Hi again,

this weekend's project was to mount a new shower curtain rod in the
bathroom. The girlie insisted on a curved one because she likes
'em... eh, whatever. So I had to patch the holes from the old one.
Got that done, but while doing so I noticed that there was a soft spot
in the wall just above the tile in the shower area. This is a house
built in the late 40s and has the typical walls tiled halfway up
around the room, going up higher in the shower area. After fixing
everything up and spot painting, I started paying attention in the
shower and noticed a couple of things:

1) The PO painted the bathroom with some environmentally friendly crap
paint that frankly doesn't work. I'm noticing alligatoring and
peeling on the ceiling already, and it's only been maybe 6 mos. since
it was painted (not long before we moved in.)

2) There's evidence of repairs in the plaster above the tile in the
shower stall. I had no idea how recent it was, but when showering
this AM I noticed that simply by standing under the shower and letting
the water hit my back, water was hitting the wall above the tile.
Doesn't appear to be anything I can do about this.

So... it looks like at least a repaint is in order in the near
future. I am guessing to get a proper job I need to sand all the
plaster surfaces at least 1-2 coats of paint back to get a smooth
surface that new paint can grip to.

questions:

1) what do I use to sand? Regular garnet paper, or would a drywall
sanding screen actually work better for sanding paint?

2) Is there any specific product that would be good for leveling out
problem areas? Is there such a thing as a spackle or patching plaster
that is more water resistant than normal?

3) Could really use some recommendations for primer and paint, as to
what would be the MOST water resistant. I realize that the "right
fix" would be to add another course or two of tile in the shower area,
but I don't see that happening this year. I'm thinking Zinsser primer
followed by a good coat of high quality paint, but I don't know what
paint to use or if there is a better primer product.

4) I'd like to add an exhaust fan as well. It would have to be a
through the wall type due to the unique configuration of my house,
unless I find that the actual wall of the house extends above the
level of the ceiling enough to install a vent up there. I kind of
doubt this is the case, so... any gotchas on a through-wall fan?
Recommendations for any specific brand/model? Currently I am just
using a fan in the window, but it is a PITA to open the window and set
it in every time I want to take a shower.

thanks for any advice...

nate

"N8N" wrote in message

1) what do I use to sand? Regular garnet paper, or would a drywall
sanding screen actually work better for sanding paint?

Regular sandpaper. The sreen won't do anything worth while.



3) Could really use some recommendations for primer and paint, as to
what would be the MOST water resistant. I realize that the "right
fix" would be to add another course or two of tile in the shower area,
but I don't see that happening this year.

How about some other material, such as a sheet of Formica or melamine? No
paint is truly that waterproof if yo are splashing during a shower. That is
just asking for more problems. Heck, even hanging a heet of oly would be a
benefit.

N8N wrote:

1) The PO painted the bathroom with some environmentally friendly crap
paint that frankly doesn't work. I'm noticing alligatoring and peeling
on the ceiling already, and it's only been maybe 6 mos. since it was
painted (not long before we moved in.)

Most likely due to poor surface prep. Perhaps that oily shower cleaner was
sprayed indiscriminately then painted over. Or perhaps a previous paint
job used oil based paint, then the oil based was covered with water base
with no primer.


So... it looks like at least a repaint is in order in the near future.
I am guessing to get a proper job I need to sand all the plaster
surfaces at least 1-2 coats of paint back to get a smooth surface that
new paint can grip to.
questions:

1) what do I use to sand? Regular garnet paper, or would a drywall
sanding screen actually work better for sanding paint?

Don't sand! Anything built in the 40's likely has lead based paint. If you
sand lead based paint, you are releasing lead dust that you and your
family will inhale. Lead poisoning is no joke for adults, it is even worse
for children and pregnant women.

I suggest you read the following linked pages carefully and completely.

http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/leadpdfe.pdf

http://www.nsc.org/library/facts/lead.htm

Cheapest would be to scrape the loose paint, then encapsulate what is left
with a few coats of primer. Spackle (use the water resistant kind) the
rough spots as needed. Then sand lightly, taking great care not to go
below your primer coats.

Or, you could rip out the plaster, and replace with new green board.

To be sure about the old paint, get a lead test kit. Perhaps you will luck
out and there won't be any lead.

--
Tony Sivori

On Apr 23, 11:38 am, "Edwin Pawlowski" wrote:
"N8N" wrote in message

1) what do I use to sand? Regular garnet paper, or would a drywall
sanding screen actually work better for sanding paint?

Regular sandpaper. The sreen won't do anything worth while.



3) Could really use some recommendations for primer and paint, as to
what would be the MOST water resistant. I realize that the "right
fix" would be to add another course or two of tile in the shower area,
but I don't see that happening this year.

How about some other material, such as a sheet of Formica or melamine? No
paint is truly that waterproof if yo are splashing during a shower. That is
just asking for more problems. Heck, even hanging a heet of oly would be a
benefit.

oly? sorry, I'm not following you here. I never thought of melamine
though, that might work. I'll have to see about getting it past the
design dept.

Would it be a problem to paint over the melamine after installation?
i'm kind of running with your idea here... i'm thinking the thinnest
sheet I can find, simply glued to the wall with construction
adhesive. then caulk around all edges. SWMBO will probably want a
uniform color/gloss throughout the bathroom so she'd want to paint
over it, if I did a neat job then the only way to tell would be two
small vertical steps in the wall above where the tile jogs down.

nate

"N8N" wrote in message
oly? sorry, I'm not following you here.


Of course you're not because it was a bad type. It should read "sheet of
poly."


I never thought of melamine
though, that might work. I'll have to see about getting it past the
design dept.

That is the tough part.

Would it be a problem to paint over the melamine after installation? I've
never paint it, but i think it can be. At least you'd have a good barrier
from the plaster.