What kind of paint do you use on cement shower walls?

Question

please help! Thanks!

Answer 1

Do you specifically want a painted finish, or just a decorative finish? Concrete stain will give you a much more interesting look (many Starbucks have stained concrete floors).

If you specifically want a paint finish, you've got several options-

Concrete paint - this is made for walkways, driveways, etc., and is durable. But you've got limited color selection, and it's not glossy (you wouldn't want a glossy finish on a walkway).

Epoxy garage floor paint - despite what another poster said, this is not typically dark. Off the shelf, you can usually find it in white, beige, blue, and grey. It's just paint with an epoxy catalyst added just before you apply it, so you can have it tinted just like any other paint. The dried finish is a sating to semi-gloss depending on the roller. The super glossy epoxy floors you see in some garages have had an additional clear coat applied on top of the color coat.

Finally -- plain old wall paint -- My girlfriend loves doing painted floors using 4 or 5 different colors ragged on to create a deep, rich faux finish. We seal it with a marine-grade urethane, which creates a finish that's waterproof and tough enough to stand up to floor traffic - so it will certainly be durable enough for a shower wall. Just start with a concrete primer, and then use any old wall paint (except gloss enamel - it's too glossy for the urethane to make a good bond)

Hopefully this isn't the only shower in the house. Between prep'ing, painting and drying, it will probably be out of comission for a week. If you're doing anything but stain, you'll need to be sure the concrete is fairly dry before starting. To test for moisture level, tape a piece of plastic (green trash bag works well) to the wall, sealing all around the edges with the tape. Let it sit over night, and then remove it. If you've got a lot of condensation on the inside of the plastic, you're going to need to let the shower sit for a while to dry out. A fan will speed up the process - with one of those high power 16" fans, it will probably be dry enough in a day.

Answer 2

There's an epoxy paint made for garage floors that works very well. It is usually dark and you may want to paint another color over it. The epoxy paints have some dangerous fumes and must be used in a well ventilated area. When I put it in a bathroom I used two fans-one pushing air in and one pulling it out, and a used a mask that wouldn't let me breath the fumes.

Answer 3

You would need to go to Sherwin Williams, Home Depot, or Lowes for specific types of paint. In your case, you would need paint that can withstand moisture. You may wish to prime the walls first, and then paint. The link below is to Sherwin Williams' website which gives you brands to use within the company that would be acceptable in a bathroom.
http://www3.sherwin.com/do_it_yourself/painting_techniques/painting_problem_solver/problems/Peeling_DueToMoisture_Inside.jsp

This link is to Home Depot which gives you examples of different finishes. I hope these help!

Answer 4

Ge a paint called drylock at the local hardware store it is completely waterproof

Answer 5

All hardware centers and home centers carry bathroom specific paint. It's best to ask the people at the store,
because they know what will work best on the concrete.

Answer 6

Prime with a good primer like Bin sealer, then paint with Enamel.

Answer 7

Home depot carries DRYLOCK it is a masonry paint that can be color tinted to whatever color you want, it also prevents water from penetrating it so you won't get that concrete smell.

Answer 8

you can used oil base paints and anti mold paints ,go to home depot or hardware store and ask for anti mold base paints good luck

Answer 9

Use any paint recommended for bathrooms and kitchens. It will be impervious to H2O

Answer 10

Personally...I'd "paint" with tile.