Repair paint

How to Paint a Damp Wall

Mary Smith
By Mary Smith. Updated: August 7, 2019
How to Paint a Damp Wall

Not only are damp walls cause an aesthetic problem, but damp in walls can also be bad for a person’s health. If you notice damp on your walls, we recommend trying to get rid of this problem immediately. The first thing you should do is find out the source of this dampness and remove it. Once this is done, you can permanently cover the damp patch on your wall. But how?

For more about how to paint to stop damp on walls, keep reading here at oneHOWTO. Discover this effective but simple tips on painting over damp stains.

You may also be interested in: How To Paint Walls In Two Different Colors

Steps to follow:

1

Check the underlying reason for your damp wall. Before you start painting decorating damp walls, you need to find and determine the cause of dampness. There are different types of causes behind damp walls including; filtration, condensation and capillarity. The origin of your damp walls:

  • If damp is filtered, as can be for exhaust pipes, it is imperative to repair the fault to prevent damp. Thus, once the problem is solved and when the wall is completely dry, it is ready to be painted.
  • At other times, damp is generated due to water intrusion from the outside and the best method in this case is to waterproof the wall using bituminous paint, which is ideal for creating a protective barrier against damp and prevent infiltration.

For more, you may be interested in reading how to prepare walls interior walls for painting.

How to Paint a Damp Wall - Step 1
2

Check the humidity in your room. In most cases, a big wet spot in the wall appear, due to condensation of water vapor. This usually occurs in colder rooms, with little sun and a high degree of humidity. In this case, it is essential that you remove the stain so that you can later paint the wall for excellent results.

For more about humidity problems in the home, read:

3

When painting over damp stains, you will require damp seal paint. Check if the wet spot is dry or not. Once the stain is dry, paint the wall with a good breathable paint for damp walls or damp seal paint, which can be purchased at any specialized maintenance and home renovation store.

How to Paint a Damp Wall - Step 3
4

Check for mold. If instead the wet spot appears to have efflorescence or mold, they need to be removed. To do this you have two options:

  1. Use a diluted bleach solution and apply it to the stain with a cloth or soft brush.
  2. Apply hydrogen peroxide with a rag to remove fungi. When finished, rinse and leave the wall to dry so that the stain dries.

For more, read how to make a dehumidifier with rock salt.

How to Paint a Damp Wall - Step 4
Image: www.bricopared.com
5

Use chlorinated rubber, to continue the task of painting a damp wall. Apply chlorinated rubber paint to the stain. This is a great option for eradicating the problems of damp on the walls. This is a type of paint that is often used to paint pools, great for its powerful fungicide properties. Once you have applied the paint on the stain, leave it to dry for 15-20 minutes and proceed to paint the wall with standard plastic paint.

6

Make sure you cover the entire room. Remember to paint the wall well, start by painting the corners, edges of sockets and switches, door frames and windows with a brush. Then you can move onto painting the rest of the surface with a roller to achieve a clean finish.

By implementing all these tricks for painting a damp wall you can fix your damp in the room problem once and for all.

If you want to read similar articles to How to Paint a Damp Wall, we recommend you visit our Interior Design and Decor category.

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4 comments
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Mike Cheyne
we have had the interior of a stone bay skimmed by a plasterer. we waited for it to dry for a few weeks then i painted it with ronseal damp seal , let this dry for a week then papered it . we let this dry then emulsioned it with valspar 700 emulsion . after a day the paper was beginng to peel . i peeled one piece off and the paste hasn't dried . the paper peeled off quite easily without any tears or rips . the paper had been left to dry out for over a week .any advice would be greatly appreciated
OneHowTo Editor
Hi Mike,

It sounds like there might be some serious dampness in the wall. While we can't be 100% sure of the problem, we suggest looking for a source (perhaps a ceiling leak, poorly secured plumbing, etc.). If there is no evident source for the moisture, you may need to rent an industrial dryer to dry out of the wall before papering it.
Rating:
Carl
I want to paint OVER the dampness on my shower ceiling, which is simply wallboard. I do not have time for it to be totally dry, since I need a regular shower daily. So I need to paint OVER the dampness, and then be ready for a shower within the next 24 hours.
Michael Prescod
i have a very damp wall where you can see water running down but the apt. next door has his A/C so the wall is very cold. and when you apply paint. the paint runs of the wall to the floor. therte is nothing i could do. the apt next door. keeps his A/C RUNNING all day and night, i am try to find out what kind of paint to use to cover the wall
OneHowTo Editor
Hi Michael,

It sounds like a tricky issue. Ideally you will want to have a completely dry wall to paint on to maintain the integrity of the paint and the wall itself. You could wait until a time of year whenever the aircon isn't needed. However, this may not be possible. What it sounds like is you need better insulation.

Are you able to speak to your neighbor and see if there is a way to prevent your wall becoming damp? You may be able to place some insulation on the back of his unit so that you can have a dry wall and he can still have the temperature he wants. It's also possible he has a humidity issue which would benefit both of you if he resolved it.
Tapan Das
which company paint name to exteror wall dampness clear
Image: www.bricopared.com
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How to Paint a Damp Wall