Yes, the tile floors in any bathroom can be painted and yes it can be a DIY project.
Bathroom paint results on floor tiles are impressive, and a great way to update the look on all your bathroom tile floors.
Nearly any kind of floor tiles that can withstand water are suitable for paint, including ceramic and porcelain tiles, glass tiles, metal wall art, stone textures, wall tiles, accent tiles, subway tile and much more.
When you start painting your floor tiles or wall tiles, keep in mind that although many people choose solid colours as part of their bathroom makeover projects, using any tile paint may not be sufficient. Paint floor tiles properly, so do your research on various tile floors and how to properly start painting tile floors. Have proper prep work done and follow our advice. You can’t just pick any paint such as chalk paint since it won’t stick to your tile floors properly.
If you wish to highlight natural features and spaces such as wood grain or stone texture, you may want to add an additional coat over existing pebble grout lines or other details. Floor tile paint choice and the first coat of paint are the most important if you want to avoid paint wear and tear on a floor tile.
Can Bathroom Floor Tiles be Painted?
It’s important that you use high-quality paint brands when painting both your bathroom floor tiles and wall tiles, or when painting tile floors in general because they include colour retention used to protect the paint from fading over time. Take into account that the higher quality paint the better your painted tile will look and the coat of paint will last longer.
When you are painting bathroom floor tiles, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, make sure your tile floors and tile walls are both clean and dry before applying the first coat of paint. You may need to polish them with fine sandpaper or thoroughly wipe them to remove any dust that might be on them. This is especially important if you have old grout lines and other features you want to ensure don’t get covered up by new paint coats on the tile floor or wall.
After washing down the bathroom walls, lightly apply a coat of primer so that it fills all crevices and cracks. This will help prevent any stray hairs, lint or debris that might show through later when painting your tiles in a solid colour.
After the primer is applied, make sure that the bathroom tiles are dry before moving on to applying paint coats on the tiles. Painting floor tiles takes time and you can’t rush it. It’s best if you wait at least 20 minutes between coats so that each coat completely dries.
The first application of paint should be a dropcloth on the floor and seal all the holes in your tiles, with masking tape or stick-on paper tap so that it doesn’t get onto fixtures below. Next, apply two solid colour coats of paint, the first should be an undercoat and the second should be a topcoat. Make sure that each coat is thoroughly dry before proceeding to add another layer of colour.
Another thing to keep in mind when painting bathroom tiles is brushing versus rolling out colours for your projects as they give you different results.
If you are using a foam brush and want to create an uneven or textured look, then go ahead and use it for the first coat of paint. If you’re planning on rolling out flat colours with your paint roller, be sure to avoid using a thick coat as it will seep between grout lines.
Keep in mind, if painting work is going to exceed $5,000 then a licensed professional painter will be required in NSW as per the Fair Trading website details.
Does painting bathroom tiles really work?
Yes, painting ceramic bathroom tile and porcelain bathroom tile really works and is possible. If done properly your new paint job will last for several years, especially if you follow our DIY advice for tile paint. It’s a simple painting process, it just takes time.
Bathroom paint results can vary depending on the type of paints you use to beautify your floor tiles as well as the application techniques you choose. As long as you make sure that each coat is completely dry before applying another coat so that your tile backsplash or other tile areas don’t run into one another, you’ll have great looking sprayed bathroom tiles in no time.
Bathroom Paint Supplies You’ll Need To Begin Painting Bathroom Tiles
You probably already have most of what you need around the house already if there was ever a time when you felt like painting a room; however, keep in mind that bathroom floor tiles paint jobs are different from decorating a room in your home and there is some specific equipment and paint you can use to increase the results of your bathroom tile painting project.
Crucially, the type of paint supplies you will need will depend on the type of paint you are using and what kind of floor tiles you have on your bathroom floors, or walls.
What kind of paint do you use on bathroom tiles?
Take into account that the type of paint used to decorate bathroom tiles can vary depending on the style and colour scheme you are going for. There are is a coat of paint for everyone, regardless of whether it’s Oil-based paint, acrylics, and latex-based paint. All are excellent choices for your bathroom tile paint job; however, keep in mind that latex paint on the floor tiles is less durable than oil or acrylic paint when it comes to brushing versus rolling out the colours.
If you’re looking to create a more permanent decorative surface or choose a nice neutral colour paint that is easy to maintain then you might consider painting tile floors using oil-based paint. Oil-based paint is the most durable but take into account that they also have two downsides: they produce fumes that can be unpleasant if you don’t tape off any openings like vents in areas where you’re working with oil paint and they also have a longer drying period than other types of paint. Oil-based paint can take up to two weeks before the full layer is dry enough for you to walk on it or place things back in your bathroom after painting.
