex. I even used and oil based high-gloss in a shower stall with excellent results!!! Use semi-gloss where appearance is an issue, but never use flat latex in a bathroom unless you don't mind doing it over in a year or two.

[Red Neckerson]

Probably won't have much problem with it. Not sure it would work in a bathroom that has a shower (steaming up the walls all the time)....

[David Combs]

And, don't they say that oil and water don't mix? :-)