The Paint Keeps Peeling in My Bathroom

Causes

• One factor of peeling paint is its age, as even a quality paint job will peel over time. Another likely potential factor is poor quality paint. Because the bathroom is humid, however, the most likely cause of peeling paint is that the paint was applied while the walls were slightly damp. When paint is applied over dampness, it does not adhere correctly and can peel sooner than it should.

Short-Term Fixes

• Before you undertake a major repainting project, you can take smaller steps to try to address the peeling paint problem. These steps will not fix the problem per se, but will prevent it from worsening before you have time to fix the issue correctly. Place a dehumidifier in the bathroom to remove excess humidity caused by baths and showers and leave the bathroom door open, if possible, when using the shower. If the bathroom has a window, keep it open on windy days to help keep the room dry.

Risks

• While you may see the bathroom's peeling paint as the biggest issue, there could be a more serious underlying risk. If the bathroom had moisture on its walls before they were painted, and if moisture and humidity build up quickly in the room because it doesn't have a window, the room could contain mildew and mold. The growth of mildew and mold can have negative effects on anyone's health, but especially members of the family who may have allergies.

Refinishing

• To completely fix the peeling paint problem, strip all the paint off the walls of the bathroom with a paint stripper or sander. You may uncover mold beneath the surface of the top layer of paint through this process. Allow the room to dry for several days; if you have a second bathroom in your home, take showers in it. Run a dehumidifier in the bathroom to ensure no residual moisture remains, and then paint the room with a high quality paint.