Interior or exterior paint?

Richard · Mar 15, 2007

I've got an undergrade bathroom/utility room. Has a full bath with a BIG shower in it (3/4" pipes feeding shower, 3 body sprays & handheld...the shower has restrictor yanked out of it)

Room also has washer/dryer in it.

I remember reading here once about using exterior paint to help minimize any moisture issues. Wife thinks I'm nuts.

If she can find color "X" that she's happy with, is there any REAL benefit of using exterior paint indoors and if so, what is the benefit??

mjarrels · Mar 15, 2007

I think Eddie posted once that he uses exterior paint... hate to pay your hot water bill!

mark

Richard · Mar 15, 2007

I understand some of your concerns Mark. I've got a 100 gpm well and as measured at my pressure tank (if memory serves me) I was getting something like 33 gmp flow as measured at the pressure tank.

Wanted to put in a large shower downstairs and USE some of my excess water. It ballooned into buying $2,500 worth of faucets/mixers because of my 3/4" through-put criteria... then I realized if I've got a shower (also been called a car wash) capable of blowing out say, 15 gpm then my little 50 gal water heater might poop out before the person in the shower does

.

I not only moved my water heater but replaced it with an 80 gal unit. Now I won't concerned if someone now runs out of hot water. I take fast showers so that won't be ME running out. My sister in law can take a 30 minute STEAMING shower... if she runs out of hot water here she'll be in for a BIG suprise!!

Seems this bathroom/shower has cascaded into a bigger project. I had to rip out a lot of 1/2" copper pipes & replace them with 3/4". In my infiniate wisdome, I ended up cross soldering a cold pipe to a hot pipe, thereby rendering ZERO hot water to the downstream locations

and I had to replace/move water heater. I had some other issues but I forget what they are...besides... I don't want to admit to ALL of my stupidity!!

ultrarunner · Mar 15, 2007

Richard,

When I managed Rental Properties, I would only use Zinsser PermaWhite paint for bathrooms and any area where moisture could lead to mold... it eliminated a ton of problems for me.

It is tintable but be sure to follow the special tinting instructions on the can.

Here is a link to Zinsser: zinsser.com

EddieWalker · Mar 16, 2007

Zinsser is the VERY BEST paint I've come across. Unlike Kilz, it really works at covering up stains. I've never heard of it being a finsh paint, but as a primer, you can't find anything better.

I grew up working on rental properties and remodeling/rebuilding bathrooms all the time. A constant problem with rentals is the total disregard for water. The let it puddle on the floor and would never consider turning on the fan or opening a window after steaming it up.

I used just about ever brand of bathroom paint and mildew additives that there is. From Sherwin Williams, to Standar Brand, Behr, Kelly Moore, Sears and allot of others in those rentals without finding one that worked. Mold was always an issue.

Then when I started working on my own homes and doing jobs for clients, I got this idea to use exterior paint. I don't know what the difference is, except exterior paint is designed for wet weather and extreme conditions. I didn't think a bathroom would ever get as bad as it is outside, so I gave it a try.

In almost 20 years of doing this, I've never had mildew grow on exterior paint. I've used most brands with good results on all of them. My current home has it's bathrooms painted with Walmart exterior paint.

Eddie