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How to Paint Tile
It can be done if you follow these steps
by Lynn Siprelle
by Lynn Siprelle
ow do you paint tile" is one of the most frequent searches at TNH, even though we haven't had a definitive answer for that question. Until now. 
The most important thing to know about painting tile is that IT WILL NOT WORK IF THE TILE WILL BE WET A LOT OF THE TIME. That means painting the tile in your bathroom is right out, sorry, as is any tile in your kitchen that gets wet a lot.
Your kitchen backsplash, non-sink countertops, floor tiles, wall tiles and fireplace tiles can be painted, though! It's inexpensive compared to replacing it and can give you a brand-new look.
The secret to good tile painting is preparation.
- Clean the tile and grout well with something that will strip any greases, oils or dirt off, and rinse thoroughly. Paint won't stick otherwise.
- Be sure to remove any mold or mildew with bleach or hydrogen peroxide.
- Check for any underlying damage--crumbling grout, etc.--and repair it.
- THE CRITICAL STEP: Sand the tile. Yes, I hate sanding too, but if you skip this step the paint won't stick. Use #220 fine-grit sandpaper, either by hand or with an orbital sander if you have a lot of tile to cover. Be sure to scrupulously clean up all the sanding dust.
You then need to prime your tile with a product like Kilz. Make sure the primer you use is appropriate for glossy surfaces. Use two coats and sand the last one very lightly once it's dry, taking care once again to clean up all the dust.
Choosing the paint
Professional painters say that oil-based paints stick best to tile. Semi-gloss or high-gloss paints are recommended for wall, fireplace and countertop tiles. For floor tiles, satin finish floor-specific paint, or a semi-gloss polyurethane paint, is best.
Err on the side of thin. Several lightweight thin coats of paint will stick to your tile better than one single heavy coat. Be sure to follow directions on your paint's label for thinning; it is possible to thin it too much.
Don't be afraid to experiment with decorative painting or stenciling. You can always paint over it, after all! And when you are done and everything has dried for at least two and preferably three days, consider giving it all a couple of coats of urethane, especially a floor. It will protect your painted tile and keep it looking fresh for years.
Comments
I read the article for
I read the article for painting tile. What about the grout? Will that hold the paint and be the same color as the floor? Will the grout lines reappear?
I am wondering about the
I am wondering about the grout as well. I am interested in painting the grout only, and leaving the tile alone. How should you clean painted tile/grout?
How about removing paint?
Just bought a home in which the previous owner did a bad
paint job. Looks like they tried to give a beautiful dark brown tile
a golden shine with some kind of sponged-on textured gold paint.
Is there a safe way to remove it without damaging the tile itself?
It doesn't appear that they sanded the tile.
Painting Ceramic Tiles
As a professional refinisher of tile and a manufacturer of coatings for tile I must stress that oil based paints are not for tile applications. An epoxy coating is waterproof, high gloss and will adhere better to tile then oil based paints and primers. visit www.refinishingonline.com for more information about painting ceramic tiles. Special primers are required that are specific for ceramic tile application and will not peel off in a short period of time like Kilz and oil based paint will. 10 + years can be realized with epoxy based coatings and they can be applied to floor tile in heavy traffic areas.
Primer
Would you use an oil based primer as well?
Warning to readers: do not
Warning to readers: do not follow the advice in this article.
Firstly, do not sand tiles, as the author claims. This makes the tiles look used and scratched, especially viewed from a side angle. To make the paint adhere to the tiles use a primer, specifically a shellac based primer because it provides an excellent barrier against water vapor penetration. (On a side note 220 grit sandpaper is NOT FINE. Fine sandpaper would be around 1800 grit.)
And secondly, the author's claim that one cannot paint tiles that get wet a lot, such the tiles in a bathroom, is incorrect. One can paint tiles that are exposed to water, as in a shower recess. Epoxy paints are used for that very situation.
painting tile
I saw that you said painting tile in a bathroom, or anywhere, is out if it will get wet a lot. What about using garage floor or basement floor paint. I don't know if there is as wide a variety of colors but if we found the color we wanted is that do-able?
painting tile backsplash
The kitchen in my new home has tile backsplash but about every 12 inches there are "diamonds" painted blue. I want to paint these diamonds black and think I have everything to do this. I read that I need to sand and then saw the post saying not to. The diamonds are not as "shiny" as the tile but are smooth. Help!?!?
painting bathroom tile in tub/shower area
I'm a decorative painter and a customer has asked me to do a faux finish on her bathroom tiles which extend into the bath/shower area. I'm looking for the most durable finish to stand up to cleaning and hot water.
Thanks for your overview
You mention that you should protect the floors with urethanes but is this a need step for walls too?
Does this paint job last long? I have been thinking about doing this to my bathroom tile walls (not the shower) and everyone says it will peal in a few years or everytime you bump the wall it will scratch off the paint.
Re: painting tiles
What should you do if the tiles are already painted? Do you need to prime again and paint over in order to change the color? or do you just paint over after cleaning the surface.
Please help !
Painting marble tiles
I have a sort of marble tile in the hallway which have become very drab looking. They are presently a sort of cream colour with a brownish vein running through. I would like to change the colour or anyway brighten it up. Is this possible?
If you search on Google for
If you search on Google for "painting tiles grout" there's a couple of articles with the answers to these questions.
I have the same problem
I want to remove my current paint safely too, but really worried if this would damage the surface of the tile. Anyone did that before could give us some advice?
Paint textured floor tile
Our whole house has a white textured ceramic tile. It must be a good quality as the house is about 25 years old. The problem is that when anyone walks in, the sand/dirt from shoes or dog paws, gets caught against these textured ridges. I can't scrub this by hand or it would just become my life's work. Is there anything I can apply that would make the tiles smoother so that the dirt can be vacuumed up?
I wouldn't mind adding some color also.
Thank you for any assistance,
Marcie
This is exactly what I have
This is exactly what I have been looking for! I wanted to DIY the tiles in my kitchen. So this one helps. I am very excited to get started.
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