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Walls in my bathroom....

NakedFinger

Brilliant_Rock
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Jan 8, 2009
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690
I need some help from knowledgeable PS'ers.

We just remodeled our master bathroom. I hate tiles on the walls in the entire bathroom, the only portion on the wall that is tiled is the area where the shower is. The rest is just painted, with beautiful crown molding and base molding. I did this to my bathroom in my old house, and never had problems. However in this new bathroom, I have streaks down the walls, which is obviously from steam forming from the shower and running down the walls. We have a fan in there, and even tried leaving the windows open, but they still happen. Any ideas why this would be happening? Is it the paint we used? Are there certain types of paint that do this or that shouldnt be used for a bathroom? I tried rubbing it and it doesnt go away, and I am afraid of scrubbing and ruining the paint. And solutions to make it go away?

I tried to get as close as I could and took a pic with my camera phone to try and give a visual.

dripsonwall.jpeg
 

joflier

Ideal_Rock
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Oct 2, 2007
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Aw, that''s too bad!! I wonder....Is your fan working properly, and is it properly vented through the roof? And are you totally sure there''s not water leaking from anywhere?
 

laine

Brilliant_Rock
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Feb 21, 2006
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We have the same problem in our bathroom. Is yours flat or semi-gloss paint? Ours is flat paint, and I figured that was the cause of the problem--the dripping water sort of soaks into the paint.
 

NakedFinger

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Jan 8, 2009
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Thanks ladies!

Jolifer- The fan is installed properly. My FI is an electrical contractor so I know he did it right
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I don''t think its a leak because its happening the entire perimeter of the room, not one specific location.

Laine- Hmmmmm yes it is flat paint actually. I wonder if that''s it?? Were you able to get the streaks off by using anything? Or did you just repaint?
 

vc10um

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Aug 22, 2009
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I think you're suppose to use at least a satin finish for bathrooms and kitchen for this very reason, NF.

I would just take your paint chip, get a gallon of the same color in a satin, or, more preferably, a semi-gloss, and repaint.

ETA: They also make bathroom-specific paint, and I think it comes in various finishes if satin or semi-gloss isn't your thing.
 

lyra

Ideal_Rock
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Jul 13, 2007
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I agree, you should be going with a bathroom or kitchen/bathroom specific paint. We don''t use semi-gloss, just eggshell finish, and always bathroom specific. Are you sure the fan is the right capacity for the room? It''s very odd that opening the window does not clear the condensation. Maybe it''s an insulation issue somewhere in your house. We did recently find a problem in our main bath--the vent fan was venting straight into the attic instead of outside because the connection had come apart. We fixed that and replaced the fan and the humidity stopped being an issue in there. I would consult a paint specialist first if you''re 100% sure it''s not the fan.
 

laine

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Feb 21, 2006
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696
We haven''t repainted yet, so I''m just ignoring the problem. I bet that a kitchen and bathroom semigloss paint (maybe eggshell, but I''ve always used semi-gloss) will fix the problem!
 

Mara

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i was going to say the flat paint too. i had that happen in a previous house. now for bathrooms we at least use eggshell if not semi.
 

Hudson_Hawk

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You also might want to consider not taking as long or as hot of showers, we''re just washing our bodies after all, not boiling lobsters. Also, in addition to the PP''s comments about the paint finish, try putting the fan on before you turn on the water to get the air moving before the air heats up.
 

sunnyd

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You can''t use flat paint anywhere water might accumulate. You''ll have to repaint using at least an eggshell.
 

NakedFinger

Brilliant_Rock
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Jan 8, 2009
Messages
690
Very informative ladies! Thank you so much.

Wait till my FI hears he has more painting to do.
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Its a good thing he loves me!
 

joflier

Ideal_Rock
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Oct 2, 2007
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Geez - I wish we would have had this thread a week ago! lol - I just painted my new bathroom. With flat paint.
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Sigh. Oh well, I guess! I really don''t feel like repainting, so we''ll see what happens.
 

PumpkinPie

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Jan 17, 2010
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it`s the flat finish paint for sure - eggshell at least is recommended for bathrooms!
 

Prana

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were the walls ever wallpapered? I have this problem in my bathroom too (semi-gloss paint, fan works great, happens with windows and doors open). I think it is due to a wallpaper glue residue (perhaps?). Every once in a while, we actually get like a brownish drip mark on the wall (wipes off easily) that is old wallpaper glue! Just a thought.
 

Haven

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Feb 15, 2007
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13,166
I just wanted to pop in to share that every time I see the title of this thread I immediately start singing "clouds in my coffee, clouds in my coffee aaaaaaaand . . . "

I don''t know why. "Walls in my bathroom, walls in my bathroom"--it sounds similar.

I''m so vain, I know.
 

CNOS128

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Jan 28, 2008
Messages
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Date: 5/14/2010 10:18:36 AM
Author: Haven
I''m so vain, I know.
I bet you think this thread is about you, Haven!
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NF - we have a brand-new, fully functioning exhaust fan in our bathroom - but one of us likes to take really long, hot showers, so we also have a box fan that we run for ten minutes after a shower to help the drying process. And the door to bathroom stays open during showers, too.
And we re-painted with semi-gloss paint.
 

partgypsy

Ideal_Rock
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I would say there are 2 things going on, the 3rd being poor venilation, but it sounds like you have an exhaust fan. Just remember to turn it on before you step in the shower, and run it until mirror clears up (no more condensation forming). Regardless of what you do, don''t want to have that much condensation in your bathroom. 2nd thing is yes, wouldn''t recommend flat for bathrooms, usually the shinier the better. Also there is something you can add to your paint at the time it is being mixed that is an antimildew protector. It doesn''t cost much more so we did it for the paint in both our bathrooms.
 

partgypsy

Ideal_Rock
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Oops and I was going to say first thing, that maybe due to remodel have a shower kit that emits more steam, or maybe because of remodel much more fun to take long showers!
 

partgypsy

Ideal_Rock
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Oh, if you''ve repainted with semigloss, then there is something else going on. Maybe what that person said, about wallpaper glue or something. Curious.
 

Steel

Ideal_Rock
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Jul 8, 2006
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4,884
I don''t doubt that your FI is confident about the electrical side of the fan but can I ask about the type of fan? Is it vented through an external wall or is it a recirculation fan? If it is the latter then that may be your particular problem.

P.S. how handy to have a sparky in the house; I bet you have lots of fancy electric gizmos...I''m jealous.
 
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