Bathroom painting · Kelowna, BC
Bathroom Painting in Kelowna
The bathroom is the smallest room in most homes and often the hardest to paint well. Daily steam, weak exhaust fans and tight spaces around tubs, toilets and vanities make paint peel, blister and grow mildew faster than anywhere else in the house. Pacific Painting Kelowna has been fixing those problems in local homes for more than 15 years, from main baths and ensuites to basement bathrooms and powder rooms.
We paint for homeowners tired of a ceiling that peels every winter, landlords refreshing a rental bathroom between tenants, and sellers updating a dated powder room before listing. Before we quote, we work out why the old paint failed, whether that is steam, a fan that does not pull air, mildew that was painted over or the wrong sheen. Then we fix the cause as well as the finish, so the new paint lasts.
Every bathroom gets a mildew wash, scraping of failed paint, stain-blocking primer where needed, fresh caulk and two coats of a paint made for high-humidity rooms. Our painters are licensed, insured and covered by WorkSafeBC, and the work carries a written 1-year labour warranty. We serve Kelowna, West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation lands and Lake Country, 7 days a week.
Our Bathroom Vanity and Wall Painting
Before we quote, we work out why the old paint failed. Painting over the cause only restarts the clock.
Steam and Condensation
A hot shower fills a small bathroom with steam in minutes. Water condenses on the coolest surfaces first, usually the ceiling and the outside wall, and soaks into any paint not designed for it.
That is why bathroom ceilings often peel in sheets while the walls still look fine.
Weak or Missing Exhaust
A fan that is undersized, too noisy to use, or vented into the attic leaves moisture sitting on every surface. Older bathrooms often have fans that barely move air.
We check the fan on every walkthrough, so you know whether it is part of the problem.
Paint Over Existing Mildew
Black spots in corners and along the ceiling are mildew. Rolled straight over, they bloom back through the new coat within months.
Mildew has to be killed and washed off, not covered up.
Flat Paint in a Wet Room
Builder-grade flat paint absorbs moisture and cannot be scrubbed. It is the first finish to show streaks, water spots and mildew.
Replacing it with a bathroom-rated paint is often the single biggest improvement we make.
Tired oak or builder-grade vanities can be painted too, using the same degreasing, bonding primer and sprayed enamel as our kitchen cabinet painting service. Doing the vanity and walls in one visit keeps the colours coordinated and the bathroom out of use only once.
How We Paint a Bathroom
A bathroom repaint is mostly cleaning and prep. The finish coats are the quick part.
Kill and wash mildew
Mildew is treated with a mildew remover and left to work, then rinsed. Walls are washed to remove soap film and hairspray residue, which paint will not bond to.
Scrape failed paint
Peeling and blistered areas are scraped back to sound paint. The edges are feathered smooth so they do not show through the new coats.
Repair and prime
Patches and bare drywall are primed, and water stains are sealed with a stain blocker such as Zinsser BIN. Glossy older paint is scuff-sanded so the new coat can grip.
Cut out old caulk
Cracked or mouldy caulk at the tub, shower and counter is cut out, and the joint is cleaned and dried. Paintable joints along trim are caulked with acrylic before painting.
Two finish coats
Walls and ceiling get two coats of mildew-resistant bathroom paint, carefully cut in around the tub, tile, mirror and fixtures.
Seal and reinstall
Tub, shower and counter joints get fresh 100% silicone, which cannot be painted, so it goes in last. Switch plates and accessories go back on, and we tell you how long to wait before the first shower.
Best Paint and Sheen for Bathrooms
Painting for a bathroom calls for products built for humidity, with mildewcides in the film and resins that stand up to daily steam. Our usual choices are Benjamin Moore Aura Bath & Spa and Zinsser Perma-White, both designed for high-humidity rooms.
On bathroom walls, eggshell or satin is the safe choice because it sheds moisture and can be wiped down. Aura Bath & Spa is the exception, a matte finish engineered for bathrooms that suits older walls with dents and patches.
Ceilings get the same moisture-resistant paint as the walls, not standard ceiling flat, and trim goes in a harder semi-gloss enamel. Our guide to the best paint finish for every room compares sheens across the whole house.
