Hi,

Over the weekend I decided to paint my bathroom. As soon as I started painting, the old paint started peeling off onto the roller. Now I have huge patches of peeled back paint that goes down to the brown paper on the dry wall. I don't know how to fix this? I need to know how to patch the areas that show the dry wall and then how to be able to still paint the rest of the bathroom without running into the same problem of peeling paint? Can someone please help? This is a nightmare.

Thanks

Possibly steam from shower etc has affected the original paint that was applied on the walls, and it may have been the wrong type of paint in the first place. I don't think this is a situation where a blocker like Kilz will help. It may help for patching but the rest of that original paint will likely peel off in a short time if just the roller brings it off now. Dealing with the real problem for the entire bathroom now will be the best thing you can do- remove the original paint.

Do you have a good bathroom exhaust fan? An exhaust fan should be allowed to run for at least 15 minutes after bathing or showering (one expert said it should be for 45 minutes).

Consider the info below, do some additional research and talk to a reputable paint dealer before making a final decision,

This is a reply that Home Depot gave to a person with a similar problem on Home Depot's site:
"First off, lets get a bit of background info. What kind of paint were you originally using on these walls? Was it a latex/oil base, and what kind of sheen did it have?

What may have happened is that there was originally a water-based primer/paint on the wall, and oil paint was applied to it. Peeling does tend to happen if they're mixed improperly. A good tip to check if it's oil or latex is to take a small cotton ball and soak it in a bit of denatured alcohol. Rub gently in a corner or less visible spot, and if the paint softens or comes off at all, you're looking at latex/water-based.

Oil Primer is generaly thought to be more durable for high moisture areas such as the bathroom. Oil also has a very strong odor, so be aware of that if you ever do use it and be sure to keep the windows open. Be sure to check that this primer is able to have latex applied over it, as it's getting harder to find oil-based paints these days.

Latex based primer, like Kilz 2, doesn't have that same odor and will work just fine in bathrooms as well since most drywall in areas like that are "greenboard," meaning they are treated for moisture. It's easiest to apply over this, since water/latex works best with the new latex based paints. This is what I would recommend going with.

Be sure to get either a Satin or Semi-Gloss finish, as those are the most recommended for high-moisture areas. For more information on sheens and finishes, as well as what rooms to put them in, please see my blog entry; A Sheen Can Make It Or Break It. "