DEAR TIM: I am thinking about painting ceramic tile in my
home. This tile is in several rooms both on the floor and walls. Our budget does
not allow replacement at this time. Is ceramic tile painting a reasonable
project, or will it end in disaster? What do I need to know about painting
ceramic tiles that will make me look like a hero in front of my husband, the man
who thinks this is a folly of an idea? Sharon D., Carrollton, TX
DEAR SHARON: Oh, you are going to be astonished by the
praise and compliments that will be showered upon you by your friends and
neighbors once they discover how you transformed your home by painting the
ceramic tile. The best part is that the cost of the job will be less than what
you and your Doubting-Thomas husband will spend at a fine restaurant for a
dinner for two. He is going to be ordering some crow followed by a large
helping of humble pie.
If you want long-lasting results, let's discuss what ceramic tile can and
can't be painted. You can paint any ceramic tile that will not be subject to
lots of water on a routine basis. This means floor tile, wall tile, and
countertop tile can all be painted. You can even do decorative painting on
ceramic tile. The only tile I would never paint is that ceramic tile within a
shower or above a bathtub. The high levels of moisture in these areas cause
most paints to peel from ceramic tile in a short amount of time.
The first step in the process is to deep clean the ceramic tile and grout.
You must remove all dirt, oil, wax, grease, mold, etc. I would use a bathroom
cleaner that contains a mild abrasive for this task. The cleaner you get the
tile, the better chance you have of overall success. Keep in mind that paints of
any type are simply glues that have color in them. Glues prefer to stick to
surfaces that are squeaky clean. They stick even better if the surface is
slightly rough.
I have had fantastic results over the years painting ceramic tile with
oil-based paint. It is getting harder to find this paint because of
environmental issues, but rest assured, it really sticks to things once it is
dried and has cured. Water-based paints peel readily from glazed ceramic tile
surfaces. You may have great success with epoxy paints, but test these in a
small area as they might be hard to use the first time.
Use a semi-gloss or high gloss paint for the job. If the paint is thick or
hard to brush or roll, use a little paint thinner to slightly dilute the paint.
Always follow the directions on the paint-can label with respect to the maximum
amount of thinner you can add.
Use masking tape to protect surfaces next to the ceramic tile. Use tapes that
have less-aggressive acrylic adhesives so when they are removed, they do not
damage the surface that was taped.
Decorative painting on ceramic tile is easy. You have unlimited design
options on any ceramic tile surface. Keep in mind that if you grow tired of the
design, you can paint over it. Stenciling over the finish paint will allow you
to create borders on walls, floors or countertops. You can have scads of fun
with stencils or even two-tone paint designs. Let your mind run wild, and
experiment on a small section of ceramic tile. If you don't like what you see,
start over.
Once the finish paint has dried for two or three days, coat it with two coats
of clear water-based urethane. This urethane is very sticky and will adhere to
the fresh oil paint. Avoid using oil-based urethane as many of them have a
tendency to develop a golden patina over time. You may find the amber color of
this patina to be objectionable. The water-based urethanes stay clear
forever.
The urethane is an integral part of the paint job. Most urethanes are very
hard and resist water and foot traffic or abuse from plates, glasses and
cookware on countertops. It is a known fact that urethanes do a fantastic job of
protecting hardwood floor finishes for years. They do the same for painted
surfaces. This is especially true for painted ceramic tile floors. The urethane
finish will protect the colorful paint and provide you with years of beauty.
There are thousands of basketball courts that are living proof that painted
floors can handle abuse and still look good with minimal care.
Be sure to repair any chips in the tile before you paint. Quick-drying
epoxies are an excellent material to use for this purpose. Caulk all cracks as
well. Be sure the caulk cures for several days before you paint it. Some
water-base caulks will shrink if you squirt them into wide or deep cracks. Use
caulking backer rod, if necessary, to fill deep cracks. Generally speaking, a
bead of caulk should only be as deep as the caulk bead is wide.
Don't shy away from using multiple colors when painting your ceramic tile.
Creating geometric patterns by painting separate tiles different colors can
yield stunning results. You can also paint stripes or borders with ease. On
large ceramic tile floors, a border can be designed that compliments the
placement of a large area rug that is used in the center of a room or a runner
carpet in a hallway.
