When undertaking a complete bathroom renovation, the choice of wall finish is about more than just colour. Bathrooms are naturally exposed to warm, humid air, making condensation a common concern, particularly on external walls and ceilings.
This room was stripped back to the bare plaster before the new bathroom was installed. With the walls providing a completely blank canvas, the aim was to create a clean, modern finish that combined practical tiling with a specialist paint system designed for condensation-prone areas.
The challenge
The existing bathroom was completely stripped out, taking the room back to its underlying surfaces. The walls were left back to bare plaster, while the existing floor and fittings were removed as part of the wider renovation. This provided the opportunity to rethink the room from the ground up, including how the walls would be finished.
The plan was to create a half-tiled, half-painted finish. Tiling the lower section would provide a durable, practical surface around the bathroom, while painting the upper walls and ceiling would keep the room feeling bright and spacious. However, the paint needed to be suitable for an environment where condensation and moisture are part of everyday use.
The solution
Rather than using a standard decorative paint, Coo-Var Anti-Condensation Paint was chosen. The paint contains insulating microspheres designed to help keep the surface warmer, helping to reduce the formation of condensation when warm, moisture-laden air comes into contact with cooler surfaces.
It also contains fungicides to help inhibit the growth of mould and mildew.
Why Anti-Condensation Paint?
Bathrooms are one of the most obvious applications for an anti-condensation coating, where painted surfaces are exposed to regular moisture and changes in temperature.
Coo-Var Anti-Condensation Paint:
- Helps reduce the formation of condensation
- Contains microspheres to keep surfaces warmer
- Fungicides to help inhibit mould and mildew
- Can be left as a white matt finish or overcoated with a suitable decorative paint
Creating the half-tiled, half-painted finish
Once the room had been prepared, the lower portion of the walls were tiled, creating a hard-wearing and easy-to-clean surface around the bathroom. Above the tiles, the walls were finished with Coo-Var Anti-Condensation Paint, continuing up onto the sloping ceiling around the skylight.
The result
The transformation was significant. What started as a completely stripped-back bathroom with exposed plaster was turned into a bright, clean and contemporary space. The finished design combines crisp white tiling with a soft painted finish, while the painted walls and ceiling incorporate Coo-Var Anti-Condensation Paint to help manage condensation in the moisture-prone environment.
The skylight and sloping ceiling also benefit from the painted finish, helping to maintain a consistent look throughout the room.
From bare plaster to finished bathroom, this renovation demonstrates how the right combination of materials and specialist coatings can create a space that looks good while also considering practical demands.
Need help selecting the right coating system for your project?
Coo-Var’s experienced technical team provides expert guidance, tailored specifications, site visits, and on-site support to ensure you achieve the best possible results. Whether you’re working with concrete floors, metal surfaces, damp problems, or specialist environments, Coo-Var can recommend the most suitable paints, primers, and surface preparation methods for your application.