Bathroom Remodeling: Preparing the Bathroom for Painting
There are a number of ways that you can bring about a change in a room in the home that is considered dull and drab. The bathroom is becoming a popular room when it comes to home improvement projects. Unfortunately, many are intimidated by making drastic changes in this particular room. This intimidation is mostly due to the fact that very few have the experience to install bathroom equipment – such as plumbing, fixtures, and similar items that are common to this room. If you are wanting to engage in a bathroom remodeling project, but are looking for something simple and inexpensive, you may consider painting the room. Adding a little bit of fresh color can really make a big difference. Here, I will provide you with steps on preparing the bathroom for painting.
1. The first thing that you should do when getting your bathroom ready for painting is to ensure that you take the time to get as much stuff out as you can. This includes any type of furniture, vanities, shelves, etc….Bathrooms are generally very small rooms and having anything in the way when you start painting can prove to be extremely troublesome. All you have to do is completely clear the room of all things that you are able to move, and you are ready to move on to the next step.
2. The next thing that you must do in order to prepare for your bathroom remodeling project is place masking tape around various areas in the room. You should place it around moldings that are designated in this area, windows, doors, sinks, bathtubs, showers, and any other area that has trimming that you do not want to be ruined. You should then place some drop cloths along the floor to ensure that if any paint drips the area is properly protected. Do not rush this aspect of preparation when it comes to painting your bathroom. If you do, you may find yourself with an expensive mess once the room is painted!
3. The next thing that you should do is cover any type of safety device that may be on the walls in the bathroom. This may be as simple as a fire detector or a carbon monoxide alarm. The best way to cover these is with a small plastic bag like the ones you get from the grocery store. You should then turn off any gas pilots and/or air conditioning that is in close proximity to the bathroom. This is more of a safety step than anything else. However, it is also a beneficial step in that it helps to prevent that widespread of dust, fumes, and other types of particles that may enter the air when the prep and painting occurs with this home improvement project.
4. Now, you are ready to eliminate paint that is currently on the walls in your bathroom. You will simply want to use a scrapper or a sander that will loosen up any paint that may be peeling or flaking from the bathroom walls. Many prefer to actually sand the walls and built in structures down so that they may have a bare, clean surface to work with when painting.
5. Now, you will want to examine the walls for cracks and holes – even small nail holes. Gather up some wall compound and a putty knife and make sure to fill in these areas. Try to make the putty as smooth as possible. Once it is dry, take your sander and grind it down to ensure that the mix is even with the walls.
6. Once this is done, you are now ready to clean the area. It is important to make sure that every surface that you will paint is completely clean. Dirt, grime, and any other substance that is lingering around on the surface of the walls in your bathroom may lead to the quality of your work being interrupted.
7. While the walls are drying, go to your fuse box and turn off the power to the bathroom. Once this has been done, you should remove wall outlet covers and lighting fixtures. Next, take your tape – the masking tape – and put it over these areas for extra protection. Next, look and see if there are any types of vents on the walls and/or ceilings. If there are, remove them.
Once you have completed all of the steps listed above, you are now prepared to start painting your bathroom!
Browse our bathroom remodeling articles:
Bathroom Cabinets
Bathroom Design
Bathroom Shower Remodel
Small Bathroom Remodeling