How to Reglaze Ceramic Tile

Scrubbing ceramic tile.

Ceramic tile has been used in kitchens and bathrooms for at least 100 years. The qualities of tile include long life and protection against moisture. But color preferences change over time and while the tile may still be working well, the original color may now seem downright ugly. One solution is to reglaze tile to create a new finish more suitable for modern living.

Things You'll Need

• Dish soap and water
• Scrub brush (bristle type)
• Sponge
• Acetone
• Utility knife
• Scraper (1-inch putty knife)
• Silicone digester (to remove caulk/silicone)
• Hydrofluoric Acid Etcher (or other chemical etcher recommended by manufacturer)
• Solvent degreaser (as recommended by manufacturer)
• Epoxy primer
• Polyurethane, acrylic urethane resin paint (or similar)
• Acrylic urethane clear coat
• Tape
• Plastic sheeting
• Paint suit
• Eye protection
• Gloves
• Respirator
• Rental sprayer (high velocity, low pressure)
• Chlorine bleach (optional)
• Towels

Instructions

1. Clean the tile thoroughly with soap and water, scrubbing the tile surface. Use a bristle brush to get into crevices and corners. Whatever you leave on the tile will become a defect in the new finish. (Optional: Use chlorine bleach to kill and clean mold or mildew. Be sure to rinse and dry thoroughly as chemicals in this process cannot be allowed to mix with later chemicals.)

2. Clean the tile with acetone to neutralize additional grime. Rinse and dry thoroughly.

3. Use silicone digester and a scraper or putty knife to remove all traces of silicone or caulk. The utility knife can be used to cut and remove large sections more easily. Wipe, rinse clean and dry thoroughly.

4. Tape and mask off everything in the room with plastic sheeting. Keep in mind that a paint sprayer will overspray, so protect large areas beyond the spray area. Allow for good ventilation when possible.

5. Wear all safety equipment. Use hydrofluoric acid (or another chemical etcher recommended by the manufacturer of your products) to etch the ceramic tile.

6. Wipe down the tile with a solvent degreaser to neutralize and remove all traces of the acids.

7. Apply primer to the tile surface with the sprayer. This may take two to three coats to cover well. Move the sprayer in level, even passes staying a consistent distance from the tile to prevent drips. This is a vital step, since the primer adheres to the tile and the paint and clear coat adhere to the primer.

8. Spray up to 12 thin coats of paint on the tile. Spray paint goes on thinner than hand painting so it takes many coats to build up the finish. Follow the paint manufacturer's recommendation on how long the paint needs to dry between coats. With most paints this is 20 to 30 minutes. Painting may take six to eight hours to complete.

9. Spray several coats of clear coat after the paint has dried thoroughly. This acrylic urethane coating will bring up the high gloss of the original glaze.

Tips & Warnings

• Repair any chips or problems before starting the reglazing process so that the finished tile will look as good as possible. If walls and floors are being finished, the project may need to be done in two or more phases: first the walls and then the floors a few days later. Preparation on this project is key to a quality finish. Some steps may differ for certain products that are sold as a package by reglazing manufacturers.

• The chemicals used in this process are strong and caustic. Good safety measures should be followed at all steps. Children and animals should be kept away until all fumes have dissipated. Never allow chemical products to mix. Clean or dry each step of the process to prevent chemical reactions.

References

• Refinishing Online
• DIY Network
• Integrity Coatings

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish