How to Prepare & Paint a Bathroom

Room Preparation

• 1

  Vacuum walls, corners and the ceiling edge to remove dust and cobwebs.

• 2

  Check walls for any holes or cracks. Repair with spackle and a putty knife according to package directions. Allow the repairs to dry completely.

• 3

  Sand the areas smooth and wipe with a tack cloth to remove dust.

• 4

  Gently scrape all loose and flaking paint with a hooked scraper. The hook is especially useful in corners.

• 5

  Sand lightly and wipe with a tack cloth to remove dust.

• 6

  Prepare the walls by mixing cleaning agents together in a plastic pail and scrubbing all wall surfaces. The mixture works well to remove mildew and molds. Allow the room to dry completely.

• 7

  Tape off any wood trim around windows and doors. Remove electric outlet covers and switch plates.

• 8

  Tape off any surfaces that abut or touch the walls. This might include: ceilings; tilework; heaters; baseboards; vanity tops and sides; mirrors; tub or shower edges; water and drain pipes; and the toilet tank.

• 9

  Lay drop cloths over all fixtures---sinks, vanity, toilet, shower/tub and flooring. Tape plastic bags over the light fixtures.

Painting

• 10

  Stir the paint well and pour it into the painter's tray.

• 11

  Using the sash brush, begin painting around fixtures, door and window frames and anywhere too narrow for the paint roller to access.

• 12

  Let the paint dry, then repeat for complete coverage.

• 13

  Refill the painter's tray as needed and begin to paint the walls with the roller. Paint the walls by rolling in a "W" pattern, overlapping as you go. Spread the paint evenly.

• 14

  Let the paint dry completely, then repeat the previous step.

• 15

  Remove the painter's tape and touch up any small areas that were missed.

• 16

  Clean up any spatters with detergent and warm water.