Bubbling Paint in Bathroom

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networkn

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#275630 1-Sep-2020 16:10

So a couple of years back we had a professional repaint our ensuite.

A few months later bubbles began to form in one area slightly away from the shower, on the ceiling. It got worse and spread, until it popped.

We contacted the painter, who after a very long time, came back recently to repaint.

Paint is bubbling again in the same area and it's only been a couple of weeks since he did it.

We didn't see what he did to "fix" the original issue, but our concern is that perhaps both times he didn't prep the ceiling. This is our unqualified guess.

What other reasons could there be?

timmmay

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#2554935 1-Sep-2020 16:17

I guess poor preparation, incorrect paints being used, or water coming down from above. Probably need to be fully stripped, left to fully dry, primed with oil based primer, and two or more coats of paint. With time to dry out (couple days at least I guess), oil paint drying time, paint drying time, it's probably a week elapsed or more.

mdf

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#2554938 1-Sep-2020 16:20

Lack of proper preparation is the most likely candidate - either not cleaning the substrate properly or not using the necessary undercoats etc.

Other reasons could be:

- wrong type of paint for a bathroom - seems unlikely if it was a professional, but...

- not giving the homeowner the right instructions - you're not supposed to shower in a bathroom for at least a couple of days for some (most?) products.

- a leak behind/above the bubbling. Every kind of paint will bubble if there is a water source behind it.

- painting over existing bubbles doesn't make them go away.

freitasm

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#2554980 1-Sep-2020 16:52

Yes, we had the same. A major pain after spending so much on the bathroom renovation.

timmmay:

I guess poor preparation, incorrect paints being used, or water coming down from above. Probably need to be fully stripped, left to fully dry, primed with oil based primer, and two or more coats of paint. With time to dry out (couple days at least I guess), oil paint drying time, paint drying time, it's probably a week elapsed or more.

I went up in the roof cavity and there was nothing in terms of water or leaks on the new ceiling above the bathroom. It's all down to the steam from shower really. We ended up placing a shower dome and that reduced the amount of steam a lot - still have some bubbles if someone has a long shower but nothing if it's just a normal shower now. But yes, we will have to get the ceiling done all over again.

These links are referral codes

timmmay

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#2554982 1-Sep-2020 16:57

When we had the bathroom redone we stripped and redid, including ceiling. Ceiling was done using oil based primer. We put in a really good quality fan over the shower, two speed, and use it most of the time we shower and it's always on for a while after. I think the good prep, good paint, and good fan combine to make our new (8 years old now) bathroom pretty good. Haven't had any problems with paint bubbling.

networkn

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#2555435 2-Sep-2020 09:35

Hmm, I suspect it's lack of prep. He was only there for about half a day, so if what you are saying is correct and it needs all those steps, then no chance he had time to do it.

I am not confident if he comes back he will resolve it 'properly' but the alternative is to write off what we already paid him for the original job and pay someone else to do it, which is slightly unpalatable on principal. I don't think he would give a refund and to top it off there is a extended family link (though he does come highly recommended by more than one source).

Bung

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#2555446 2-Sep-2020 09:50

What is above that ceiling and was the bubble full of water when it popped? Can you access the other side? Even if preparation could be the issue I'd want to be sure that there wasn't a roof leak or weeping plumbing joint up there.

Eva888

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#2555447 2-Sep-2020 09:50

Friends installed a laminated ceiling in white low sheen. Only needs a wipe now and then.

networkn

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#2555450 2-Sep-2020 09:53

Bung: What is above that ceiling and was the bubble full of water when it popped? Can you access the other side? Even if preparation could be the issue I'd want to be sure that there wasn't a roof leak or weeping plumbing joint up there.

We have a roof cavity above it. I'll see if I can get up there this weekend, but I am pretty confident it's not moisture up there.