Waterproof Paint For Bathrooms? - The Expert Guide

Can You Get Waterproof Paint For Bathrooms?

The term 'waterproof' when it comes to paint generally refers to paints that are water repellent. These are exterior paints that are designed to withstand the rainfall that an exterior surface must endure, either for wood or masonry.

When it comes to interior paint, these paints are not waterproof. While a bathroom must endure high-moisture levels, this moisture comes in the form of condensation. For this reason, you simply require a paint that is has a level of moisture resistance that won't deteriorate and weaken due to the moisture.

Moisture resistant paints can come in a range of forms, from primers that are designed to be applied underneath paint to emulsions that have added ingredients that provide the protection against moisture. There are a number of potential options when it comes to paint for bathrooms.

Standard emulsions

Painting bathrooms walls & ceilings is done using water-based emulsion paints that are designed for interior use. While you can use any emulsion paint, it is better to use a paint that has more moisture resistance, especially if your bathroom is one that has poor ventilation.

The more sheen a paint has, the more light it reflects and the more durability it has.

High & medium sheen finishes such as gloss and satin are primarily used on woodwork and metal such as doors, radiators & skirting boards, while low and medium sheen finishes such as matt, eggshell, silk & soft sheen are used on interior walls & ceilings. The paint finishes that are available include:

• Matt - the 'flattest' finish of paint that is the most popular finish for interior walls & ceilings. It's low durability is the reason why it is used on walls & ceilings in low-traffic rooms.
• Eggshell - eggshell is perfect if you want a slightly higher sheen than matt and require the added durability that comes with more sheen. It is used on interior walls & ceilings as well as on wood & metal in oil-based form.
• Satin - a mid-sheen finish that is designed for use on woodwork & metal.
• Silk - a mid-sheen finish that is traditionally used on interior walls & ceilings.
• Soft Sheen - a mid-sheen finish with a subtle look compared to silk, for interior walls & ceilings.
• Gloss - the highest sheen of paint, most commonly used on woodwork & metal.

While any water-based paint can be used on interior walls & ceilings, the most common finishes used on these are matt, eggshell, silk & soft-sheen. The best emulsion paints to use in a bathroom would depend on the paint sheen you want. If you want a matt finish, a durable matt emulsion is better than a standard matt emulsion. These are often referred to as 'scrubbable'.

In the case of other sheens, you can use any paint you like as long as it is a water-based paint. Do not use an oil-based eggshell finish on interior walls & ceilings, these are best used on woodwork & metal.

Bathroom paint

Bathroom paints are emulsion paints that are specifically for use in bathrooms. These are what is known as 'retail paints' as opposed to 'trade paints', but what does this mean?

The leading paint manufacturers usually develop two versions of their paints, a retail version and a trade version. These are developed to suit the needs of a homeowner compared to a professional decorators. While a homeowner generally wants a cheaper emulsion, a trade decorator requires a higher quality paint. Trade paints are higher quality, have a higher durability and have a better coverage when compared to retail paint, as a professional decorator must achieve a high-quality finish as easily and as quickly as possible. If they have to apply three coats of paint rather than two, this can significantly increase labour costs.

While a trade paint may cost slightly more upfront, the added durability and coverage means that it can actually save you money as it will go further and last longer. If you see a paint that is named a bathroom paint, this is generally a sign that it is a retail paint. Anyone can use or buy a trade paint, with a growing number of homeowners today switching from cheaper retail paint to trade paints to get the higher quality that comes with it. Brands such as Dulux & Crown all have a trade brand, for example Dulux Trade, so you can still get the paint you want from a name you can trust!

Mould-inhibiting paint & primers

There are specialist paints & primers from brands such as Zinsser that are designed to provide added protection from mould growth. This is useful as mould thrives in high moisture areas such as bathroom or kitchens. You can either apply a mould-inhibiting primer before applying an emulsion paint, or buy a mould-inhibiting paint to use as an all-in-one solution.

The Best Moisture Resistant Paints For Bathrooms

Here our our experts selections for the best paints that are suitable for use in bathrooms.

1. Crown Trade Clean Extreme Matt

When it comes to a durable matt emulsion for bathrooms, we recommend Crown Trade Clean Extreme Scrubbable Matt. Not only is it 100% more stain resistant compared to conventional matt vinyl emulsion, but it also has a 10,000 scrub durability meaning that you can scrub bathrooms walls to remove any marks or dirt.

The acrylic polymer binder means that it is ideal for moisture-rich rooms such as bathrooms and the coverage of 14 square metres per litre means that it will go further than many other paints on the market.

