So I'm doing a pretty simple bathroom remodel. Mostly just painting and putting in some new molding and fixtures. The issue I'm having is with the paint that is currently on the walls. Where the tile meets the wall, there is paint on the tile and grout that is along the top of the tile.



So once I clean off the tiles, can i remove the grout as well from the top of the tiles and simply bead some silicon caulk along the top where they meet the drywall?

The other issue is that the previous owners put some sort of mud/spackle on top of the dry wall before they painted



That picture is upside down, but you get the idea

Whatever it is, it comes off like sand when it becomes wet. I discovered this because there is paint bubbling where it meets the tile, due to moisture from the shower, which is why I am removing the current paint and not just covering it in the first place. Can anyone identify what the current stuff is, the best way to remove it and recommend something else I can use to re-smooth the drywall before I paint that is not sensitive to moisture?

Thanks for the help!

 

Welcome to the forums!

Hard to say what it is from a pic was it left unpainted? Regular joint compound [maybe spackling too] is water soluble and will dissolve when it gets wet. Primer followed by latex enamel is generally enough to protect the j/c from damage. Sanding [maybe scraping] should remove most/all of it.

There shouldn't be any issue with caulking the edge of the tile where it meets the wall.

 

Can you take another picture or two and this time hole a utility light or flashlight such that the light shines across the wall so that we can get a better look at the texture that has been applied. Can't really tell anything from the two upside down pictures you have submitted.

 

I've attached some more photos below.

Whatever it is was not left unpainted. It also was not applied evenly and does not appear to have been sanded or leveled in any way before it was painted.

Could I just score the paint witha utility knife and then wet the walls with a sponge to then easily remove the substance and the paint in one fell swoop (and cut down on my dust level dramatically) or would that cause damage to the drywall?






Thanks for the help, guys!

 

I'd scrape off whatever is loose, apply an oil base primer [Zinnser's Gardz would also be ok] patch with joint compound as needed, sand, prime and apply a coat or two of latex enamel.

 

And don't use silicone. Use a grout caulk. It's in the same area of the store as the tile.

 

If you use regular latex caulk you'll want to paint the caulk after it sets up but you can get color matched grout caulk that won't need painting - I've done it both ways. Silicone caulk has it's used but never on or next to where you need to paint!