Does repainting kitchen tiles really work?

Question

My new home has a kitchen with glazed ceramic tiles covering most of the walls.

The colour is basically honey brown, but there's a hideous purple border (in the same tile size & shape) running horizontally & vertically all over the place - I'd say that 20% of the tiles are this colour.

I want to reduce all the tiles to one (new) colour.

Two guys (both pros) have this to say:

GUY 1: Cheapest solution (and least noisy/disruptive) is to use a 'glass enamel paint' over the tiles. I went online and found several manufacturers of this stuff.

GUY 2: Scoffed at this and said there was no other way than retiling the whole kitchen.

Guy 1 is adamant that it can be done, and the job will last if enough care is taken in preparing the surface.

Is he right?

Has anyone tried this 're-enamelling' technique, and were the results OK?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Okay. I'm a tile setter, so I am biased, but you will get best results by replacing all the tile.

Guy#1 is right, but you need to realize it is just paint (even if its epoxy paint, which is much tougher than standard household latex paint.) It can (will) scratch and (will) scuff. The shine of the new expoxy surface will go away.

If you are a meticulous house cleaner and never slide your pots and pans and dishes on the tile counter surface, then you can probably get away with it.

So yes, it will work, but may not be a perfect solution, depending on your housekeeping style.

Mike

PS. I gotta chime in on Guy # 3's comments. He is right in that you can replace the offensive tiles. However, its not so simple, unless you are a good craftsperson. You have to be very, very careful removing the tiles, because you can very easily chip the tiles next to the ones you are removing.as he says, removing the grout is most important. Also, be very "gentle" with your hammering and chipping away at the old tiles. Its when you try to force it or try to remove too much at a time you run into trouble.

Answer 2

After,,,and still, installing thousands of square feet of tile, and painting thousands of gallons of paint,,, I"D NEVER MIX THE TWO.

Tile is glass essentially. "Test this". Take any paint type you wish, paint some on a spare tile piece, and let it cure,,,no matter glass paint etc,,, sigh. Once it's cured,,, purposely, but even gently, cause abrasions with a coffee mug, drag your toaster oven over it. Stack your dinner dishes on it, etc etc etc.

I promise you,,,paint will come off, at some rate, and in some amount of time.

Beyond all that, PAINT on any surface where food might come in contact with it, is a bad idea.

It will likely be more expensive initially, but as you celebrate your next birthday, then one 5 years from now, NEW tile, or any other counter top substance, will still be there, probably NOT marred. Do you want to touch up paint? Do you want any extra effort to detract from the normal use of the kitchen, or any free time you might have?

RE-Enameling is also a way for the manufacturer to gain profit.

Rev. Steven

Answer 3

Ok yes you can paint them, and yes it will hold up, and yes i do paint and also install ceramic so i do know what im talking about.You need to clean them very good with TSP. Buy a good primer such as kilz but i think home depot has an even better one so check that out. After you prime it put oon a good interior enamal like Behr . Probable 2 coats for best results. A spong roller is best but if you can rent or borrowe a sprayer and get the best results. there about 40 dollars for the day to rent. easy to use. Just tape everything off and use alot of drop cloths.

Answer 4

Guy 3 Says:
Break out the offensive tiles and replace them with ones more appealing. Re-grout.
You can do this yourself.
1. remove grout from tiles that must go
2. carefully break offending evil tiles with hammer and chisel.
3. clean substrate
4. Place new "friendly" tiles of same dimensions in space using "organic mastic" as a binder.
5. Re-grout with non-sanded grout.

You really need to know a little more than this, but it is really not that hard, and very rewarding.

Answer 5

Just my 2 cents.
A couple of months ago I saw a bathroom with painted tile and it looked really different. It looked really cheap. I think you would be disappointed if you spent the time and money to paint the tiles.

Answer 6

Well, has anyone ever tried to sell you land in a Florida swamp, because yes, you can actually by a piece of the swamp, if thats what you want.
Ive been in renos before and never heard of this technique as being a good alternative to not having to replace all of your tiles. I cant seee it being permanent or durable and I cant even see it looking good.

Answer 7

i've seen a few repainting jobs they look horrible but the people who have done it say it look great so its a case of (beauty is in the eye) etc

Answer 8

I am looking into this myself and need to know how helpful it would be to know this