[hagler]

Painted the bathroom about 6 months ago and ceiling paint above the shower stall is already peeling from the steam and condensation.
There is a bathroom exhaust fan a few feet away from the stall (and correctly sized for the area), but does not stop the problem.

We used standard ceiling paint - latex flat.

Any suggestions on a paint to use for the ceiling to combat moisture? I have to re-paint anyway, so I'm willing to start from scratch and do whatever it takes to eliminate/lessen the effects of the steam.

 

[Brushjockey]

What was in the ceiling previously? If it was a hard shiny paint, the flat ( which lets moisture easily pass through it) got wet and just let go.

Scrape off the loose paint and seal with Zinnser 123.
Do any skimming with joint compound any rough areas, sand and reprime.
Finish with 2 coats of a quality paint with some sheen, like an eggshell.

Should get it.

Good luck!

 

[hagler]

Thank you Brushjockey!
I can just scrape and skim coat the affected area above the stall and then only prime JUST that area - correct?
Or do I have to prime the entire ceiling in the bathroom to cover ALL of the flat paint currently on the ceiling?....I think the flat acts as a primer anyway.....so I wouldn't have to do this???

I usually spot prime like this:
-Prime the limited area
-1 coat of finish paint to ONLY the primed area (Eggshell white in this case)
-2 coats of finish paint over the entire wall/ceiling (Eggshell white)

 

[Brushjockey]

What you are doing with THAT primer, is
1) sealing down any damage
2) making a better vapor barrier
3) insuring that any repairs will not cause more moisture problems
Then fix and reprime
The idea is that you have stable repairs, and you then have even porosity through the entire ceiling.
If you paint eggshell on a partial prime partial flat it will show a very clear sheen difference.
BTW- Zin 123 is almost an eggshell type of finish itself- it is not flat.

There are many other primer choices- but you do need a quality primer/sealer.

Most baths are fairly small- unless you have an huge one just do the whole thing both times. Its like insurance.

 

[jagans]

I always use semigloss in the bathroom over primer as described. I think they make it with an algecide in it nowadays. By the way the other day I noted some small black spots starting to show on the ceiling. On a whim I sprayed them with Hydrogen Peroxide. Whamo, gone, and that was three weeks ago.

 

[hagler]

Thanks again! I will prime the entire ceiling - not a problem.
Eggshell, Pearl, Semi-Gloss??? Will a higher sheen (Semi-Gloss) give it more protection? or just having some sheen rather than flat is all that matters????

Thank you.

 

[jsheridan]

The higher the sheen the less steam penetration. But you have to balance that with personal taste. You have a ceiling fan but the steam still bounces off the ceiling just above the shower head, before it gets to the fan. I think the minimum sheen the paint cos would rec is a satin.
You could also get a bath paint, most of which are satin, but if you like a lower sheen BM Aura Bath and Spa is a matte finish but formulated for steamy environs.

All that said, as Brushjockey suggested, you could probably get away with an eggshell. But use a premium eggshell, as the lower grade eggshells don't have comparable enamel qualities. I have Regal Matte in my bath, which is small and I take steamy showers, and so far so good. Matte is below an eggshell.