How to Paint a Ceramic Tile Wall in a Bathroom

Old bathroom tile can be painted for a fresh look.

Painting your bathroom tile is an excellent alternative to spending a lot of money replacing them. Faded or ugly bathroom tile in your shower or on countertops can be refinished using epoxy, latex or oil paint. If you are considering painting your tile, determine wear and moisture level of the wall before choosing a paint. Spray paints, enamels and epoxies are not suitable for tiles because they flake easily. However, acrylic paint applied to a cleaned and primed wall works well for a professional finish. Along with paint, you only need a few more supplies for a quick bathroom makeover.

Things You'll Need

• Commercial tile cleaner with a mild abrasive
• Sponge
• Bleach or hydrogen peroxide
• Sandpaper, 1,800 grit
• Orbital sander
• High-adhesion primer for glossy surfaces
• Oil-based high gloss paint
• Clear urethane finish
• Synthetic bristle brush
• Natural bristle brush
• Lint-free cloth
• Dust sheets
• Nail brush

Instructions

Instructions

1. Place dust sheets around your work area to collect dust generated from sanding.

2. Clean the tile. Use a sponge and abrasive tile cleaner to thoroughly wash and remove all soap grime. The abrasive cleaner helps to get rid of the gloss. Continue cleaning any dirty grout with a nail brush and bleach. Rinse down the wall with warm water to remove the cleaner, and allow it to dry.

3. Remove any remaining gloss from the ceramic tiles with 1,800-grit sandpaper and an orbital sander. This step is the most important step and determines the quality and longevity of the paint job. Leaving gloss on the tiles can cause the paint to peel away in as little as a week.

4. Wipe the dust from the tile and apply your primer. Make sure your primer is an oil-based high adhesion primer. Oil-based primers are better at blocking stains and offer a better adhesive base for the application of the paint. Apply two coats of primer, allowing it to try between coats.

5. Sand the coat of primer gently with the 1,800-grit sandpaper to remove uneven surfaces. Clean up the dust with a damp cloth.

6. Paint the tile with an oil-based paint using a paintbrush. Apply two to three thin coats of the high-gloss paint to the tiles, allowing each coat to dry. Allow the last coat of paint to dry for two to three days.

7. Finish the grout and tiles with two coats of clear urethane using a natural bristle brush.

8. Allow the clear urethane to dry according to the manufacturer's instructions. If the tile is in a shower, it may be better to wait a day or two before getting the tile wet.

References

• Help With DIY: Painting Ceramic Tiles, Paint old kitchen & Bathroom tiles
• Apartment Therapy: How To: DIY Paint Ceramic Tile

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish