How do I keep a 6ft by 10ft bathroom with window and exhaust fan from cracking the ceiling?

Question

My bathroom initially has just a tub in it. I added a shower head with hose to it to make it a stand up instead of just a tub. After a couple of years I am starting to notice the paint pealing off due to heat and moisture. Is there any way to keep this from happening again, or do I just need to chip, plaster, and paint the ceiling.

Answer 1

Instead of using plaster or regular drywall, you would need to rip it out and install blueboard or greenboard in a bathroom.  It is water resistant.

Answer 2

With all due respect, thank you for adding details. The question does not strictly relate to the details.

  I only use Greenboard in areas NOT directly in contact with water, but you hardly have a choice for a ceiling, unless you use concrete backer board and maybe a fiberglass based stucco for the ceiling.

  Beyond that you still have a moisture/ humidity problem, and that relates to the bathroom size, the exhausting, and the various substances used in finishing. I'd forget PLASTER, and cannot imagine why it's still in use beyond ART work.

  Without some other details however, it may be just general answers you'll get here.

  I'm curious about a shower pan, the remediation of the flooring where the tub used to be, a built in molded shower stall unit? and was there never a shower head in place when the tub was in place?

  Other questions arise as well, but....

Steven Wolf

Just my two "sense"

Answer 3

MR (moisture resistant) drywall really has not been shown to be any more effective than standard drywall unless covered with tile, but I would never use it as backer for tile.  I would use cement board.

For the situation you have, you will need to scrape the loose paint off.  If necessary after scraping, apply a skimcoat of all purpose joint compound to smooth out the ceiling.  Then sand, prime with a quality primer, apply 2 coats of a moisture resistant paint.  This will seal the ceiling and prevent flaking.  Good luck.

Answer 4

Scrape and sand the ceiling. Then purchase a special paint that contains titanium made especially for bathrooms. A few years back this paint was $20. a quart. This should eliminate your cracking. The paint is very heavy.