Aside from its performance, Crown Trade Clean Extreme Scrubbable Matt can be mixed in almost any colour with the paint mixing service here at Painters World. This includes British Standard, NCS and RAL colours, plus equivalents of all other major manufacturers colours, including designer shades. All you have to do is tell us the name of the shade and we do the rest. We do not list of all of the colours we can mix on our colour charts, simply a range of popular shades. If you have a colour in mind just type in the name of the shade in the text box!

2. Armstead Trade Durable Acrylic Eggshell

An eggshell finish is a popular choice for those wanting a slight lustre to their walls, giving the bathroom a light & spacious feel. When it comes to an eggshell finish, we recommend Armstead Durable Acrylic Eggshell. Crucially, this is a water-based eggshell, meaning it is ideal for use on interior walls & ceilings. Do not confuse this with an oil-based eggshell, which is designed for use on interior woodwork & metal.

Armstead Durable Acrylic Eggshell has a fantastic coverage of up to 15 square metres per litre and offers superb durability. As an acrylic eggshell, it has the required moisture resistance to perform well in a bathroom and the ideal paint if you want to achieve an extremely tough, stain resistant finish.

Furthermore, being from Armstead, it offers excellent value for money for the trade quality you receive. Once again, it is available to be mixed in any colour you want with our paint mixing service, so you can get that perfect colour for you in a tough, eggshell finish.

3. Zinsser AllClean Scrubbable Interior Matt

Zinsser AllClean Matt is a highly durable, scrubbable, stain resistant, flat matt finish with flawless, even coverage.

AllClean produces a tough, scrubbable finish that withstands stains. It is moisture resistant as well as resisting dirt pickup, keeping the painted finish looking fresher for longer.

Being from Zinsser, it is specially designed to make your life as easy as possible. Zinsser specialise in developing decorating supplies that solve problems easily and effectively, with AllClean being no different. The streak free formulation helps to prevent condensation from marking bathroom walls, keeping them looking clean & pristine.

Once again it is available to be mixed with our paint mixing service by typing in the colour of your choice.

Alternative Options

There are a number of other options that you can use in your bathrooms, such as Suretherm Anti Condensation Paint, Zinsser Perma-White Matt & Crown Trade Mould Inhibiting Eggshell. These paints all contain various properties that are ideal for use in bathrooms. For example, Suretherm Anti Condensation Paint is perfect if your bathroom suffers from mould growth as it does not allow condensation to form on the wall.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Do I need to prime bathroom walls before painting?

If you are painting walls that have been previously painted, you do not need to use a primer. There are two situations in which you may decide to use a primer. Firstly, if you are painting a newly plastered wall you may need a priming layer to improve adhesion. The best way to do this is to apply a mist coat, which is a coat of you chosen paint diluted by 10%. This absorbs into the plaster and creates a better surface to be painted. The second situation is if the surface suffers from problems such as mould or efflorescence. If the surface has a problem like this, applying a primer to the affected area can help treat it and give you a suitable surface to paint. Primers such as Zinsser Coverstain, Zinsser BIN & Zinsser Bullseye 1-2-3 all have different qualities that can help treat a wall before painting. Zinsser Coverstain with bathrooms is particularly useful to stop stains from appearing, especially on white walls & ceilings.

Q. What do I need to do to apply paint?

You apply any of the paints in our guide like you would with any other water-based emulsion. The thing you must consider before painting that may be different to other rooms is if there is any mould. If there is mould present on the wall you need to remove this. You can get mould killing cleaners such as Zinsser Mould Killer & Remover which can simply be sprayed on to the wall and wiped off using a cloth to leave the wall ready to paint.

Q. What colour should I paint my bathroom?

The ability to get almost any colour you want with the paint mixing service here at Painters World means that you have complete freedom to achieve any look you want. Having said that, we do have a couple of favourite shades that are perfect transforming bathrooms.

Cushion Craze

Cushion Craze is a warm & welcoming shade that is perfect for use in bathrooms, which can often be cold looking. With a burnt orange & slightly pink tone, it can work in any decor, making it one of our favourites!

RAL 9005

Black isn't a shade you would usually opt for when it comes to bathrooms, but when used in the right scenario it can be beautiful. We love it when paired with pastel shades such as this baby pink, creating a unique look that can give a whole load of personality to a room. If you are worried about your bathroom looking dirty, black is an excellent choice as it can cover any dirt easily. If you have a slighter larger than average bathroom, why not give black a go?

Cavalry

Navy blue is a classic colour that is becoming hugely popular in the current modern decor, along with other rich shades such as dark green and burgandy. It is perfect if you want to achieve a modern look in your bathroom, that also creates a calm, relaxing feeling. We absolutely love it!

We hope this has answered any questions you may have had regarding paint for bathrooms. At Painters World we have a wide range of trade paint, decorating tools & supplies available, so no matter the job, we've got everything you need! Shop our huge range of products today & get FREE next working day delivery on all orders over £50.