Decorative Ceramic Tile

Painting Ceramic Tile

Thinking About Painting Over Ceramic Tile That You're Tired Of?

If you're thinking about painting ceramic tile, there are two questions you need to answer before you decide: 1) Is it possible? and 2) Why would I do it?

1. Yes. Painting over ceramic tile is possible. But don't do it if the surface gets wet regularly, like the inside of a shower stall.
   
   
2. If you're tired of the way your ceramic tile looks, of if you're just changing the look of the room, painting over ceramic tile is easier and cheaper than removing ceramic tile and replacing it.

Your next decision is whether to paint the grout the same color, or leave it as is, so your paint job can look more like you actually installed new tile. Painting over the grout is certainly a lot easier to do, but doing it the hard way is possible. First remove any crumbling grout, regrout, wait at least 48 hours for it to cure, and then cover it using special acrylic tape before you paint.

Now, having made your choices, it's time to start painting your ceramic tile. If you've ever painted before, you should be able to do this job yourself, and save the expense of hiring a painting contractor. Here are the steps:

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• It is important to start with an absolutely clean surface. Use a good household cleaner, and be sure to get rid of any mildew as well. One product that can serve both functions is an oxygen bleach cleaner such as Stain Solver or OxiClean.
  
  
• Now you need to sand the surface of the tile so the paint can adhere. Use a fine sandpaper, so as not to leave visible scratches. ( One paint manufacturer, Zinsser, claims that if you use their bonding primer, sanding is not necessary. )
  
  
• Now you're ready to begin painting the ceramic tile. There are several methods of doing this.
  
  
  • Use a coat or two of high-adhesion latex bonding primer first. Then for the top coat, use acrylic latex paint. You will need to wait at least 14 days for the paint to cure, so that it's fully scratch-resistant.
    
    
  • If your tile is in a room with high humidity, you may need to use a 2-part epoxy paint, which takes quite a bit more skill to apply. If you choose this option, you will not need a primer.
    
    
  • Use an oil-based paint, which is more resistant to peeling than latex, and will not require a primer coat. This can be a messy job, as it requires paint thinner to clean your tools.
    
    
• This last step is necessary if you want to ensure that your new paint job is thoroughly protected. After the paint has cured for at least two days, apply a coat or two of a clear finish containing polyurethane.

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Ebonie

Posted 599 days ago

Well I'm a landlord, and I'm not about to spend hundreds of dollars re-tiling the bathroom floor every time a tenant moves out. Most of them don't stay long enough to make it worthwhile anyway.

Jean

Posted 616 days ago

One of the things I really don't like is doing something a certain way just because it's easier, or cheaper. When I want to change the look of my bathroom tiles, I'm going to take the time to do it right!

Sherrill

Posted 672 days ago

If you're so broke you can't afford to put in new ceramic tile, at least you could make it look like a bit more like real tile by not painting the grout! Painting grout the same color makes it look like you're a landlord trying to fix the place up real quick for a new tenant.

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