Painting - Mildew (and other?) stains on bathroom ceiling

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TonyN
12-13-05, 08:28 PM
Hello all...

We are just starting the process of doing our upstairs bathroom. The ceiling looks 'bad' to say the least, and we want to paint it right to save us having to do it again. Please refer to these pictures, and these descriptions:

http://members.shaw.ca/tony.norman/images/DSC01321.JPG

http://members.shaw.ca/tony.norman/images/DSC01322.JPG

http://members.shaw.ca/tony.norman/images/DSC01323.JPG

http://members.shaw.ca/tony.norman/images/DSC01324.JPG

The 'yellow' stains give the appearance of nicotine stains (the house is 50 years old, so anything is possible)

The darker stains are grey, going to black.

Picture 23 shows the paint 'flaking off' with a blending of the mold (great combination, eh?)

I have heard advice about bleaching, but not a great deal about that.

Do I have to sand?

It's obviously not 'bathroom' paint...it will be of course when we paint it.

Advice welcome, from prep all the way through to painting.

Thanks!

Tony

slickshift
12-13-05, 10:05 PM
(through gritted teeth) Ewwwwwww...
Yikes...

Do not sand....at least not first
You must Kill The Mold/Mildew
Kill it dead...dead....dead

X-14 the entire area...let it dry, wipe it off, let it dry....
It'll be heinous, but do it 2x if you can
Wear disposable clothing
Open windows....mask...no pet birds around...etc....

If by this time, if it's still shiney (the white/painted part), then sand a bit..just a scuff
Over real bad (dead) spots maybe B-I-N sealer

I strongly recommend the Zinsser Perma-White (Kitchen and Bath) paint
for the repaint
Tintable in light or pastels only, well worth it for your problem...or any bathroom w/o a fan/exhaust
TonyN
12-13-05, 11:39 PM
Thanks for the info. I will have to see if that paint is available up here in Canada.

I will get that cleaner as well...

Thanks again!

TN

slickshift
12-14-05, 10:14 AM
If the X-14 is not available, a 50/50 of bleach and water will work
Again, it's a bit wiffy, and can stain clothes etc...
So the same safety precautions apply

If Zinsser products are not available in you area, your local paint shop can add a mildew inhibitor to a gallon of good quality paint
It's not the same as the Z, but works very well
As the Z is only lightly tintable, I'll use an inhibitor in some Ben Moore for darker colors