You have been told, over and over, that kitchens and bathrooms sell houses. And it’s true! You need to make the most of what you’ve got and keep it looking great.
So, when is the last time you looked up at your bathroom ceiling? Are you feeling brave? Get up right now, and go have a look. It’s o.k., this blog will still be here when you get back! How was it? There’s a pretty good chance that you’ll find peeling paint and mould growth. Moisture is the reason why – moisture and inaccessibility. Most of us aren’t tall enough to wipe the ceiling dry after a shower. And putting a coat of latex paint isn’t going to help your problem. So what are you to do?
Peeling bathroom ceiling paint is common. You need to begin by scraping. Try using a four inch wide putty knife for this job. Lift up any loose edges and get that old paint popping right off the ceiling. Be ruthless and eliminate everything that’s weak. And don’t worry about damaging the drywall because you’ll be filling the whole area later.
Once you’ve removed all the loose paint, sand the area to further refine the ceiling. You could tackle this job by hand, but an electric quarter-sheet finishing sander is an inexpensive power tool that does a much more thorough job. Put a piece of 120-grit sandpaper in the machine then go over all regions of the ceiling that include mould or area of damaged paint. Sanding removes roughness, though it will also highlight areas you thought were sound but actually need more scraping. Keep your putty knife handy!
Now you’re ready to fill the area. It may look like only a small ridge, but it’s more than paint can cover. Genuine drywall joint compound is the best stuff to use here, because it’s smooth and fine grained. Use your putty knife to apply a skim coat over the scraped areas, extending out several inches past the point where sound paint begins. Aim to apply slightly more depth of compound than necessary, then sand the area flush with the surrounding ceiling by hand. An abrasive sanding sponge is the ideal tool to use for this application.
Now you are almost ready for paint, but don’t get out the roller just yet. You much kill the remaining mould spores. If you don’t, the mould could (likely will) return sooner rather than later. You could use a solution of bleach and water for this task or search your local hardware store for a non-toxic product. Spritz it on and let it dry.
Take just two more steps to keep the mould from re-emerging. The first is coating the filled-and-killed surface with a stain-blocking primer. Look for one that is especially rated to hide mould stains. The second is to choose your paint wisely. Look for a mould resistant kitchen and bathroom paint. It will include compounds that prevent new mould from regrowing, even in the damp and challenging conditions so common on our bathroom ceilings.
So, it might not be a pretty job, but it is one that is well worth the effort, both now and when you decide it’s time to sell!
Tags: home staging, house, renovation, tax credit, tax rebate