The Best Anti-Mould Paints For Moisture-Prone & Damp Areas

Our handpicked anti-mould paints are your answer to keeping dampness at bay in bathrooms, bedrooms and other interior walls and ceilings.
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Written & Tested By: Edward Bailey | Updated:
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Best Anti Mould Paint
Edward Bailey/DIY Works
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Anti-mould paint is best used in areas that are prone to dampness and mould build up such as behind large furniture, kitchens, bedrooms or bathrooms. The reason why they are recommended is because they are formulated to provide the best form of protection against mould growth and staining whilst still allowing moisture to escape.

It’s important to note that before using any paints, you should fix the cause of the dampness beforehand. No matter how good the anti-mould paint is, severe damp issues may overcome the capabilities of the paint and you may end up wasting your time.

To assist you in selecting an anti-mould paint, our handpicked selection lists top-performing paints, chosen based on our first-hand experience painting areas that have been previously treated for dampness. Our testing and up-to-date research further ensure the quality of our recommendations.

Our Top Picks At A Glance:

Ronseal Anti Mould Paint
Best Overall: Ronseal Anti Mould Paint
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Dryzone Mould Resistant Emulsion
Best Professional: Dryzone Mould Resistant Emulsion
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Ronseal One Coat Damp Seal
Best Permanent: Ronseal One Coat Damp Seal
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Dulux Easycare Anti Mould Paint
Best For Bathrooms: Dulux Easycare
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Polycell One Coat Damp Seal
Most Versatile: Polycell One Coat Damp Seal
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Thompsons Stain Block Damp Seal
Best Value: Thompsons Stain Block Damp Seal
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How The DIY Works Team Tests & Rates Anti Mould Paints

As we own a number of properties (rentals and Airbnb’s), we’ve had to deal with damp on a number of occasions.

Tell-tale signs that we often see are mould growth, paint that begins to crack and general dampness on walls and ceilings. However, before painting over it, we always try to find the cause of the dampness beforehand.

best mould resistant paint

Edward Bailey/DIY Works

Typically, if the mould is within the bathroom, installing a powerful extractor fan as well as using an anti-mould paint is the usual cause of action. However, as shown by the mould in the cupboard in the photo, we were able to solve this issue by using mould resistant paint and asking the tenant to improve the ventilation in the room.

To keep up our commitment to reviewing and testing the latest anti mould paints (for this article), whenever we get the chance, we are attempting to use different formulas for testing purposes. As shown below, we recently used the Ronseal formula (our best-rated option) as well as the brand’s Damp Seal and both worked brilliantly.

best paint for mould

Edward Bailey/DIY Works
best mould paint

Edward Bailey/DIY Works

As well as our experience and testing of a range of anti mould paints, we also based our recommendations on the latest research and a number of factors. Some of the factors that we considered included the paint’s coverage, ease of application, drying time, finish, durability and value for money.

The Best Anti Mould Paints

At DIY Works, our content is 100% independent and we would never recommend a product that we wouldn't use ourselves (read our editorial standards and how we test products).

1. Best Overall: Ronseal Anti Mould Paint

(How We Review →)

By far the most popular and highly rated anti mould paint that’s available in the UK is by the Ronseal brand. It’s a fast-drying formula that’s suitable for walls or ceilings and provides up to 6 years of mould protection. Its long-lasting protection against mould is made possible by the inclusion of a powerful biocide, which is proven to be highly effective.

Pros
  • Suitable for walls and ceilings
    •
  • Easy to apply by brush or roller
    •
  • 13 m2 coverage per litre
    •
  • Touch dry within 2 hours
Cons
  • During testing within a bathroom, we found that it required two coats for the best finish

To conclude, the Ronseal Anti Mould paint really does tick all the boxes and it’s moisture resistant and simply wipes clear of any dirt. The only drawback is that it does require multiple coats for the best results but the benefits of this paint make it worth the extra coat.

2. Best Professional: Dryzone Mould Resistant Emulsion

(How We Review →)

Dryzone is a brand that specializes in damp proofing and their emulsion-based anti mould paint is a great option to consider. This is because it’s a professional strength formula that’s guaranteed to protect against unsightly and unhygienic black mould wherever it’s used.

According to the brand, it’s able to prevent the occurrence of black mould for up to 5 years once applied correctly.

