Difficulty
Beginner
Duration
Over 1 day
Does your home have ceramic or mosaic tiles in a dated design or color scheme? For an inexpensive update, consider adding a new coat of paint. When finished properly, painted tiles look great in almost any room. You can paint on ceramic tile and almost every tiled surface in your home. However, painting tile doesn’t work well in the shower.
This guide covers how to paint tiles using kitchen or bathroom tile paints.
Clean the Old Tile
As you learn how to paint tile, you’ll need to do some prep work. Get started by cleaning the tile thoroughly.
Most tile is located in high-use areas such as kitchens and bathrooms where grime or soap scum can build up. Use a commercial cleaner and sponge to scrub tiles. Rinse with clear water and allow tile to dry. If needed, apply a degreasing cleaner on kitchen tile backsplashes to make sure they are completely clean.
Repair Tile and Grout
Tile is durable and looks great for years. However, it can show signs of wear and tear. Before painting tiles, inspect them carefully. Use a putty knife to fill cracks and chips with caulk. Scrape away any excess and wait until repairs dry before moving to the next step.
Take time to repair the grout around the tiles as well. Little flaws can be fixed with a small amount of grout from a tube. Wear gloves and use your finger to rub in the grout. Wipe any extra off with a cloth. If the grout is in rough shape, it may need to be removed and replaced entirely.
Sand Old Tile
Most tile is finished with a layer of glaze for protection. For paint to adhere to tile, the glaze must be removed. Use a minimum of 100-grit sandpaper to hand-sand, or machine-sand tile with a sander before painting it. Gently rub the surface with sandpaper, taking care not to damage the tile's surface. When finished with sanding, use a damp cloth to wipe away any sanding grit.
Apply Primer to Tiles
After sanding the tile, get the area where you’ll be painting ready. Use a drop cloth to cover the floor. Put painter’s tape on any surfaces and fixtures that you don’t want to get paint on.
Whether your goal is to update mosiac tilesfor a hallway or painted tiles for a backsplash, one of the most important steps in learning how to paint tiles is using a primer. Primers hide unwanted colors and designs. When you’re painting tile, using bonding primer will help new paint adhere better to the tiles. It can also help keep the paint from chipping and peeling in the future.
Working on clean, dry tile, roll the primer evenly over the tiles. Use two coats if necessary, letting primer dry between coats before moving to the next step. If you are hand painting tiles, use a small paint brush to paint details onto the tiles.
As you’re applying primer and painting tile, work safely. Make sure the area is well-ventilated. Wear a mask, gloves and protective eyewear.
Paint Tiles with Epoxy Paint
Painting tile requires using special epoxy paints or tile paints. This paint is made to stick to tile. It is extremely durable and washable.
Use a roller to apply paint evenly to the tile as directed in the manufacturer's instructions. Make sure to paint grout as well. Let paint dry for 24 to 48 hours so that it is non-tacky to the touch. Add a clear coat of polyurethane if desired.
Add a Pattern
To give wall or backsplash tiles a refreshed look, you can add a pattern. Use a stencil for painting bathroom tile or kitchen tile.
Find a stencil that suits the size of your tiles. Before you start adding the pattern to your tiles, practice stencil painting on a piece of cardboard.
Start with a clean tile floor. Priming the tile will help the stencil paint stick to it.
Plan the pattern so it will match the tiled space you want to paint. Use painter’s tape to cover the edges of the area.
Begin stenciling on one of the edges. Work on one tile at a time. Lay the stencil on the tile. Use painter’s tape to secure the stencil. You can apply the paint with a brush or a sponge.
The key to pretty stenciling is using the right amount of paint. Dab a little paint onto the stencil and tile at a time, adding more if you need to.
When you’re done painting the pattern, allow plenty of time to let it dry. Depending on how you’re working, you may need to let one stencil dry before adding the next.
Pros of Painting Tile
Knowing the pros and cons of painting tile can help you decide if this project is right for you.
Pros include:
- Painting tile is a budget friendly alternative to putting in new tile.
- It’s a DIY project that almost anyone can do. Painting tile is much easier than installing tile.
- You won’t have to take out the old tile or figure out how to dispose of it.
- Getting ready to paint tile includes making minor repairs to your existing tile, which can improve its appearance.
The cons of painting tile include:
- Paint doesn’t last as long as the finish on tile. The paint you apply may come off over the years. Paint might not be the best option for high traffic tile, such as floors, or tile that gets wet often, like in the shower.
- When you paint tile, the grout will be painted over, too. You’ll no longer see the contrast between the grout and tile.
- You need to do thorough job of cleaning and repairing the tile before you get started.
- While the paint dries, you may not be able to use the room the tile is in.
If you aren’t in love with the tile in your home, you don’t have to commit to a costly replacement. When you know how to paint tile, you can give it a whole new look.
Ready to start painting tile? The Home Depot delivers online orders when and where you need them. You can also shop The Home Depot Mobile App to compare paint colors and make a list of paint supplies.