There's mould growing on my painted bathroom ceiling — can I just paint over it?

No, you should never paint directly over mould. Painting over active mould growth is one of the most common mistakes homeowners make, and it only hides the problem temporarily. The mould will continue growing underneath the new paint, eventually bleeding through and creating an even bigger issue. In Vancouver's humid climate, bathroom mould is particularly aggressive because our ambient humidity levels are already high, and bathrooms add moisture on top of that.

The proper approach starts with killing and removing the mould. Use a solution of one part bleach to four parts water, or a commercial mould remover, and scrub the affected area thoroughly. Let it dry completely — and in a Vancouver bathroom, that means running your exhaust fan for several hours or using a dehumidifier. Once the surface is clean and dry, apply a mould-killing primer such as Zinsser Mold Killing Primer before repainting with a high-quality bathroom paint that contains mould inhibitors.

The underlying cause also needs addressing. Most bathroom mould in Metro Vancouver homes comes from inadequate ventilation. If your exhaust fan is old, undersized, or vents into the attic rather than outside, that's your root problem. Upgrading to a properly ducted fan rated for your bathroom size typically costs $300 to $600 installed and makes a dramatic difference.

As a helpful next step, check that your bathroom fan actually vents to the exterior of your home — many older Vancouver homes have fans that dump moist air into the attic, which creates mould problems both in the bathroom and the roof space.

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