Pros
  • 10 to 12 m2 coverage per litre
    •
  • Compatible with all known paint finishes
    •
  • Fast drying and low odour formula
    •
  • Leaves an easily washable surface
    •
  • Available in white or magnolia
Cons
  • Relatively expensive when compared to the alternatives

To conclude, the Dryzone anti mould paint is an effective solution for walls or ceilings that suffer from the dreaded build-up of mould. Although it does come with a premium price tag, it’s a professional strength formula that doesn’t produce much odour unlike some of the alternatives.

3. Best Permanent: Ronseal One Coat Damp Seal

(How We Review →)

Another solution by Ronseal is their Damp Seal formula, which permanently blocks damp stains. It’s suitable for both walls or ceilings and it can even be applied straight onto damp walls.

Although you can apply this formula straight onto damp walls, you still need to do some minor preparation. This includes removing any wallpaper and sanding away any flaking paint.

It’s important to note that this formula blocks the dampness completely. Therefore, if the painted area is prone to excessive mould growth, you are able to paint over it with the brand’s anti mould paint that’s recommended above.

Pros
  • Touch to dry in 2 hours
    •
  • Permanently seals damp
    •
  • Available in 250 ml, 500 ml or 2.5 litre containers
    •
  • Easy to apply to walls and ceilings
Cons
  • Poor coverage (5 m2 coverage per litre)

To conclude, the Damp Seal by Ronseal is the best option to consider if you want to permanently seal damp. It also benefits from being able to be painted straight onto mould, which can be beneficial for those needing to tackle the issue straight away. The only drawback is its poor coverage but this is to be expected considering the type of paint it is.

4. Best For Bathrooms: Dulux Easycare

(How We Review →)

The Dulux brand is one of the most well-known and they produce a variety of paints. The Easycare formula in particular is the brand’s anti-mould paint that uses a “MouldTec” formulation to protect against mould for up to 5 years.

Compared to their standard matt and silk emulsion paint, the brand state that this anti mould formula is up to 10 times tougher, which is very impressive.

Pros
  • Mould and steam resistant
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  • Soft sheen finish
    •
  • Protects for up to 5 years
    •
  • "MouldTec" formulation to prevent mould build-up
    •
  • 13 m2 coverage per litre
    •
  • Completely dries out within 24 hours
Cons
  • During our testing, we found that it required two coats for the best finish

Overall, the Dulux Easycare offers plenty of protection and we also rated it as the best bathroom paint on the market. If you’ve had issues with mould and dampness within your bathroom, you can’t go wrong with the Easycare formula.

5. Most Versatile: Polycell One Coat Damp Seal

(How We Review →)

The One Coat Damp Seal by Polycell is another popular paint that’s designed to seal patches of damp and prevent them from reappearing. It’s available in 500 ml, 1 or 2.5-litre tins but also as an aerosol for hard to reach areas.

Pros
  • Suitable for most indoor surfaces
    •
  • Seals patches of penetrating damp
    •
  • Easy to apply by brush
    •
  • Can be applied directly onto damp surfaces
    •
  • Desirable matte white finish that can be painted or wallpapered over
Cons
  • Most expensive within our roundup

Although this paint is rather expensive per litre, it does only require a single coat according to the brand and it’s also suitable for most indoor surfaces such as plaster, cement or stone. Therefore, to conclude, the Damp Seal is a great option to consider with an easy brush-on application that can be applied directly onto damp surfaces.

6. Best Value: Thompsons Stain Block Damp Seal

(How We Review →)

By far the cheapest paint used to treat and prevent mould growth is the Thompsons Damp Seal. It’s designed to be painted upon damp surfaces to protect against penetrative damp but it also allows moisture to escape through the paint.

Pros
  • Smooth finish that takes 2 to 3 hours to dry
    •
  • Suitable for walls or ceilings
    •
  • Easy to apply by brush
    •
  • Can be painted directly onto damp surfaces
    •
  • Blocks all household stains (as well as mould)
Cons
  • Poor coverage of just 5 m2 per litre

Overall, the anti-mould paint by Thompsons produces a high-performance yet breathable seal that permanently stops the appearance of damp. Although the brand state that one coat can provide full coverage, it’s advised to add another coat once the first has dried.

Conclusion

After tackling the cause of dampness, investing in a quality anti-mould paint is highly recommended. Compared to regular emulsion paints, they provide greater protection and still allow moisture to escape that’s trapped behind the paint.

Whether you need to seal damp patches upon walls and ceilings or simply want to safeguard the room against mould, all of the recommendations above will do exactly that.

If you require further information regarding any of our anti mould paint recommendations, feel free to get in touch and we will try to provide our assistance where possible.

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