Ceramic Tile Painting

Ceramic tiles is popularly used by home owners because of its several advantages. One of the biggest advantage of this tile is that it has a high durability. However, with passage of time, it loses its charms and visual appeal. You do not feel like replacing them with new ones simply because the tiles are not damaged and are still in a strong and sturdy condition. Moreover, you have to invest a lot of time and money for the task of replacement of the tiles. The simplest and inexpensive method of restoring its visual interest is by ceramic tile painting.

How to Paint Ceramic Tiles?

Many people feel that ceramic tile paint will not stick to the shiny surface of the tiles very easily and they will face a tough time to achieve good results. Though, the fact is that with the right kind of preparation this can be done without much hassles. The main steps of ceramic tile painting are as follows:

Step #1: The first step involves repair of the tile surface. Check out carefully on the ceramic tile flooring whether there is any minor crack on the tile grout or any of the tile surface have chipped. If you find any, you should repair them or else those flaws will become prominent after you paint the tiles. In case, you have grouted the tiles, it should be allowed to dry for 48 hours.

Step #2: When the tiles do not require any kind of repair, you can start cleaning them. If any repair work is done then the cleaning should be done after 48 hours. The ideal cleaning solution for ceramic tile can be prepared by mixing equal quantities of ammonia and water. Use a scrub brush to clean up all dirt, grease, oil, molds, etc. from the surface of the tiles.

Step #3: Let the cleaned tile dry up completely. Then it should be sanded with the help of a sandpaper. This will ensure better adherence of the paint on the ceramic tile surface which is not possible on a glossy surface. Sanding will make the tiles slightly coarse surface where the paint can bind really well with the tiles. Then the sanded dust has to be cleaned up by a vacuum cleaner and then washed off with plain water.

Step #4: When it comes to using primer on the tile, you have two options. They are: oil-based primer and shellac based primer. You can select whichever you want. Read the instructions provided by the manufacturer about the drying time and then apply it over the tiles. In general, two coats of primer need to be applied. The second coat should be applied only after the first one has dried. When the drying time of the second coat is over, sand the primer coated tiles with a light hand. Thus any small ridges formed by the primer can be removed.

Step #5: Now, it's time to apply the paint over the tiles. The most suitable paint for the ceramic tiles is oil based paint with either a high gloss or semi-gloss finish. The advantage of oil based paints is that they do not get damaged by moisture. Apply the first coat of paint with the help of a paint brush starting from one corner of the room and proceed to the center. If you want you can create some designs using different colors of paint. You will need to apply several coats of paint on the tiles before you can achieve the desire result. Make sure you allow each of the coats to dry up thoroughly before applying the next one. Allow the painted tiles to dry for two weeks and keep it untouched for that period of time. Finally, add a finishing touch by applying a coat of protective finish to the newly painted ceramic tiles. You can use water-based urethane finish for this purpose. It has to be applied in the form of several thin layers and not one single thick coat.

Hope, you have understood the technique, that you have to follow for ceramic tile painting. The fumes released by the paint and primer can suffocate you. Therefore, make sure the work area is well ventilated. It is also important to use proper protective gear like face mask, goggles and gloves while working on the project.