How to Refinish Bathroom Ceramic Tile
If you would like to paint the ceramic tile in your bathroom, consider some important factors before you rush into the application process. Ceramic tile is ill-suited for paint adhesion and requires abrasion prior to application. If you attempt to paint under-prepared ceramic tile surfaces, shedding will ultimately ensue. You must abrade the tile with sandpaper before you paint. In addition, you should select a particular type of coating, depending on the location of the tile, or you could end up with paint failure.
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Things You'll Need
- Trisodium phosphate cleanser
- Coarse sponge
- Rags
- 180-grit sandpaper
- Professional painter's tape
- Heavy-duty fabric drop cloths
- Acrylic latex primer
- Roller frame
- Nap roller cover
- 3- to 4-inch latex paintbrush
- Satin or semi-gloss latex paint
- Appliance epoxy paint
- Acrylic floor paint
Instructions
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1
Wash the ceramic tile with trisodium phosphate cleanser using a coarse sponge. Rinse the tile with wet rags. Allow 2 to 3 hours of dry time.
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2
Abrade the ceramic tile to enhance primer adhesion. Scour the tile with 180-grit sandpaper until it feels slightly gritty.
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3
Protect areas adjacent to the ceramic tile from primer and paint overlap by covering them with painter's tape. Cover the floor with drop cloths.
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4
Coat the abraded ceramic tile with acrylic latex primer using a roller. Promote a slick finish that's free from roller marks by smoothing the wet primer using a 3- to 4-inch latex paintbrush. Wait 3 hours for the primed ceramic tile to dry.
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5
Wash your painting tools with water.
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6
Coat the primed ceramic tile with satin or semi-gloss latex paint using a roller. Smooth the wet paint using the clean paintbrush. Wait 2 hours for the painted ceramic tile to dry. Add another coat if you have poor coverage.
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Tips & Warnings
Use an appliance epoxy paint if the tile is in the shower. Use an acrylic floor paint on tile floors.
Never prime unabraded ceramic tile or the finish will chip.
Never paint unprimed ceramic tile or the finish will peel.
Resources
- Photo Credit sandpapier image by Thomas Aumann from Fotolia.com
