Our house was built 3-4 years ago and we are noticing a moisture issue above the shower in the hallway bathroom. I am curious if this a paint issue and easily fixed or if it is possible there could be moisture in the walls and going to require a more complicated remedy.

The walls are painted with one coat of Valspar Premium interior paint (eggshell). The shower is used daily and the bathroom fan is run during and after the shower. The fan runs for about 45 minutes after a shower and the door is partially open during a shower.

We have another shower in our master bathroom that has two coats of the same type of paint and there is not noticeable moisture issue above it. However, there is no window above it either.

I am worried the moisture from the shower is somehow getting in the walls (drywall) and slowing going to rot it. I am afraid if I repaint, it will just hide the issue but not fix it. Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated!

Here is a picture of the moisture issue:

 

Welcome to the forums!

Does the staining go away several hours after the shower is turned off?

I've seen this quite a bit but it was always when flat latex paint was used instead of a latex enamel

As long as the drywall doesn't feel soft or mushy, it's probably ok. If the water marks don't dry off they will need a solvent based primer to seal them, otherwise it should be ok to just apply another coat of latex enamel. Is the ceiling painted with latex enamel too?

Do you know what primer was used under the bath paint? Why did this bath get one coat and the master bath two?

With the exception of the old Valspar oil base exterior house paint [back in the 60s-70s] I've not used much of their paint and can only give the opinion that generally the paint sold at a big box isn't of great quality

 

Where are you located? In a cold climate? I'm wondering if there is poor insulation in that area causing more than the normal amount of condensation.

 

We painted the entire house (4000+ sq. ft) before we moved our stuff in and being only the wife and I... some areas got two coats and other one.

We live in Indiana, so it definitely gets cold. I wouldn't think a fairly new house has poor insulation, but I guess it is possible.

 

Did the builder paint and then you repainted or was your paint the only paint applied?

 

I don't think you said whether it goes away with time or not?

I think the answer is the window. Not only is that a cold spot itself but there is probably a header right above it preventing any insulation being installed. And somehow those little areas between a header and the wall top plate often seem to get skipped or compressed too much

 

The walls were off-white when we took possession. Not sure if it was primer or paint.

 

The moisture marks fade as the day goes on, but are always noticeable.... they never completely fade.

If there is no insulation above that window does that mean the moisture is somehow in the wall and/or drywall?

 

If the builder handed over the house as a completed house, the paint would have been finish paint but likely a cheap builder's line of paint. It should have primer under the paint but a few builders skip that step to save a nickel

I wouldn't think the lack of insulation due to the header would be a big deal but most of my painting experience[and how houses are built] is in the S.E. I would think the moisture barrier [plastic] would prevent a moisture problem. I'm sure one of the other guys say for sure.