Tired of your old and mundane-looking tiles? Why not bring in a little funk to your bathroom’s appearance? When thinking of a do-over, one question pops in most people’s minds, can shower tiles be painted?
The answer to that is a big fat YES. You will be thrilled to know that, in fact, this can be done very easily. A lot of groundwork is needed, and some precautions have to be taken in order to paint the tiles.
We will be answering everything in the sections below. So, are you ready to get the answers to these questions you have been waiting for this long?
Table of Contents
Can Shower Tiles Be Painted?
Well, bathrooms generally have a very basic and humdrum color, white or grey. Now, everyone wants their homes to look elegant and exquisite, including the bathrooms. And renovating your bathrooms might cost you a fortune.
However, there is no need to do something like that. All you have to do is paint or repaint the tiles.
First, let us answer the million-dollar question, what kind of paint can shower tiles be painted with. For this task, you can use gloss or semi-gloss paint. Plus, you need to make sure that the tiles are dry before you can do the chore.
Now, you can choose between two types of paints:
- Latex
- Oil
Our suggestion would be to opt for Latex. Even though oil paint is suggested to be more reliable and scrub-resistant, it is considered to be much more of a hassle when it comes to application. Furthermore, it has more Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) content!
On the other hand, Latex offers similar durability and is much more moisture (or water-resistant) than oil paint. Plus, it dries off quickly, does not require any supplement spirits or anything. Thus, applying this is going to be one of the most straightforward tasks that you can do.
By the way, you also need to take the finish into account when choosing the paint. There are some paints which are made especially for bathrooms. So, when you are looking for such an item, we suggest you opt for those in the first place.
Since you have a clear idea of whether you can paint your tiles or not, it’s time that we move to the part where you would learn how to apply the paint. So, shall we move to the next session?
How to Paint Shower Tile?
This section will get a complete walkthrough on how you should do the task. That means here you will find everything you need to know when it comes to applying paint to your bathroom’s tiles. Are you ready then?
Step 1: The Groundwork
Whenever you aim for perfection, the first thing you need to do is get the groundwork right!
If you want the best experience painting shower tiles, you should remember a few things. Don’t worry, my friend! The steps are quite easy to pull off, and we’ve listed them for you in any case.
You should start by wiping the tiles. If the tiles are wet, then doing the task would be difficult. This is because paint cannot be applied that effectively when working on wet surfaces.
So, wiping them makes sure that no moisture or dirt is present when you are working, and it also dries the tiles in much less time.
The wisest move would be using a bleaching product, which is ideal for cleaning tiles. After that, let us remove the glaze on the tiles. For this, you would need 220-grit sandpaper and a rotating sander. Using these together, you would be getting rid of the gloss.
Once everything is done, clean the area as you will be starting the main job.
Step 2: The Painting
If you are done with the first step, your bathroom should be ready for the painting job. Start by applying a primer, which is ideal for sticking to ceramic surfaces. There is nothing to worry about. You can get this in most paint shops. Once you have applied the layer, you need to begin the painting.
You will be painting in two coatings. The primer should dry between these coats. Doing that will offer you a smooth finish. Once the primer business is done, let us move to the painting’s essential part. Use latex paint for this task.
If you are done with that, all you have to do is wait. Being patient is a part of the process. You need to ensure that everything has dried off before you can use your gorgeous new bathroom.
Step 3: Things You Should Be Cautious about!
Well, there is always a catch. However, in this case, the issue is relatively easy to avoid. You see, your tiles might have particular contaminations called grouts. So, when you are painting, the chances of grout receiving a layer of paint is high. Hence, you would not be able to distinguish between the two.
Now, before you start painting, the first step that you need to take is to make sure the bathroom is clean. You have to clean the bathroom. This is not a very difficult task, and if you require some form of suggestion, you should do some research on the internet.
Another issue that you might face is the fact the paint is not very durable. Well, it is quite obvious! Paint’s color is quite less withstanding when compared to permanent color on ceramic tiles. Now, the only solution to this is redoing it.
Final Words
So, the answer to your question can shower tiles be painted is obviously a yes. It is not a very tricky business, and we have provided you with an in-depth walkthrough over how you can do the task. Therefore, you should know what to do! You are now ready to give your bathrooms a full-on makeover.