For bathroom cabinetry, a semi-gloss. Actually, I use semi-gloss on just about all cabinetry and trim that I paint. The more gloss, the better it'll perform in a moist environment. And the easier to clean.

I'm not a big fan of a gloss or semi-gloss on large expanses of drywall, the glossier you go the more the paint will reflect and the more it will show any imperfections in the surface of the wall. So I'll drop down to a satin for bathroom walls and ceiling.

That's based on sheen levels of flat, eggshell, satin, semigloss, gloss. Different paint manufacturers may have different names for their gloss levels.

Some of the specialty "bath" paints have 5-year mildew protection. Is that worth anything? It may perform better, but I can't tell you if the actual guarantee is worth anything other than maybe a free gallon of paint if you were to mildew within that time.

The sheen recommendations I gave are my opinion, not gospel.

Best, Mongo

Mongo, I value your opinion on another portion of your reply.
We have beadboard walls and ceiling in our bathroom. No shower, just a clawfoot tub.

Would you treat the walls and ceiling the same as the other woodwork in the bathroom? And paint it semigloss with maybe a top coat in satin if it turned out too too overpowering?

....can you not get a mildewcide to add to your paint?
I was under the impression that you could do that with a water-based paint?

Yes to painting the woodwork (to include wainscot and wood ceilings) in a semigloss. My kids' bathroom is floor-to-ceiling beadboard, it's painted in a semi-gloss. Never a problem, either with mildew or the paint being too glossy.

It's normally just high gloss on drywall (not woodwork) that can be problematic. If typical wall preparation was done, the higher gloss paints can show sanding swirl marks, pinholes, mud humps at the seams, even with excellent prep it can reflect light differently from the drywall paper versus where the mud is. A good primer can eliminate that too, but I'm just giving worst-case scenario which seems to be typified in standard construction.

A paint with lesser reflective properties will hide those imperfections.

Funny, I was going to add what you wrote, that you could paint it a semigloss (or even a gloss) first coat with a satin top coat if desired.

And yes, there are mildewcides that can be added to paints. They can be added to both alkyd and latex.

Has anyone tried Valspar Kitchen and Bath Enamel?

Here is a link that might be useful: valspar

suebot,

I used to work in a hardware store and sold lots of paint. Even though most paints these days are mildew resistant an additive can be added to the paint, however, if you have a bathroom fan you shouldn't have a problem with mildew.

We used on our walls Benjamin Moore Natura because we wanted zero VOCs emitted. In the BM store the mildewcide additive individual packets were available and I think it was $5 - $7 a gallon. The BM store staff mixed it in as they prepared my order and this makes the Natura paint mildew resistant.