How to Paint Over Ceramic Tiles

In uncertain economic times, pulling up flooring or ripping out ceramic tiles on the walls of your home may not be feasible. Painting ceramic tiles, however, is a low-cost home improvement project that can breathe new life into your living space. There is a fair amount of preparation involved to make the ceramic ready to accept paint, but the steps are easy.

Things You'll Need

• Tile cleaner
• Sandpaper
• Electric sander
• Paint brushes or rollers
• Primer
• Latex or oil-based paint

Instructions

1. Clean your tiled surface thoroughly with your chosen brand of floor or bathroom cleaner. Under normal circumstances, abrasive cleaners would scratch your tiles and should be avoided. In this case, an abrasive cleaner can actually help you "roughen up" your ceramic tile so paint will stick to it.

2. Reduce the glossy shine and slippery surface of ceramic tile through sanding. Sandpaper grits in the 200 range are appropriate for this task. Sand small areas of tile by hand or for a larger job, rent an electric sander from your local home improvement store. The sanded tile should feel rough to the touch and appear scratched when you are finished.

3. Apply a primer to the ceramic tile in preparation for painting. Oil-based primers will usually stick to the tile well. Use paintbrushes or rollers, depending on the size of your job and the location of the tiling. You may need to apply two coats of primer to ensure that the ceramic surface is adequately covered.

4. Sand the tile again lightly after the primer has dried. The drying time depends on the type of primer you choose but can range from a few hours to overnight.

5. Paint over the primed ceramic tile with the paint color of your choice. Oil-based or latex paints stick nicely to primed tile.