Bathroom Redo: Painting Ceramic Tile

ceramictilePainting ceramic tile is an excellent way to update a bathroom. Older bathrooms especially may have outdated colors and patterns on the walls, but on ceramic tile that's still in good shape. The idea of removing all that tile and starting with a clean slate can quickly make you decide that the ugly tile's not so bad after all! You don't have to compromise anymore. You can change the room by painting ceramic tile a color that you want.

Bear in mind that painting ceramic tile that's on the walls will work fine. But tile in the tub or shower enclosure will have to be replaced if you want to change it. Any area where the tile will be constantly wet won't work for painting. Professionals have special chemicals and supplies that will allow them to essentially refinish tile in those areas. But for the home DIYer, painting ceramic tiles should be limited to those on the regular bathroom walls.

Preparation

No paint will stick to a shiny ceramic tile for very long, so the surface must be roughed. Using a tile cleaner with a tiny bit of abrasive in it, get the tile as sparkling as you possibly can. Make sure all the grout is secure and remove any mildew stains. If a cracked tile is present, now's the time to replace it. With a 200-220 grit sandpaper on an orbital sander (or any sander of your choice), remove the shine from the tile. Be sure to get the corners. If you miss any spots on the tile, the paint won't adhere in those areas. So be thorough with the sanding, and then remove all the dust from the tile.

You'll want paint thinners and rags handy to clean up after yourself, both to fix quick mistakes and to clean your supplies, because you'll be using oil-based paint. Latex is cheaper, easier to work with and less messy, but the finish won't be as durable as it would be with oil-based paint. Unless you're looking forward to painting ceramic tile again in a short amount of time, oil-based paint is well worth the extra cost and hassle.

Priming and Painting Ceramic Tile

Get the best adhesion primer you can afford, and go with oil based. First use a brush for the corners and then a short-nap roller. Take your time and get the smoothest coat you can. Let the coat dry and then prime with a second coat.

After this has dried overnight, use 220 grit sandpaper to lightly go over the surface. The object is to catch anything you created while priming. Don't sand the primer away, just flatten any bumps or lines. Use oil-based semi-gloss or high-gloss paint as your top coat, to get an amazingly durable finish. Several thinner coats are better than one or two thick ones. Be sure to let each coat dry thoroughly before you start the next one. Painting ceramic tile isn't difficult but you do need to follow some basic steps to ensure great results and fantastic new look for your bathroom.

535 Bathroom Vanity Marble Stone Top Lavatory Single White Sink Cabinet 910W

535 Bathroom Vanity Marble Stone Top Lavatory Single White Sink Cabinet 910W

US $889.00
Sale
Sakucera Advanced Ceramic Knife 4 5 6 Set White Blade Santoku B

Sakucera Advanced Ceramic Knife 4 5 6 Set White Blade Santoku B

US $47.59
Sale
Spear Point Design Metal Drill Bit Silver Tone Black

Spear Point Design Metal Drill Bit Silver Tone Black

US $4.47
Sale
52 Bathroom Vanity Travertine Stone Top LED Lighted Single Sink Cabinet 193TL

52 Bathroom Vanity Travertine Stone Top LED Lighted Single Sink Cabinet 193TL

US $1,079.00
Sale
Vintage Ceramic Tile Trivet or wall hanging Lord is My Shepherd 4 1 4 x 4 1 4

Vintage Ceramic Tile Trivet or wall hanging Lord is My Shepherd 4 1 4 x 4 1 4

US $5.99
Sale
Mini Pink Pig Shaped Shower Head Pal w 2 Pcs Suction Cup

Mini Pink Pig Shaped Shower Head Pal w 2 Pcs Suction Cup

US $11.72
Sale
W166 16 Decorative 4x4 Mexican Talavera Handmade Tile

W166 16 Decorative 4x4 Mexican Talavera Handmade Tile

US $8.75
Sale
Marble Tile Glass Diamond Hole Saw Drilling Tool 55mm

Marble Tile Glass Diamond Hole Saw Drilling Tool 55mm

US $10.46
Sale
Ceramic Square Hotplate in Wooden Frame Made in Italy S Marco Ceramica

