Paint Peeling Off Under the Bathtub Pipes

Check for Mildew and Leaks

• To best solve peeling paint problems, you must properly identify the source. In most cases, peeling paint indicates and excessive amount of moisture. Check the pipes for leaks and look at the walls where the paint is peeling for evidence of mildew, which also occurs in moist areas. If a plumbing issue is suspected, contact a few, well-respected local plumbers for estimates. Fixing the moisture problem will help paint better adhere to the area surrounding the bathtub pipes. Even if no leak is suspected, improving the ventilation in the room will help reduce moisture. Following showers, open windows or run the exhaust fan until the walls feel dry to the touch.

Removing Peeled Paint

• The best way to solve peeling paint issues is to strip off the failing paint and repaint the area. A paint scraping tool can be used to help remove the peeling and damaged paint. Use a medium-grit sandpaper to sand down the area surrounding the peeling paint to create a smooth, flush finish. Check around the bathroom for other areas of peeling.

Preparing the Bathroom

• Increase your likelihood of getting a good bond with a new coat of bathroom paint by using the proper painting techniques. Using a high-quality primer helps create a clean surface for the new paint. Use a kitchen and bathroom primer that is well-suited to areas that have a higher-level of moisture than other areas of the home. Primer also helps you make cosmetic changes, covering up the previous paint color, allowing you to change colors without bleed through. Allow the primer to dry completely before beginning to paint.

Painting the Bathroom

• Choosing a high-quality bathroom paint helps increase the likelihood for the paint to properly adhere to the walls. Like primer, kitchen and bathroom paints are created with the ability to work in high-moisture areas. Apply paint over the primer, once it has dried completely. Cut in the perimeter of the room, around fixtures and around plumbing using a tapered paint brush. Use a low-nap paint roller to paint larger areas. Allow the paint to dry completely before applying a second coat.

Latex vs. Oil

• Bathroom paint comes in both latex and oil varieties. Both types of paint work well and choosing the correct type comes down to personal preference. Just be sure to use primer and paint with the same base. For example, always use latex primer with latex paint. Applying an oil paint over latex primer can cause paint to bubble or peel.