Painting tongue and groove panelling in a bathroom

[clueless]

Hi

We are about to install tongue and groove wood panelling in the bathroom - just run of the mill stuff.

I don't know what to paint it with though, and am getting conflicting information. Would like to use Kitchen/Bathroom emulsion as it's a "damp" room (in that it's a bathroom - we don't have a damp problem in there) but obviously that's not for wood. But I have been told I can prime the wood first (it's untreated at the moment) and then use bathroom emulsion.

What do other people use?? How about eggshell? Obviously I want to be able to wipe splashes and condensation off. Don't want varnish.

Kitchen cupboard paint has also been recommended to me.

Thanks very much.

 

[L1zzy]

Hi there - I have one painted t&g wall in my bathroom directly behind teh bath and over the years (before me) i think its been oretty much painted with what people had to hand I'm just about to repaint and will use Farrow and Ball oil Eggshell - I reason that a.) the wall has already been painted so many times its 'damp' proof' b.) Oil Eggshell seems pretty water proof c.) I always open the bathroom window after having a bath for an hour to limit the condensation as much as poss (plus I'm a fresh air freak even in winter!) d.) Perhaps its just me but my baths aren't very 'lively' ie I don't splash the walls carpets etc with water so what is this preoccupation with coating and sealing everything 'in case of....'

Thats my view for what its worth. If I get a mildew infestation in teh next year you'll be the first to know !!

 

[biffvernon]

Do you want a paint that is made from petrochemicals, that releases poisonous substances into your room and produces enormous quantities of hazardous waste in its manufacture and consumes a lot of energy; that forms a non-breathable plastic coating to the wood before peeling off and finally results in a legacy of non-biodegradable hazardous waste?

Or do you want a paint that is safe, both in manufacture and use, made out of sustainably grown vegetable oils and resins, bonds with the wood to form a vapour-permeable surface that will never peel off and will join the wood as compost in the far distant future?

 

[clueless]

Thanks Lizzy.

Biff - obviously the latter sounds better! What can you suggest please (names if possible!) and where can I get it - I need to be spoon fed! I've mainly been looking in B&Q/Homebase which is why I thought of the kitchen/bathroom stuff but if there is anything else...

Thanks!

 

[biffvernon]

Sadly, you probably won't find it at B&Q or Homebase.

There's Holkham Linseed oil paint manufactured by Allback in Sweden,
http://www.holkham.co.uk/linseedpaints/

Or Ecos Gloss Paint
http://www.ecosorganicpaints.com/index.html

Or the German Beeck's Aglaia Interior Lacquer from Womersleys,
http://www.womersleys.co.uk/index.htm

 

[clueless]

No, I definitely haven't seen any of those there!

Thanks very much for the links, I'll certainly look into them.

 

[Ushy M]

We had the same arrangement in the bathroom of our old house and used Farrow & Ball Dead Flat Oil - its nice and matt and easy to wipe clean.

 

[biffvernon]

There's nothing black and white in the paint business and Farrow and Ball make much use of words like 'traditional' and 'historic' and 'environmentally friendly' in their advertising literature.

But... Dead Flat Oil, for example, is based on alkyd resin and contains 28% VOC. It falls pretty firmly into the first category of paints I described. It looks good, being coloured with mineral pigments, but don't be lulled into thinking it is either a traditional formulation or environmentally friendly.

 

[CHRIS]

I remember a few months ago on the old forum saying the same about FB paint with the stuff being similar to dulux etc in their content and some slick marketing to "period property owners"and getting a royal dressing down from a certain person on that site!!!

I say if you are going to use FB you may as well save the cash and get Dulux oil based eggshell, if not get some Aglaia or other eco paint.

You will know what the right thing to do is!!!!! and once you buy a eco product you will stick with it and never go back to the old stuff so good luck. Just think - no more smelly turps or thinners or going to these awful building sheds

 

[biffvernon]

Be careful not to mix up appearance with environmental impact. F&B looks good, substantially different from Dulux, but that is because of the pigments and dyes used. The eco-friendliness or otherwise is more a fuction of the binders and solvents. Both F&B Flat Oil and the equivalent Dulux are alkyd resin based with a lot of VOC.

F&B do also make limewashes and distempers which are both eco-friendly and breathable but the OP's question was about paint for woodwork in a bathroom.

 

[ste-pee]

Do consider putting 'knotting' over the knots in the cladding.
I painted mine with primer (oil based), then white eggshell and after a year or three, the knots are showing through as shadowy discolouration...

 

[Becka]

on a paint front.. what would you use to paint a beehive shaped compost bin.. (I have a very very tiny garden so its essential that even the functional bits are aesthetically pleasing) bought a pot of cuprinol garden shades yesteday, but not having doubts after reading all the stuff above.. I'd also like to lighten up my wooden fences so recommendations for them too please?

 

[biffvernon]

I doubt whether I would paint it at all.

 

[Becka]

the fences or the bin..? the fences I could be persuaded not to but the bin is made of (presumably marine) ply and I liked it for the shape not the colour (stained a dark brown) and the fact it was less than half the price of the wooden ones I'd seen online (£130+ pounds for a compost bin being some what excessive in my book.. :? )

 

[biffvernon]

In that case I would rummage round in sheds and garages until I found an unwanted half can of a pretty enough colour. I can't imagine spending money on painting a compost bin - recycling is much more appropriate.

 

[Becka]

was thinking of that.. have half a can of F&B eggshell lurking... wasn't sure if it'd be hardy enough tho..

 

[Penners]

Do you want a paint that is made from petrochemicals, that releases poisonous substances into your room and produces enormous quantities of hazardous waste in its manufacture and consumes a lot of energy; that forms a non-breathable plastic coating to the wood before peeling off and finally results in a legacy of non-biodegradable hazardous waste?

Or do you want a paint that is safe, both in manufacture and use, made out of sustainably grown vegetable oils and resins, bonds with the wood to form a vapour-permeable surface that will never peel off and will join the wood as compost in the far distant future?

Biif - you should definitely have made a career in selling!

(And just in case anyone infers from this that Biff owns a paint company - he doesn't! he just gives good advice.)

 

[biffvernon]

Absolutely not. My initial reaction to the compost bin affair was that it should not be painted at all, and then to sugest that old stock of left-over paint could be used. Nobody would employ me in sales.

I think we use paint far too liberally. Exterior joinery, when made from suitable materials with sensible detailing , usually does not need 'protection'. The concept of protecting wood with paint is largely a myth encouraged by the paint industry. We should get back to thinking of paint as an art medium, whose primary purpose is decoration.

'Natural paints', based mostly on linseed oil, are less hazardous in manufacture, application, use and disposal, are made from a greater proportion of sustainably produced materials and are vapour permeable. All characteristics that contrast starkly with most paints.

The environmental consequences of mining the commonest pigment, titanium dioxide, are pretty horrendous. If Rio Tinto Zinc had discovered illmenite in Surrey rather than Madagascar there is no doubt that we would rather do without paint than exploit the resource.

 

[Becka]

if i could hide it i wouldn't paint it.. :? and i wouldn't have bought a disguised one would have just made a pile i a hidden corner like my dad does, but have a very very tiny (but exceptionally plant filled) garden, so compost bin is an essential to save many many trips to the dump, esp at wisteria/honeysuckle/jasmine pruning time (see what i mean about plant filled.? they all see to have garden domination aspirations) but it needs to look presntable.. (and i suspect could use the extra protection..)

 

[Becka]

just noticed.. I definatly tend to overuse the smileys.. sorry all.. bad habit