My kitchen backsplash has hideous peach tile. Any way I can paint the tile to a better color?

Question

I'd rather not have to replace the tile if possible. Thanks

Answer 1

You can paint the tiles. Clean them very well and buy a primer at the Home Depot from glidden called Gripper primer. This is a primer that will adhere to glossy surfaces and you can then paint over it. Make sure that you clean the surface well, otherwise the paint will stick to the dirt and the paint will lift. I saw a display of the product on a ceramic tile and couldn't scratch the paint off with my nails or a quarter.

Answer 2

If the tiles are plastic, they can be painted with a paint made for plastics. If they are ceramic, no paint is going to stick for long. Either way, yeah, painting -especially spray paint- will look kind of hideous. But then, plastic tiles do anyway! You might try some oil based paint if you want to do artwork on them, rather than just going over them with a wide brush. Even then, you'll have to be careful about bumping things into them or the paint will scratch off fast.

Answer 3

Many interesting comments.
Tiles are forever- and to get rid of them you looking at work. painting them can ONLY be done the one way- tile primer then paint - but this is very seldom used as it's life length and appearance are short lived. If these are wall tiles - on with a wall adheasive and not a mortar compound- then they will pop off fairly easy ( easy compared to jack hammering your wall if they are mortared on) if mortar - most will bang off to the studs and re-board the wall sections then tile-- a lot of work----
But if they pop off ( try an area behind the stove or fridge to get an idea of ease. Scrape the wall with a paintscraper to get all other glue (adhesive) off and if the backing wall is still in good shape - tile away - ( the quickest way) but if you want to make it right- put a layer of plaster over rough spots to smooth wall out before tile application. Then pick a nuetral tile color out that will not overpower your senses and will allow for many color combo's for yourself or new home owner to like. then grout away-- small areas at a time- grouts area -wash small area - move forward - recommend on backsplashes to work in 10 sq foot chunks as an do it your-selfer.
Good luck
I had an old bathroom with baby blue tile - it was not too bad-- go figure that the new buyer liked babyblue tiles and I found out the other bathroom down in the basement was redone by the new buyer in - yes - Baby blue 4x4 tiles--- ewww. But who knows - someone out there liked peach!

Answer 4

You can paint it but it won't last and it will look hideous. Better to pop off the old tiles and got buy new ones. Get a book at the home improvement store, to show you how to lay tiles.

Answer 5

Yes, you can paint over it. First you want to go to a Lowe's or Home Depot and find a primer that will adhere to a "glossy surface". At Lowe's, they used to carry a primer by American Tradition called "Glossy Surface Primer" in a quart can. If they do not carry that specifically anymore, they for sure carry something comparable. All primers that can go on a glossy surface will say so conspicuously on the front of the can. You will be able to find it in quarts and gallons. After you prime with the primer, you will be able to paint over it with any latex paint you like. Make sure you read the directions on the primer can, as you may have to sand the surface before you prime. Nothing more frustrating then starting a project just to read the directions and needing to go back to the store for sand paper, etc.! Best of luck!

Answer 6

You have little to lose by trying to paint them, if it doesn't work out you can always take them off.

I'm assuming they are ceramic tile. First, wash them with a good strong detergent because any grease or oil is a bad thing. Then, I'd use sandpaper to roughen the surface. Then I'd use spray paint on them, maybe with a primer first, then a finish color. Enamel or Laquer would be my choices, not acrylic or latex.

I think it would be difficult to use a brush on it without leaving lots of brush stroke marks.

Answer 7

Tile, countertops, cabinets, vanities and more can all benefit from reglazing. This changes the color of the items permanently, you don't have to reseal the grout and it lasts. It is done by professionals and takes a couple of days to complete. I saw it done on the Home Pro from TLC about 10 years ago. Great way to update your rooms without the mess of remodeling.

Answer 8

Paint them all tiles different in a sorta camouflage style and feel like
in an antinuke bunker, then get some picks of the place and send them to a bladder specialized in New Age surroundings calling it XXI Century Art Deco
and perhaps your life will change and send you to the Gotha. Be creative or constructivist with your horrible (and perhaps Duchampian) peach tile. And
find a good Art columnist to put the words to define it, they know a lot.
Beware, anyway, of claustrophobia.

Answer 9

I respectfully disagree with some of the responses you got. Anything can be painted. You need to check out your paint store and see about something called "melamine" paint. It is specifically for surfaces such as tiles, arborite, even glass.

Answer 10

I answer this kind of Q so often I should have it at the ready always.

"NO"

After installing thousands of sq. ft. of tile and applying thousands of gallons of paint, I know this much. TILE is GLASS, and NOT designed to accept and hold paint, NO MATTER what anyone tells you to the contrary.

Steven Wolf
(The Rev.)