Complete DIY Guide to Painting Bathroom Tiles

DIY Guide to Painting Bathroom Tiles banner image

You want to elevate your bathroom tiles but don’t want to spend big bucks?

Painting your tiles is an easy, convenient and quick solution for giving your bathroom a fresh look.

While tile painting might not change the entire look of your space, it can definitely elevate your room without expert professionals or demolitions.

Peter Yusuf - December 17, 2024

How to Paint Your Bathroom Tiles?

Here is a detailed step by step guide on everything you need to do for painting your bathroom tiles in the best manner.

Step 1: Get all the materials you will need

Type of Product

Details

Cleaning Supplies

Tile cleaner or degreaser
Scrubbing pads or sponges
Mold and mildew cleaner (if required)
Water
Clean towels or rags

Sanding Tools

Fine grit sandpaper (220-440 grit)
Sanding blocks to maintain even pressure during sanding
Dust mask

Masking Supplies

Painter’s tape
Plastic sheets or drop cloths

Priming and Painting Supplies

Tile primer
Specialized tile or epoxy paint
Good quality paint brush
Paint tray
Foam roller
Angled brush

Sealant Supplies (Optional)

Tile sealant or clear topcoat
Foam brush or roller

Ventilation and Protection

Gloves
Safety glasses
Ventilation fan or open windows
Respirator mask

Finishing Supplies

Fine grit sandpaper
Soft, lint-free cloth
Touch up brush

Step 2: Cover and protect your surfaces

Once you have got all your materials ready, the first thing you need to do is cover all the surfaces around the area you want to paint with plastic sheets or drop clothes.

Apply masking tape in any corners or areas you don’t want your paint to go.

Protecting all nearby surfaces will ensure that you don’t have to spend much time and energy on cleaning up once your tile painting work is complete.

Step 3: Assess the tiles

Check if you have any damaged or chipped tiles. You won’t be able to hide such imperfections through paint so make sure they are repaired or replaced beforehand. Also inspect the grout lines and repair the lines with grout filler if the grout is cracked or missing in places.

You might also want to check the type of tiles you have. Usually ceramic tiles, porcelain tiles and stone tiles can be easily painted. Some textured tiles might make painting a bit trickier.

Step 4: Clean your bathroom tiles

Get rid of all the dirt, scum, mildew or grease on your tile so that your paint can be smoothly applied.

Use a tile specific cleaner or degreaser to thoroughly get rid of all the dirt and soap scrum. Scrub if necessary using a pad or sponge. Make sure you don’t forget about the corners or grout lines.

In case you have mold or mildew, you will require a specialised cleaner. One option in this case is to also use the mix of bleach and water in a 1:10 ratio.

Rinse and dry the tiles well after cleaning so that there is no residue. Don’t skip out this step as even invisible residues can hamper your paint’s adhesion.

Step 5: Sand your tiles

In order to make sure your primer and paint sticks better, we need to create a slightly rough surface through sanding. But hey, make sure you wear a protective mask that covers your nose and mouth well before starting your sanding process.

Three things to remember while sanding:

Choose the right sandpaper (a fine grit 220-400 grit sandpaper is best for not damaging the tiles).
Use circular motions to sand the surface of each tile.
After you are done sanding, wipe all the tiles with a damp and lint free cloth.

Step 6: Use the primer

Primer, like, sanding, is something we do so that the paint sticks well to the surface of the tiles. Priming also prevents chipping and peeling, improves the durability of the paint and even blocks stains or discolouration that might sometimes bleed through the paint.

Select a high quality bonding primer designed for tiles and apply a thick coat evenly using a foam roller. Use a brush for edges and corners.

Wait for 24 hours or according to the time prescribed by the manufacturer to make sure the paint dries. Only then you can move to painting your tiles.

Step 7: Start painting

Finally, we are here to do the actual painting.

Use epoxy, urethane-reinforced acrylic or specialized tile paint designed for high moisture and high traffic areas. Take your foam roller and apply a thin coat all over the main areas. For grout lines and edges, you can use brushes. Let your first coat dry completely before applying the second one. Make sure you have applied at least two to three coats, or else you might not get the full coverage.

Step 8: Sealing your tiles (optional)

If you want, you can use a sealant over your paint once it’s all dry.

Sealing your tiles helps protect the paint from daily wear and tear, smooths our minor flaws and gives your tiles a more professional and polished look.

Step 8: Remove tape and clean up

After all your work has been completed, you can now remove the masking tape you applied to the corner and clean up!

All in All,

Painting your bathroom tiles is a great solution if you want a quick upgrade.

Going through all the steps above, you might have already known that the process of tile painting is very simple and easy.

However, there is nothing like renovating any space using tiles. For a completely refreshed and new look, using new tiles is the best idea.

If you ever feel like embarking on a tile renovation journey, check out our tile collection at Royal Tiles.

Peter Yusuf

Peter Yusuf is a seasoned Sales and Business Development Manager at Royal Tiles in Sydney, Australia, with a proven track record of success in the global architectural and interior design sectors. With over a decade of experience, he possesses a rich understanding of tile selection and design that has helped countless clients transform their spaces. Peter's expertise spans a wide array of materials and styles, positioning him as a trusted authority in the tile industry.

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