Primers
I used to be indifferent to primers and usually bought the cheapest one available, figuring that it was going to be covered by paint anyway. But primers can make a lot of difference in the quality of the final finish, and the difference in price between the cheap ones and the expensive ones is minimal, especially when a good primer can sometimes save you an extra coat of paint. For woodwork, I don't know of a better primer than Benjamin Moore's Underbody. Available in both an alkyd and a latex formula, this primer has a lot of body for smoothing out imperfections, and it's sandable.
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I use B-I-N, a fast-drying shellac-based primer, for spot-priming knots and stains or for priming end grain in the field. B-I-N also makes a water-based primer that I've used in both interior and exterior applications and that is good at hiding stains. While PVA (polyvinyl acetate) primers for drywall are cheap and easy to put on, they don't do anything to stop vapor transmission. For plaster or drywall in the bathroom, it makes sense to pay a bit more for a primer that is specifically intended to inhibit vapor transmission, like Benjamin Moore's Alkyd PrimeSeal. There are also primers intended specifically for use under wall coverings. Paints I've worked on a lot of old houses, so I've come to appreciate the ability of a flat latex paint to hide flaws in the walls and to go on quickly and easily. But if you've ever lived in a household with small children, you know how hard it can be to keep painted walls clean especially bathroom walls.
So I've also come to appreciate semi-gloss enamels for their durability and cleanability. The glossiness of a paint is determined by the ratio of resin to pigment, so flat paints with proportionally more pigment are better at hiding bumps and patches, while glossy paints with more resin have a harder surface that gives up fingerprints and crayon marks more readily. If you don't like the wet, shiny look of a high-gloss paint but still want a cleanable surface, paint manufacturers offer a range of sheens with names like semi-gloss, satin, and egg-shell that are washable and yet non-reflective. In general, alkyd (or oil-based) enamels are more durable and abrasion resistant than latex enamels. I've always preferred alkyd enamels for trimwork because of the smooth, hard surface that they leave, as well as their ability to hide brushmarks. But latex enamels are easier to work with because they dry more quickly, they don't have an overpowering smell, and they clean up with soap and water. An important factor to consider when choosing a paint for the bathroom is its permeability, or the degree to which water vapor can pass through the paint membrane.
Both alkyd enamels and latex enamels are vapor resistant to a varying degree, depending on the particular paint, but in general, alkyd enamels are better vapor retarders. Some paints and primers are even sold as vapor retarders and used to add another protective barrier against water vapor. Wall coverings While the unrelieved flat surface of drywall can be boring, especially in a large room, it isn't as much of an issue in a bathroom, and it's perfect for applying wallpaper. Unfortunately, wallpaper isn't always perfect for a bathroom, especially those with high moisture levels that aren't controlled adequately by mechanical ventilation. The moisture will attack the seams and eventually loosen the paper, a condition that I've found in many otherwise very nice bathrooms. The best wall coverings for a bathroom are of fabric-backed vinyl, installed over walls prepared with an oil-based primer. The vinyl will help prevent moisture from penetrating to the backing, and the oil-based primer will help prevent moisture from penetrating to the paper covering of the drywall. In a powder room or half-bath, of course, a broader range of wall coverings is suitable because moisture isn't an issue.
Bathroom Tips - Primers, Paints, and Wall Coverings
Mirna Khoury is co-owner of Bathroom Paint, an online resource that covers all aspects of bathroom designs and bathroom design ideas and bathroom furniture. Visitors to Bathroom Paint will be met with invaluable do it yourself guides and historic information with tips about the most cost effective ways of decorating a bathroom.
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