I'm getting ready to do a complete makeover in my bathroom, including replacing the old vanity and giving the walls a fresh coat of paint. The previous owner clearly didn't do a great job; the paint is peeling above the vanity and around the door moulding, revealing some bare drywall and the old grey paint underneath. It seems like they might have skimped on using primer and the right quality paint. What's the best way to prepare the surfaces before I repaint? Should I scrape and sand off all the loose paint and then apply a stain-blocking primer? I'd appreciate any tips or product suggestions!
2 Answers
For the vanity, I suggest using a quality water-based alkyd paint. It does take more time to cure, but it's super durable for cabinetry. Just make sure to give it more time to set before you start using it after the repaint!
It sounds like they skipped the primer, which is a bummer. I recommend scraping off as much of the loose paint as you can, definitely get down to the drywall where exposed. Once you've done that, sand the remaining paint edges to smooth everything out. If the surface still feels rough after that, a skim coat could help even things out. Then, make sure to prime with a solid stain-blocking primer, like Kilz, before you paint. Go with a gloss or semi-gloss finish since it's a bathroom—it'll hold up better against the humidity!
Yeah, I'm with you on the elbow grease! You're definitely looking at a good amount of work to get it prepped right.
Thanks for the tip! I clarified that I meant the area right above the vanity that needs attention. I'm also swapping out the old one for a new vanity with a quartz top since the current one has water damage and really isn't looking great.