On 9/11/2012 10:10 PM, nestork wrote:
Todd:

I have no clue why your fiberglass tub/shower would be "peeling", and I
have even less idea as to how to fix something like that.

But, believe it or not, the single biggest thing you need to do when
painting a bathroom is to buy the RIGHT paint. That's because not all
latex paints are equally resistant to moisture and humidity, and low
priced paints will crack and peel under conditions of high humidity.

I disagree. The "right" paint doesn't need to be special for baths.
The prep is critical and will usually let any kind of paint stand up to
conditions....I've painted kitchens and baths quite a few times. One
big problem in both is that moisture condenses and runs down
walls/doors/trim and then wicks into unsealed surfaces. Ever see
bathroom doors with wood cracking and expanding along the bottom? Same
along lower edge of baseboards?

The advantage in buying a paint specifically made to be used in
bathrooms is:

1. You're getting a binder resin that was chosen because of it's
excellent resistance to moisture and humidity, so the bathroom will stay
looking "newly painted" for a long time, and

Decent paint applied after careful prep will keep out moisture. I've
never seen a painted wall with damage from moisture seeping THROUGH an
intact paint film. Of course, if the structure is closed up and not
maintained for a long time, mildew might eventually eat through paint.

2. Bathroom paints will have a powdered mildewcide added to them. This
mildewcide is so highly soluble in water that even the high humidity on
one side of the paint will cause the mildewcide to migrate through the
paint film to the surface, where it will kill any mildew spores before
they have a chance to grow.

I know of two paints specifically made for bathrooms. The first is
Zinsser's "PermaWhite" available at Home Depot, and the second is simply
called "Bath Paint" and is available at Sherwin Williams paint stores.
I've been having a lot of problems with bubbles forming in Zinsser's
Permawhite lately. I literally have to use an electric leaf blower to
break the bubbles that form in that paint before it dries. So, in this
post I'm gonna warn people away from Zinsser's and suggest you buy some
Sherwin Williams Bath Paint.

I haven't used the paint you mention, but bubbling can be reduced by
thinning (my experience with other paints and varnishes).