Can you paint ceramic tile?

Answer 1

yes you can. just first make sure it is clean, and then go to lowe's and purchase ceramic tile paint. that way it is water resistant. also check with your lowes handyman for tips.

Answer 2

Yes... You Can Paint Ceramic Tile

Before we get into this you need to understand that adhesion is not the problem, you have to keep in mind that the finished product is only as durable as the paint film itself.

Your automobile has one of the toughest finishes available but you would not go sliding a can of green beans across the hood without expecting some major damage.
Expect the same results from the paint on your countertop or ceramic tile.
Now if you excersize a little care and common sense, the finish will give you years of satisfactory service.
Use your cutting board, avoid harsh cleansers, soft scrub works great, a coat of paste wax once a year or so will do wonders for protecting your finish.

Painting bathtubs, toilets and appliances is best let to a professional. There are kits available but the materials involved and chemicals necessary for preparation are not only dangerous but require extensive knowledge regarding application.
Save yourself a lot of grief and contract it out to a pro.
Keeping that in mind lets get started.

First, wash the surface to with a 50/50 solution of household ammonia and water to remove soap films from bathroom surfaces or grease from kitchen walls. I also recommend you wash with a mild acid solution which is used to clean ceramic tile of excessive grout. This can be found in the tile section of most home centers,Ace hardware and tile distributors.Rinse well with plain water, and let the surface dry thoroughly.
Next, prime it with a high-quality adhesion-promoting primer like Zinsser's latex-based Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Primer-Sealer. Bulls Eye 1-2-3 adheres tenaciously to ceramic tile, glass, and other hard-to-stick-to materials. The primer provides an "anchor" for the topcoat so it can't be rubbed, chipped or scraped off easily.
If the area is going to be subjected to a lot of water such as the tile in the tub area, use BIN an alcohol base primer for maximum durability.
Follow the primer with one or two coats of a high-quality finish paint. In moisture-prone areas alkyd (oil base)finishes are preferred, as they provide a harder finish than water-base paints and are more washable and durable. There are also several epoxy coatings that are excellent for durability, check with your local paint store for availability.
If you want to paint the grout a contrasting color, you can go back over it with an artist's brush.

Your finished project will be fully cured in appx 2-3 weeks and you should avoid harsh abrasive cleaning agents, soft scrub is a good general cleaner for painted surfaces.

Zinsser's Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Primer-Sealer can be found paint stores, hardware stores, and home centers across the country.

Answer 3

If you go to the DIY store I would think you would get paint especially for the job. When you have a smooth surface to get paint or varnish to stick to it you need to give it a key (ie use sand paper to give it something to grip) This wouldnt work here as it would damage your tiles. Another thought is you get these transfers which are just squares a different colour that you can put on tiles maybe that would be worth a go.

Answer 4

Decorating and adding accessories can only do so much when it comes to updating a room that has a particularly nasty color of ceramic tile. We all remember the harvest gold, avocado green, and burnt orange that adorned so many kitchens and bathrooms 30 years ago. For many, the prospect of removing and replacing this tile is not financially feasible, and painting it may seem like it would be counter productive.

It is true that paint does not like to stick to the slick, shiny surface of tile. With a little bit of extra preparation, though, you can paint your tile and create a durable surface that is much more visually appealing than the outdated look you may currently have.

First, let's talk about what you can and cannot paint. I would not recommend that you paint any tile surface that gets wet repeatedly. If you try to paint your shower surround or even your tub itself, you will be cleaning paint chips out of the bottom of your tub within a matter of weeks. It just won't stick. There are professional services available that will paint your ceramic appliances and fixtures. Things like your antique claw foot tub, your toilet, and shower stall can be painted with a highly specialized product that requires a good deal of skill to use. What we're talking about in this article is painting wall tile that sees everyday use but doesn't get soaking wet all the time.

Preparing the Tile for Paint

As with most painting projects, preparation is the most important part. The goal is to create a surface that the paint will stick to. Since we have already established that most paints will not stick directly to the slippery tile surface, we need to get rid of that shine. The first step is to clean the tile vigorously with a commercial tile cleaner. Make sure you use one with a mild abrasive. Not only will this remove all of the buildup from the tile and make it nice and clean, but the abrasives will begin to break down the shiny surface.

At this time, also make sure that anything that might deteriorate underneath your paint job is addressed. Crumbling grout, mildew stains, and cracked tiles should all be taken care of now. You can't go back and address them after you paint unless you want to repaint the entire thing.

Once you are confident that the surface is clean, you need to get a little more aggressive about taking that slippery shine off of the tile. The best way to do this is with a hand held orbital sander. Use a 220 grit sandpaper. This will be course enough to remove the gloss, but still fine enough to prevent you from leaving any marks that may show later through your paint. If you don't have an orbital sander, you can do it by hand - it will just take a little longer.

After every surface that is going to be painted has been sanded, including the corners, make sure that all of the dust is thoroughly removed. I know sanding is tedious and is generally not very much fun, but I can't overemphasize how important this step is. If you skip the sanding or only do it half-heartedly, the paint simply will not stick.

Prime and Paint

Now that you have a freshly sanded surface that is dry and free of dust, you have the perfect foundation for a good paint job. By using a high quality and high adhesion primer, continue to build the base that your paint will be applied over. This is not the project where you want to skimp on paint costs. Don't buy the cheap primer - you need a strong bond in order for this to stick to the tile. Use an oil based product, as you will be using an oil based paint for the finished coats.

Apply the primer using a brush to cut in the corners and then a short napped roller (1/8") to apply the primer to the flat surface. Go slowly and make sure you don't leave any lines caused by paint squeezing out of the edge of the roller cover. These will show through later when you apply your finish coats. Allow the first coat of primer to dry for the amount of time recommended on the can, and then apply a second coat.

Once the primer is dry, take a fresh sheet of 220 sandpaper and make a very light pass over the primed surface. You are not trying to remove the primer, you simply want to remove any small burrs that may have risen out of your roller cover and make sure that the surface is perfectly prepared to receive paint.

Some people suggest that you can use latex paint for your top coat. I, however, would recommend that you use oil. It is messier, takes longer to apply and longer to dry, but when it dries it provides a very durable finish. Latex paint often dries with a fairly soft, rubbery feel. If you were to bump it with something hard, the chances that it could peel right off are pretty high.

Use an oil based semi-gloss or high gloss alkyd for your top coats. Apply several thin coats instead of trying to do one thick one. You want to build up the strength of the paint adhesion by adding multiple lightweight layers, not one heavy one.

You will need to have paint thinner on hand in order to clean up the oil based primer and paint, as well as a pretty good sized supply of rags. Though it may be a little extra work, using the oil based product on your tiles will give you a much higher quality finish and in the long run, you will be glad that you did.

Answer 5

Yes. You can buy special paint from most DIY stores. Normal paint will come off even if primmed.

Answer 6

Do not paint a floor!!!!!! I know so many people that have, and every one regretted it. It wears, and no matter what paint you use, it will chip and scratch.

Please research this more, and make sure you know what you;re getting into!

Good luck!

Answer 7

Yes, but you will have to glaze and fire it if you want the paint to stay.