If you’re looking for something a little more temporary that won’t fill the room with fumes then acrylics are a good choice for your paint project. Acrylics tend to look more like latex-based paint but are usually compatible with oil-based glues although there are some adhesives that don’t work well with them so be careful not to use inappropriate ones. The durability of acrylics tend to sit between those of latex and oil-based paint; however, they do need to have sealants added to them that are compatible with the paint you choose so check with the manufacturer before application on the floor tiles.
Another option to consider if you’re thinking about painting your floor tiles is latex paint; however, there are some things you need to know before choosing this for a project. Latex paint can be good for beginners because they dry faster than oil-based paint and have a more pleasant smell when used as well as being easier to clean up when compared to oil-based tile paints. When using latex paint on ceramic tile or porcelain tile surfaces it is important not to use too much water in your mixture because doing so will cause premature peeling of the surface layer which results in unnecessary work; however, if necessary, adding a little water at a time can help create a smoother finish when you decide to paint tile floors or walls.
What colour should I paint my bathroom tiles?
Painting your bathroom tile floors will also have an impact on the colour you choose. There are many different colours to choose from but keep in mind that you need to be careful when painting any type of ceramic tile or porcelain surface because even something as simple as mixing grout between two tones can result in unsightly blotches appearing on your smooth finished surface layer after it dries. Paint is tricky to handle and professional painters do a better job than any DIY.
As always, test out your colour choices by placing similar coloured material and towels over sections of your walls or floor so you can get a good idea of how they look before committing them to the entire area to avoid having to go through major parts of your bathroom tile painting job.
If you’re looking for something that stands out and is easy to maintain and is a lighter colour, then painting bathroom floors or walls white may be the best choice for your bathroom tiles; however, keep in mind that these types of colour paint are harder to clean up should there be any messes from splashing water on your bathtub or shower walls.
Darker colours tend to hide grime better but will also require more maintenance than lighter coloured surfaces, so take that into account before deciding for your floor or before you paint tile. When painting your tiles remember not to go overboard because although it might look great when you first finish the project using too many highlights or extra detail can make a room look cluttered and difficult to clean so find a design style that fits with the rest of your bathroom; consider maintaining one contrasting decorative element if you have a variety of tile materials showing in your bathroom.
Any decorative accessories that you decide to add to your room will need to match the colour theme that you’ve chosen for the walls which can be difficult if you’re not sure how it’s going to look or whether or not it’s what you really want. An easy solution is just to go with a neutral colour such as white and then choose towels, rugs, curtains and other accent pieces that will bring in more colourful details instead of choosing a monochromatic scheme.
Does painting tile floors last?
Painting tile floors will depend on a variety of factors such as the finish that you choose, the type of paint that you choose and the type of surface it’s being applied to. You can paint floor tiles differently and in different types of finishes that are better suited for painting than others and may require more work during the prep stage or more work due to their porous nature afterwards. The most important thing to remember is that any type of surface must be clean before applying your paint application which means cleaning as well as using a sealant.
Paint also has a tendency to show smudges from heavy foot traffic much more than other materials like wood or vinyl do which means that in high-traffic areas you need to do periodic touchups. It is also important to remember that tile paint will not be as durable as ceramic or porcelain tiles; however, the good news is that with a little regular maintenance your painted tiles should last for many years.
A professional painter also has experience working on different types of surfaces and materials which means they know exactly what surface prep steps need to happen in order to achieve a smooth finish without any unsightly gaps showing through after painting. As an added bonus, when you hire someone who knows exactly how to handle tile surfaces, you can rest assured knowing that all corners and edges are being worked on evenly which helps you get longer-lasting results.
What do I need to consider before painting bathroom tiles?
When painting tile floors, take into account the type of surface that you’re painting, and the kind of finish you want to achieve. A good standard choice for a wide variety of surfaces is oil-based paint which is durable, resist moisture well and provide great coverage; however, if you don’t mind ongoing maintenance then latex paints still offer a long-lasting solution that can be cleaned up easily as long as they are properly prepared before being painted on your bathroom tiles.
You also want to keep in mind how much maintenance the painted tile needs once it’s dry so choose a type of paint that fits with your lifestyle. If you’ve decided on using a more porous tile material for your flooring such as ceramic or porcelain then make sure that you paint floor tiles with a finish that has a non-slip additive if you’ll be using it in wet areas such as your shower or bath.
A good way to help maintain a high gloss on floor tiles is by adding a semi-gloss or satin protective topcoat on top of your painted tile which will help protect the tile surface from water, stains and general wear and tear while also helping your tile flooring look its best for longer. The right type of paint can make all the difference when choosing how long the painted tile lasts so choose wisely before painting bathroom tiles.