Powder Rooms and Feature Walls
Painting a powder room is a different job, because there is no shower and humidity is not the issue. That frees you to use bold colour, such as deep navy, forest green or charcoal, in a small space where it will not overwhelm.
Small rooms show every wobble in a cut line, so we hand-cut around vanities, mirrors and tile with extra care. Deep colours usually need a tinted primer and two careful coats to cover evenly.
In a larger bathroom, a feature wall behind the vanity or tub adds character without darkening the room. If you are torn between options, a colour consultation lets you see large samples under your own lights.
Your Exhaust Fan Matters
Paint can resist moisture, but it cannot remove it. The fan decides how long your bathroom paint lasts.
Run It Long Enough
Keep the fan on during every shower and for about 20 to 30 minutes after. A timer switch or humidity-sensing fan makes this automatic, so nobody has to remember.
Check That It Pulls
A common rule of thumb is about 1 CFM of fan capacity per square foot of floor in a standard bathroom. To test yours, hold a square of tissue to the grille with the fan on; if the fan cannot hold it there, it is not doing its job.
When to Call an Electrician
A dead or weak fan, or one that needs a timer or humidity sensor, should be replaced by a licensed electrician. We do not do electrical work, so we flag it on your estimate and can schedule painting after the fan is sorted.
Bathroom Painting Timeline and Cost
Most bathrooms take one to two days, including dry time between coats. These typical ranges include paint and materials, and your written quote follows a walkthrough.
| Project | Typical range | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| Full bathroom: walls, ceiling and trim | $400 to $900 | Size, mildew, peeling ceiling, colour change |
| Small drywall patch added to the job | $75 to $250 each | Size and depth of the damage |
| Vanity doors and drawer fronts | $120 to $200 each | Door style, grain filling, colour |
Costs rise with ceilings that need full scraping, water-damaged drywall and dark colour changes that need a primer coat. Old wallpaper adds a step, covered by our wallpaper removal and repainting service. See painting costs in Kelowna for how bathrooms compare with other rooms.
Bathroom Painting FAQs
How long before I can shower after painting?
Wait at least 24 hours before a short shower with the fan running, and longer before long hot ones if you can. Paint feels dry in an hour or two but keeps curing for days, and early steam can leave streaks or sticky drips on the surface. We give you the exact wait for the product we used.
Do you recaulk the tub?
Yes, where the old caulk is cracked, gapped or mouldy. We cut it out, clean and dry the joint, and run fresh 100% silicone at the tub, shower and counter after painting.
Can you paint over bathroom tile?
Only in limited cases. Glazed wall tile outside the shower can be painted with a bonding primer and a hard enamel, but painted tile inside a shower or on a floor wears and peels. If tile in a wet area is in rough shape, re-tiling is the better answer.
Can you fix a bathroom ceiling that keeps peeling?
Yes, but first we find out why it peels, usually steam with a weak fan or paint applied over a dirty or glossy surface. We scrape back to sound paint, prime with a bonding or stain-blocking primer and finish with moisture-resistant paint. If the fan is the cause, we recommend fixing it at the same time.
Keep exploring
Related to bathroom painting
Cabinet Painting
Dated vanity? We refinish it with the same prep and enamel we use on kitchens.
Read moreDrywall Repair
Water-damaged or soft drywall around the tub repaired before painting.
Read moreColour Consultation
Bold powder room colours tested under your own lighting first.
Read morePaint Finish by Room
How bathroom sheens compare with the rest of the house.
Read moreResidential Painting
Every home painting service we offer, from interior walls and cabinets to stucco, decks and garage floors.
Read morePainting Costs
Typical 2026 price ranges for interior, exterior, cabinet, deck, epoxy and commercial painting in Kelowna, with worked examples.
Read moreService Areas
Kelowna, West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation lands, Lake Country and communities within a 30-minute drive.
Read more
Free in-home quote
Book a Bathroom Painting Quote
Call 778-946-5725 or use the form to book a free walkthrough, any day of the week. We bring 15+ years of experience, WorkSafeBC coverage and a 1-year labour warranty to every bathroom.
- 15+ years experience
- Licensed & insured
- WCB coverage
- 1-year labour warranty
Mon to Fri 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. · Sat 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. · Sun 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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Or call 778-946-5725 or email info@pacificpaintingbc.com.