How to paint a bathroom door (damp and steam)

A bathroom door takes paint well if the wood is dry, the end grain is sealed and you use a washable paint made for damp areas. Damp and steam are the biggest problem, so ventilation is as important as the paint.

First, see what condition the door is in

Bathroom doors suffer from hot showers, especially without a window. The wood absorbs steam, swells and ruins the paint from the bottom up.

If the wood is soft or rotten at the bottom, painting is not enough. It needs repair or replacement. If there is mould, treat it before painting and work out where the damp is coming from.

Drying and cleaning

Open the window, switch on the extractor fan, if there is one, and let the door dry well. If you can, take it off its hinges and leave it somewhere dry for a few days. Painting over damp wood causes blisters.

Wash with water and detergent. For mould, use a product made for it and follow the label, with gloves and ventilation. Rinse and leave to dry again.

Tip: If you do not ventilate the bathroom after a shower, no paint will solve the problem. Open the window or use the extractor fan for a while after every bath or shower.

Sanding, sealing and priming

Sand the door to remove the shine and scrape off loose paint. Fill holes with filler and sand. Remove the dust.

The weakest point of a door is the bottom and the top edge, because that is where water gets in. If you take the door off, also paint the bottom and top edges, and give them more coats than the rest. It is a part nobody sees and it makes a big difference.

Apply an adhesion primer and, if there are signs of old mould, choose a primer with anti-mould action. Respect the stated drying time.

Choosing the paint and painting

Choose a washable enamel, marked for damp areas or bathrooms. Satin and gloss finishes are easier to clean than matt. Water-based products are simpler to apply and have less smell, which helps in a small room.

  1. Paint horizontally, if possible, to avoid drips.
  2. Start with the recesses and the edges and then the flat parts.
  3. Give two thin coats, sanding lightly between them.
  4. Paint the end grain and the edges carefully.
  5. Leave the door open and the room ventilated until the paint hardens.

After painting

Avoid long, hot showers for the first few days, until the paint hardens. Steam can soften the paint and stick the door to the frame.

Afterwards, keep up the habit of ventilating. Clean the door with a soft cloth and mild detergent. If you see small flaws in the paint, touch them up straight away, before water gets into the wood.

If the bathroom is very damp and the wooden door always suffers, you could consider a door that is more resistant to moisture. For that, ask a professional for advice.

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