Question from Allison
Debra, Thanks again for all your help. For painting a bathroom, do you recommend using a paint that contains mildewcide? AFM Safecoat will add it, if I request it.
If I do have the mildewcide added, will it be any danger to my health once the paint is completely dried and cured?
Thanks!
Debra’s Answer
Oh, this is a difficult question to answer because “mildewcide” refers to a broad range of chemcials, some of which are more toxic than others.
The bathroom is a room where there is a lot of moisture that could cause mold to grow on walls.
One way to control mold growth is with a mildewcide in the paint.
What I did was tile up seven feet on all the walls, and then applied colored clay plaster from American Clay. The clay plaster absorbs moisture when it is present, and releases it back into the air when the air is dry, so there is no buildup of moisture on the surface of the wall for mold growth.
My best recommendation for bathroom walls is tile and clay plaster.
Contact AFM and find out what mildewcide they use and then evaluate it’s toxicity. That will give you your answer.
You didn’t say whether you have a bathroom window and what kind of climate you live in. I live in an apartment in Southern Calif with a bathroom window and tile 6 feet up, but after every shower I squeeegee the tile with a rag and dry the corners with paper towels and leave the fan running for an hour. I also have an extra rod above the shower and I hang the wet towel from it and don’t put it on the towel rack until the next morning. In other words there are many variables and possibilities.