What can I do to eliminate the paint color dripping down the wall with moisture after a shower..we use a fan..

used latex paint to paint the bathroom. burgandy on top part and yellow on lower half. After a shower there is condensation on the walls and at times the color of pain drips off. how can I correct this?What can I do to eliminate the paint color dripping down the wall with moisture after a shower..we use a fan..
hi princess...





your problem is not necessarily caused by using a cheap paint...nor is it caused by your using a latex paint - the reason your paint has color dripping down the wall after a shower is due to the overload of pigment (colorant) used to make the burgundy. the phenomena you have described is called ';color leaching'; and is fairly common when high levels of universal colorants are used in mixing latex or oil based paints to achieve mid-tone to deep to accent colors. the problem is the result of too much colorant that is unable to be bound by the resin of the finish paint...since these colorants are water soluble, steam/condensation re-wets them and, in extreme cases, can actually cause the color to run down the wall (as you've already seen)...





there are a couple of things you can do...unfortunately, you're gonna have to recoat what you've got on there. if you decide to repaint, stay with a latex paint high in acrylic content - this is most often times a manufacturers best or premium line of interior products. there are high acrylic content paints designed for use in kitchen and baths that'd be perfect here, but i doubt if you'll be able to find the deep colors in these products (from a compositional perspective, the only thing that makes kitchen and bath products different than regular interior wall paints is the fact that they have the full legal limit of mildewcides added to the product). so, speaking of mildew, NEVER NEVER NEVER USE AN OIL BASED PAINT IN BATHROOMS WHERE MOISTURE IS PRESENT - IF SOMEBODY TELLS YOU OTHERWISE, IGNORE THEM.





if you want to stay with the same color, you may want to use a higher gloss product such as a full semi-gloss or even a high gloss paint (a higher sheen product may help minimize the color leaching by may not necessarily eliminate it completely...i'll get to that in a sec).





or, if you want to stay with the same color you may want to let the room dry out and apply 1 or 2 coats of a water-based polyurethane varnish over the existing paint. this will serve to bind in all exposed colorant and stop the leaching. if you go this route, be aware that even water based varnishes may have a very slight amber hue to them and may affect the color of the paint it's being applied to. with water based varnishes, you probably won't even realize any discoloration on the burgundy or the yellow - if it was going over white or a very light pastel, it may be more noticeable. do not use water sealers such as thompsons water seal or any of the dozens of other similar products on the market - they will not accomplish what you want and they will be very difficult to repaint in the future.





now, having said all that - you really need to address the moisture problem in your bathroom. you said you use a fan, but is it an exhaust fan? ...and if so, is the exhaust vented out of the room to the outside, or is it just moving the air within the bathroom? ...is the fan the right size for the size of your room? do you run the fan during showers and for several minutes after the shower is over? paint cannot correct moisture problems - it is necessary to re-route this moisture before it has an opportunity to condense on the walls...over time, this moisture will cause problems with (a) peeling paint (b) mold and mildew (c) deterioration of drywall or plaster (d)warped doors, vanities, and baseboard etc.





i hope this info is helpful to you - you're problem is not really that uncommon and it can be resolved. stop by an independent paint store for more surface prep and product information (stay away from the big boxes - they may have the products but generally not the expertise to walk you through a problem)...good luck





ricWhat can I do to eliminate the paint color dripping down the wall with moisture after a shower..we use a fan..
Go to hardware stores and buy the paint that's designed for bathrooms and repaint. They shouldn't be affected by moisture in the air.
You're definetly going to have to repaint with something waterproof. Latex paints are not designed for areas of the home that has high moisture content, bath, kitchen, laundry, etc. Better to spend a little more up front and be happy with the results. Paint is one area I won't try to cut corners or save money because you do usually get what you pay for. I would advise using Behr, S/W, or even Kilz colors. I'll bet the burgandy and yellow make for an interesting color when mixed? Hey...no use crying over ';dripped paint.'; At least it's fixable!
You used a poor quality paint. The easiest fix for this would be to coat your walls with a clear waterproof sealer. Or you can re-paint with a better quality paint. Be sure to read the label.
its not always the finish that is the issue. what most likely is your problem is that you used a water based paint. You have to use an oil based paint in bathrooms or you will have paint everywhere. I suggest that you pick out a new paint in what ever finish you like, semi-gloss, flat or even high gloss, but make sure its oil based paint.
definitely use a better paint...go with a semi-gloss...latex is rubber type of paint,if there was an oil base ont the walls and you tried to paint over with a latex,you have a problem...b4 you do anything else, paint the everything with kilz primer,2 coats then pick a color you like...get behr brand interior latex in a semi gloss finish...latex is fine in bathrooms,ive painted hundreds of kitchens and baths...a semi gloss is cleanable and water wont hurt it,you probably had a cheap brand of paint or didnt wait long enough for it to dry,or the paint was bad,i would suggest getting your paint from a store that sells alot of paint...like home depot...