Ceramic Square Hotplate in Wooden Frame Made in Italy S Marco Ceramica

US $24.99
Sale
Masonry Ceramic Marble Cutting 105mm Diameter Saw Blade

Masonry Ceramic Marble Cutting 105mm Diameter Saw Blade

US $10.95
Sale
Brand New Cute Cartoon Strawberry Wall Decor Sticker Decal

Brand New Cute Cartoon Strawberry Wall Decor Sticker Decal

US $.01
Sale
Brand New Great Disney Mickey Wall Decor Sticker Decal

Brand New Great Disney Mickey Wall Decor Sticker Decal

US $.01
Sale
N DeGrazia Ceramic Pottery Tile Art Trivet

N DeGrazia Ceramic Pottery Tile Art Trivet

US $14.99
Sale
RARE ANTIQUE VOLKMAR ARTS CRAFTS TILE

RARE ANTIQUE VOLKMAR ARTS CRAFTS TILE

US $40.00
Sale
Santa Clauses Against Wall Ceramic Tile

Santa Clauses Against Wall Ceramic Tile

US $9.99
Sale

Photo Credits: Celeste33

Originally posted 2009-09-23 06:25:38. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Blog Traffic Exchange Related Posts
  • homeThe Credit Crunch and Your Home - Raise its Value With the recent economic crisis, a lot of individuals are worried about property values in light of the current events. While nothing can be said to predict just how everything can pan out, there are steps that you can perform to raise the value of your home and give yourself......
  • wallpaperBudget Decoration Tips: Use What You Have One of the most popular budget decoration tips is to use paint over other materials, because paint is cheaper and more easily changed. But if you want to be even better to your budget than dipping in to buy several gallons of paint, there are many ways you can use......
  • deckHow to Stain Concrete Concrete normally comes in one color – grey – and after awhile, it can get pretty boring looking at the same old thing. If you want to increase the curb appeal of your home, or you just want something new to look at, staining concrete is one of the easiest......
  • builtinRestoring Built-Ins If your home is from the arts and crafts era, or if you have built-ins that are looking a little worn, restoring them is not as difficult as you may think. Built-ins are incredibly useful but they are often overlooked by many home owners. Here are some great tips to......
  • groutHow to Invigorate Your Grout Tile floors can be gorgeous and they are great in climates where it gets a little hot. However, the one main downside of tile floors is that the grout can get pretty yucky after a few years. No amount of scrubbing can return it to its previously pristine state and......
Blog Traffic Exchange Related Websites
  • furniturerepairsAntique Furniture Repair The first piece of advice when you are thinking of antique furniture repair is to stop. Don't do anything until you've read this blog - it could save you (or gain you) thousands. Every antique dealer has horror stories to share --- there's the woman who stripped the old paint......
  • violinMore Tips on Buying Violins With the vast assortment violins to choose from, buying a new instrument can be quite a challenging endeavor. However, this task can be much easier if you do some research ahead of time. The following are some points to remember when buying a new or used violin. If you are......
  • bearingsHow to Clean and Lubricate Skate Bearings Clean bearings are going to roll smoother, roll faster, and will last much longer than dirty bearings. Dirt and grime foul the bearings and can cause pitting which make rotation uneven and rough. The following paragraphs have instructions for cleaning bearings with removable shields. If you do not have removable......
  • Weather VanesWeather Vanes Antiques -> Architectural and Garden -> Weather Vanes, Lightning Rods One of the most interesting collectibles you can run across is a weather vane. These used to adorn the roofs of houses and every one in awhile you’ll still see one up there. They range from simple roosters to ornate......
  • thumbTaking DIY Disasters into Your Own Hands Watching home improvement television may inspire you to tackle your own home renovation projects, but just as quickly as you found the inspiration to get started, you will find yourself getting over your head. Every year, millions of Americans are tackling their own home remodeling projects, both large and small.......
Online Stores If you liked this article, vote for it on del.icio.us and stumbleupon.


Categories:

Ceramic, Handy Man, Tile



Tags:

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


0 comments ↓

There are no comments yet...Kick things off by filling out the form below.

Leave a Comment

Email Updates

appearance budget clutter Curb Appeal debris dirt Doors downside electricity elements Flooring furniture gloves hammer handyman Hardware Store heavy duty holes home improvement home improvement projects home improvements insulation job ladder lighting fixtures little bit money nails paint pipes pliers plumber plumbing power tools right tools sandpaper screw screwdriver screws shape soap stains surfaces tiles water damage