Painting your own bathroom

If you’re working with us, you may have expressed an interest in doing your own painting.

If so — great.

That’s a sensible way to Keeping Costs Down in a Sensible Way.

But…

This is one of those areas where timing & execution matters just as much as effort.

Get it right, and it’s easy.

Get it wrong, and you’ll make the job far harder than it needs to be.

When to paint

If you’re taking on the painting, the key is to do it at the right point in the install — not just when it suits you.

It’s a lot easier to paint a bathroom when it’s semi empty like this…

(even if the floors been tiled at this point – which would need covering to prevent splatters)..

Than to wait until we’re completely ‘out of the way’ and then doing it all afterwards…

Because you’d have to paint around all the items installed on the walls and in the ceiling:

• Electrical elements such as mirrors, shaver sockets, spotlights, fans
• Suite items such as basin units, toilets, radiators (!) etc.
• Accessories such as toilet roll holders, shelves etc.

And instead of a quick, clean job… you’re balancing over baths, cutting in around fittings, and trying not to splash paint over brand new items.

The reality

Saving money on labour is smart.

But if that means:

• painting late in the evening
• dragging it over multiple nights
• working around everything

… you will be trading cost savings for time..

….so don’t make things more difficult than they need to be…

If I were you, I’d rather roller this wall in 5 minutes….

…rather than trying to paint through this radiator with a tiny brush trying not to blather each rung with paint!

Your role vs ours

If you are doing the painting & decorating you will also be responsible for:

• Filling & sanding any woodwork prior to painting
• Caulking gaps between skirting boards / upstands / tile trims & walls prior to painting
• Sealing fresh plaster before painting
• Protecting wall / floor finishes from splatters
• Determining suitability of paint & ensuring correct procedure followed…(my recommended process & products are listed below with links to buy what you need)

Other considerations

You can only paint once the plaster is dry

This is non-negotiable.

Paint too early and you’re not finishing the wall — you’re sealing moisture inside it.

That’s when you get:

• Peeling paint
• Patchy finishes
• Mould issues later on

Drying times (real-world guide)

As a rough rule:

• Bonding + skim + cold/damp conditions → ~5 days
• Light skim + warm/dry conditions → ~2 days

It depends on:

• depth of plaster
• temperature
• airflow

Recommended painting procedure (what to actually do)

Step 1: Check the plaster is dry

Before anything goes on the wall:

• Colour should be consistently light (pink → pale)
• No dark patches
• Room should feel dry, not humid

If in doubt — wait another day.

Painting too early is one of the most common causes of failure.

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Step 2: Apply a mist coat (or sealer)

You’ve got two good options here:

Option A — Traditional mist coat (budget-friendly)

• Use standard white emulsion
• Thin it down with ~20–30% water
• Apply evenly across all new plaster

This allows the paint to soak in and bond properly rather than sitting on the surface.

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Option B — Professional sealer (recommended)

• Use a product like **Zinsser Gardz**(you can buy through this Amazon link above at no additional cost to yourself)

This:

• Seals porous plaster properly
• Prevents patchiness
• Creates a stable surface for top coats

👉 This is what we’d typically recommend for a more consistent, long-term finish.

⚠️ If you miss this step paint will likely peel off over time and this is how you will have to repair it.

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Step 3: Light sand (if needed)

Once your base coat is dry:

• Lightly sand any rough areas or nibs
• Don’t go aggressive — just smooth it out

Wipe down dust before moving on.

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Step 4: Apply bathroom paint (top coats)

Use a proper bathroom-specific paint (anti-mould / moisture resistant).

This is what I would recommend if you want to give yourself the best shot at only doing it once:

(you can buy through this Amazon link above at no additional cost to yourself)

Apply:

• 2 full coats minimum
• Allow proper drying time between coats

This gives:

• Even coverage
• Proper moisture resistance
• A finish that actually lasts

Common mistakes to avoid

• ❌ Painting onto damp plaster
• ❌ Skipping the mist coat / sealer
• ❌ Using cheap standard emulsion in a high-moisture room
• ❌ Rushing coats without drying time

The takeaway

If you’re doing your own painting:

• Do it during the job, not after
• Wait until plaster is properly dry
• Take advantage of the room being empty
• Use the products and procedure I recommend above:

Sealer

Paint

Painting kit (below)

That way you actually get the benefit of doing it yourself (properly)- without turning it into a harder, slower, more frustrating job.

Happy painting!

Chris