The daily cycle of steam from hot showers drives moisture into bathroom walls repeatedly — and standard latex paint is not designed to withstand it. Most DIY bathroom paint jobs that fail within a year do so not because of poor technique, but because of the wrong product applied over inadequately cleaned and primed surfaces.
Cornerstone Pro Painting selects bathroom-specific products for every bathroom project — paints with built-in mold and mildew resistance, formulated for high-humidity environments. We also ensure that the existing surface is properly cleaned, dried, and primed before any finish coat is applied. These steps take more time, but they are what separates a bathroom paint job that looks good for two weeks from one that holds up for several years.
Step 1: Surface Cleaning — Bathroom walls are cleaned with a TSP solution or equivalent to remove soap residue, mildew, and any existing surface contamination. Any mold spots are treated before painting.
Step 2: Drying & Inspection — Walls are allowed to dry fully — typically 24 hours — before any primer or paint is applied. We inspect for moisture damage that may require repair.
Step 3: Priming — All surfaces receive a mold-resistant primer, especially in the high-humidity zones around the shower and tub.
Step 4: Painting — Two coats of a premium bathroom-specific paint (mold and mildew resistant, humidity rated) are applied in satin or semi-gloss sheen.
Step 5: Masking & Detail — Tile, tub, toilet, and fixtures are carefully masked before any paint application. All edges are cut in cleanly.
We use Benjamin Moore Aura Bath and Spa and equivalent premium bathroom-rated products — not standard interior paint. These products cure harder in humid conditions, resist mold and mildew growth at the surface, and clean without dulling. The investment in the right product is what makes the difference between a bathroom paint job that lasts and one that starts peeling in the first winter.
With a low-VOC latex bathroom paint, the room can be used within 24 hours. We recommend running the exhaust fan during every shower for the first two weeks while the paint fully cures.
We treat surface mold before painting — but painting over active mold without treating it first is not something we do. Surface mildew is cleaned and treated; if there is structural moisture intrusion behind the walls, that needs to be addressed before any painting begins.
Satin at minimum, semi-gloss preferred — especially in shower-adjacent areas. Eggshell and flat paint do not hold up to the humidity and cleaning demands of a bathroom environment.
Yes. Bathroom ceilings are included in our bathroom painting scope. We use a flat paint with mold-resistant properties specifically formulated for bathroom ceilings.
A standard bathroom runs $450–$750 depending on size. Larger bathrooms or those with extensive tile work requiring careful masking run higher. Written quote after walkthrough.
Bathroom vanity and cabinet painting is a separate service that we offer. It is quoted separately but can be completed during the same project visit.
Free written estimate within 12 hours. No obligation, no pressure.