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Paint for Bathroom Tiles: Dos & Don’ts

Is the ceramic tile in your bathroom looking dated or worn? Learn how to update your home by effectively using paint for bathroom tiles with Graham’s & Son Interiors. In this blog, we’ll cover what TO DO and what NOT to do. Plus, we’ll highlight the renovation services Graham’s & Son offers.

1. The Dos of Painting Tiles

2. The Don’ts of Painting Tiles

3. Renovation Services From Graham’s & Son Interiors 

Don’t start your paint job without being prepared. Instead, keep reading to get some practical and helpful tips before you begin painting. You can also learn more about paint, tiles and current trends in our recent blog post, Paint vs Tiles – What’s Best for You?

Learn how to update your bathroom with paint for bathroom tiles. (Image Source: 영훈 박

Paint For Bathroom Tiles

1. The Dos of Painting Tiles

a) Choose The Right Paint

You cannot just choose any paint for bathroom tiles. You must use the following:

Why? Because it is designed to:

  • Stay on tiles
  • Be durable
  • Be easily washed

Click on the link above to get some ideas for recommended tile paint. 

b) Clean Tiles

Bathroom tiles get greasy, scummy and even mouldy.

Be sure to clean your tiles and grout thoroughly before you prepare your tiles for painting.

While you can use a mixture of dish soap and warm water, you may need something tougher to get rid of mold and residue. You could try the following:

In addition to your cleaning solution, you’ll also need some rubber gloves, a sponge or cloth and clean water to rinse your tiles.

And remember to let your tiles dry thoroughly.
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Image Source: Karolina Grabowska

c) Repair & Sand Tiles

Repair

Before you prime your tiles to paint them, inspect them for cracks or chips and use caulk to fill them in using a putty knife. Remember to scrape away any extra caulk and let it dry before moving on to the sanding process. 

Sand

Tiles are often glazed, which means you’ll need to gently sand the surface of tiles to remove any glaze to help the new paint stick.

Try using 100 to 200-grit sandpaper to sand by hand or an electric sander. Also, don’t forget to wipe the tiles clean with a damp cloth or use a floor stripper/cleaner to clean the tiles and then rinse and dry them off.

Image Source: Ksenia Chernaya 

2. The Don'ts of Painting Tiles

a) Don't Forget To Prime Tiles

Don’t forget to prime the tiles before you paint. The reason you want to do this before applying paint on bathroom tiles is because you want to:

  • Cover over and hide previous colours or designs that you don’t want to show up, even faintly, later.
  • Ensure new paint sticks to the surface of the tiles

1 or 2 coats of primer are generally recommended before you use paint for bathroom tiles.

Remember, some primers do better at covering over the previous tile, so do some research and consider the colour and design of the tile you are painting over. Watch this video that reviews the pros and cons of Stix Waterborne Bonding Primer

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Image Source: Ksenia Chernaya

When working with paint for bathroom tiles, be sure to be ready with protective clothing and gear. 

b) Don't Forget These Tips

Sand Between Paint Coats 

Depending on how the paint takes to your tiles, you may want to apply a second coat of paint. 

If you choose to do so, do some light sanding before applying the second coat of paint to make sure it adheres well. 

Add Sealer

If you want to go the extra mile, you can finish your paint job with polyurethane, a good tile sealer with a clear finish.

Protect Yourself

If you’ve ever gotten excited about a DIY job, you may have not realized some of the dangers involved. When sanding, painting and finishing, etc., it is important to protect yourself, particularly your eyes and lungs. Make sure the room you are working in is well-ventilated and wear a protective mask or use a paint respirator. You can also wear work goggles to protect your eyes and gloves and clothing to protect your skin.

Graham’s & Son Interiors also does bathroom renovations and installs tile flooring. 

3. Renovation Services From Graham's & Son Interiors

Sometimes our DIY projects only last so long and we need to fully remodel instead of doing updates like using paint for bathroom tiles. Perhaps your tiles are worn down or you want to experiment with a new look. 

If you need renovation services or you want tiles in a specific colour or design, Graham’s & Son Interiors offers bathroom and kitchen renovations

Transform your bathroom with:

  • New Tiling (Flooring, Backsplashes, Shower and Tub Surrounds)
  • New Cabinetry & Décor
  • Window Treatments (Contact Us to learn about our Buy 2 Get 1 Free Promotion on all Shades, Shutters, or Blinds)

Have Graham’s visit you and get a FREE In-Home consultation for expert advice and remodeling ideas for your bathroom or kitchen. You’ll get exceptional customer care from a local, family-owned business with decades of experience. Let’s talk!

"Matt and his team did the shutters on my new home and a couple of other things including some flooring installation. Not only do the shutters and the flooring look amazing but the team was always professional and courteous and made the process simple and straightforward. Can't say enough about the workmanship from Grahams and sons. Definitely recommend them."
- Nicole P.