Sometimes a decorating project isn't just a routine update on dated decor but rather provoked by another event such as water damage causing stains to appear on the wall. There are very few situations that will cause a homeowner to get the paint brushes out quite as quickly as water stains on a wall would.

But how can you take care of these stains so they won't reappear? And what are the steps involved in fixing unsightly water stains on walls?

Well, if this is a problem you are facing you are in luck, in this actionable guide we will talk you through every step involved in returning your home to its former appeal.

How to Cover Up Water Stains

Here is a full breakdown of how to paint over water stains step by step.

Clean the Surface

The first step is to give the surface a good clean with a cleaning agent such as our Maalipesu. Once applied wait for this to fully dry ensuring you have a clean, dry, and stable surface to work with.

Prime the Surface

Next, it's time to paint over water stains with a primer. For this stage, we recommend using AkroStop Sealing Paint. This special primer blocks stains from coming through again and will work on a wide range of substrates such as plaster, plasterboard, brick, and concrete. (If you are working with a wooden surface we recommend taking a look at Multistop). Akrostop will prevent water stains, nicotine, and ink from bleeding through the paint film. It’s also worthwhile mentioning, a further coat may be required depending on the extent of the stain.

Just applying the top coat to cover water stains without the stain-blocking primer will not be enough to ensure it doesn't just come through again bringing back that stained surface.

Apply your Top Coat

Once the primer has fully dried it is time to apply your topcoat. There are a few options to choose from here depending on the area you are painting.

If you are painting in an area that is likely to have moisture in the air such as a bathroom or kitchen you will want to choose a paint that is made to resist it. For this, we would recommend our bathroom paint collection which showcases the full Luja range.

For other spaces such as bedrooms or living rooms, you have a wider choice of paints such as our very popular Anti Reflex 2 for ceilings or our premium Optiva wall paints.

Don't Forget to Find the Cause of the Water Stain

It can be very easy to just fix the problem aesthetically and move along. The big problem here is that it doesn't guarantee that it won't come back. And if you have not solved the problem there is a good chance it will come back again, and perhaps even worse than it was before.

And if you are dealing with mould you will need to go through a slightly different process and there are a few other considerations to take into account.

There is always a reason for the staining appearing on your wall. The reason may be quite clear such as water damage from an upstairs bathroom where a bath has overflowed. If nothing immediately springs to mind you will want to have it investigated further by a professional. If there is a larger issue at play this will only keep reoccurring or lead to a far larger bill later on.

The advice above in the how-to is based on it being a dry and discoloured area where mineral deposits have been left behind. If the area is still wet or has been actively leaking recently you should play it safe and get professional support.