I have officially painted all of the tile flooring in my home and I want to tell you everything you need to know about doing it yourself. Tile can be costly or labor intensive to remove and replace so try this method instead!
Does Painted Tile Last?
YES. Are you surprised? I have painted tile in my home as old as 2.5 years and in high traffic areas like bathrooms, entryways, and kitchens. There isn’t a single scratch or chip and they withstand water as well! Use my painted tile method and read all about the tips, tricks, and everything you need to know to get a beautiful long-lasting painted tile finish.
Everything You’ll Need to Paint Your Tile
- Household Cleaner/Degreaser
- STIX Tile Primer
- Dense Foam Rollers
- Paintbrush
- Stencil (If you want a pattern- Check your tile size!)
- Paint of Choice (No oil based)
- Polycrylic
Getting Started with Painting Your Tile
Before painting your tile you will want to clean it well. I’ve experimented with many cleaning methods from soap and water to degreasers and I didn’t notice a difference in the end product. Just make sure your tile is cleaned thouroughly and free of any dirt or debris.
Priming Your Tile
The first step to painted tile is to prime it. I’ve linked my favorite tile primer here. Simply brush your edges and roll the larger surfaces. You can tape off the edges if you choose. This primer is dry within 30 minutes and you can re-coat in 3-4 hours. I like to do at least 3 coats and if I’m using the primer as my base color, I’ll do a 4th coat. A single quart of the primer will do the job in small areas.
*TIP: Work your way out and don’t accidentally paint yourself into the room. Keep a clean towel outside of your workspace to wipe your feet off as you walk in and out.
Painting Your Tile
I like a white base coat so I often stencil right over the primer. If you want a different color base, you would go ahead and paint that now. Regular latex wall paint works great! You can leave your tile a solid color or add a pattern next.
Once you are ready, I always suggest adding painters tape around the edge of your stencil to keep it from slipping. THE KEY TO STENCILING is to use BARELY ANY PAINT. The more paint you use, the more it will bleed. Instead, barely wet your foam roller with the paint and roll it over your stencil ever-so-slightly. Then, pull the stencil STRAIGHT UP to avoid smearing your pattern.
Its important to skip around (like a checker board) so that you aren’t overlapping your stencil on wet tiles.
DON’T get caught up in the imperfections. Painted tile is supposed to have some character and with a busy pattern its very unnoticeable.
*TIP: If you really mess up you can use a damp paper towel to wipe up your paint and try again.
Sealing Your Painted Tile
The final but most important part is to seal your tile. This gives it the permanence, durability, and finish of regular tile. You can choose any finish of Polycrylic from matte to glossy. I find that glossy is slightly easier to clean but matte hides more imperfections.
To apply you will repeat the same process of the tile primer. Brush the edges, roll the surface, and allow 3-4 hours of dry time between coats. I always aim for 3 coats and I will often do 4 if I have enough product leftover.
Its important to make sure your floor is clear of any debris with each coat so nothing gets stuck in your seal. DO NOT press down on the foam roller too hard or fast or else you will create bubbles.
*TIP: Wear your hair up so you don’t shed any hairs into your seal.
The floor should be ready for light foot traffic after 3 hours but I always try to wait 24-48 hours before moving furniture back.
Thats everything you need to know to paint your tile!
If you like this project you will love Easy Bathtub Trim With NO Power Tools!
