Having damp in your home can be an annoyance at best, and potentially harmful at worst. Although most common on older homes, damp can affect brand new builds too if the ventilation is poor.
If you find damp in your home, fixing it should be a priority. Once the issue is resolved you’ll have damp patches that need removing to keep your home looking fresh and clean. Painting damp walls is not only possible; it’s the best solution.
What causes Damp?
The most common form of damp is caused when moist air meets a cool surface. It’s most common in kitchens and bathrooms, where you have steam and water vapour making the air humid around your walls. After you have a shower, or have boiled something on the hob, it’s best to open a window so condensation can’t form. However, if you don’t, or in areas where this is unavoidable, damp can form quickly. You may also notice signs of damp in winter, as the warm air inside your home meets the cold outside walls and windows.
Penetrating damp is caused by water seeping into the walls of your home. This can be the result of a burst pipe, in which case you’ll see the damp almost immediately, or water ingress from damage to your roof, which can take longer to show itself. You’ll notice it around the top of your walls and/or skirting boards.
Last but not least is rising damp. This isn’t as common as other types but can cause a lot of damage if ignored. Rising damp occurs when groundwater penetrates the bricks of your outer walls and reaches inside. As it is at ground level, your skirting boards can be rotted away by rising damp, and it can be easier to miss. If you’ve had heavy rainfall in your area recently, look out for any yellow patches at the bottom of your walls.
No matter what type of damp you have, it will allow mould to form on your walls and other surfaces. If you find it early it’s possible to clean away mould, which we recommend before trying a fresh coat of paint.
Should I Paint over Damp?
You should only paint over damp once you’re 100% sure the cause has been found and fixed. If the damp continues, it will show through your new layer of paint in a short time and can even affect how well it clings to the surface.
But once the issue is fixed, painting over your damp-damaged walls is the ideal way to help them look good as new. However, not all interior paint will do the trick. For painting damp walls you need a specialist paint that can protect the surface properly.
Our kitchen paint and bathroom emulsion paints are designed with damp-protection in mind. Unlike standard emulsion paint, paint for kitchens and especially bathrooms need to be more resistant to humidity and condensation.
Some people apply thick layers of paint to cover damp – this is a mistake. The best damp paint allows the surface beneath to breathe. This is what prevents the moisture from being trapped, and damp and mould forming.
Apply a layer or two of our paint to walls, ceilings and tiles and mould won’t be able to form for a long time. If there is still discolouration, you can add an extra layer of an oil-based paint, but this is only needed if the damp was severe.
The Best Colour for Damp Walls
For some damp-proof paints, your colour choices are reduced. Not the case with Paintmaster. Our bathroom and kitchen emulsion – the best paint for damp walls – is part of our colour system. Simply enter a British Standard or RAL code at checkout and we’ll mix the perfect colour for you.
But which is the best colour? Well, if you’re just covering up a few damp patches, you’ll want to match the rest of your walls. However, you could turn the repair job into an opportunity to paint the entire room if you think it’s due.
White and cream are the most common choices for kitchens and bathrooms. You could choose a similar muted shade like beige, grey, or a pale blue, or push the boat out. Kitchens especially look fantastic with bright, bold colours. This is the heart of your home, use it as a way to express yourself!
How to Paint Damp Walls – Damp Wall Painting Guide
You have the perfect paint. It’s in the perfect colour. Now it’s time to get to work.
The most important thing to remember when painting damp walls is to keep the room as free from moisture as possible until the final layer has dried. When the surface is exposed, or the paint is still drying, having a shower or boiling the kettle close by could ruin the final finish. Don’t worry, you’ll have earned a cup of tea when you’re done!
Once again, you shouldn’t paint damp walls until the cause of the damp has been 100% fixed.
Here’s what you’ll need to paint over damp patches:
- Paint
- Paintbrush/Paint Roller
- Cleaning Supplies (Bucket, Sponge, Cloth)
- Mould Cleaner
- Dust Sheets
- Masking Tape
STEP ONE – Prep Damp Walls for Painting
First, lay out your dust sheets. This will catch any drips and splashes, protecting your furnishings.
Once you’ve identified all the damp patches, you need to clean them as thoroughly as possible. If there is any mould, use a dedicated mould remover that will get rid of all traces, and prevent it growing back in the future.
Then, use soap and water to remove any other marks and/or stains. Use a cloth or kitchen roll to dry it as thoroughly as possible.
STEP TWO – Painting Damp Walls
When the surface is clean and dry, we recommend using your masking tape to mark out the patches if you are touching up specific areas or protect the edges of your walls if you’re painting the entire surface.
Now for the fun part. Apply even coats of paint, overlapping each stroke to ensure every inch gets plenty of paint. A paint roller is best for large areas, and a brush for corners and hard-to-reach areas. When you switch between painting accessories, try to match the amount of paint you’re applying with each stroke.
Depending on how heavily stained your walls are, you may need 2 or 3 layers of our emulsion paint. If after the third you can still see discolouration, consider applying a topcoat of oil-based paint to cover it completely, but this shouldn’t be necessary if you found the damp early.
STEP THREE – Admire your Work
And that’s it! Unlike the other painting guides we’ve created over the years, this is a nice and simple painting project that shouldn’t take longer than a day or two, depending on drying times.
The UK’s Most Trusted Paint Supplier
Having damp in your home is never fun. But if you are able to catch it before the damage is too severe, it’s easy to help your interior surfaces look great again.
We’re the no.1 choice for tradespeople, with large quantities of paint available at competitive prices, and we’re loved by domestic painters too! We also provide a wide range of painting accessories, including brushes, rollers, paint trays, sandpaper, and more!
For more painting advice and guides, check out our blog. And if you have any questions about us or any of our products, please get in touch.
