Are your curious if you can paint tiles? If so, you’ll be glad to know that this is possible.
Tiles made of durable materials like porcelain and ceramic can be painted, however, it’s not always as simple as adding paint to interior walls. Today, tiles are popular to style up surfaces like walls and floors in residential and commercial locations. Over time, however, tiles can feel out of date and lose visual appeal, and interior designers charged with refreshing spaces must solve the issue.
Instead of embarking on the painstaking and pricey process of removing and replacing tiles, altering their appearance with paint is sometimes seen as an effective solution. While you can paint tiles, there are a few provisos and best practices to consider. Read on for a detailed guide on everything you need to know about painting tiles.
A major advantage of painting tiles is cost. Painting tilework is a far cheaper option compared to replacing them, putting less pressure on design project budgets. Painting doesn’t require the price of a professional tiler and doesn’t involve ordering new tiles. When designers are working to a deadline, painting tiles also saves time, with a new colour added to rooms in a matter of hours.
It’s worth noting that not all paints are a good match for tiles. Standard wall paints will fail to adhere to tile surfaces, while water-based paint products can break down. Most experts agree that epoxy paint is an excellent option for changing the colour of tiles. Epoxy paint is renowned for being resistant to chemicals, durable and suited for use on both dry and wet surfaces. It is long-lasting, but also resistant to chipping, abrasion, and discoloration so tiles hold their appearance for longer. It’s also resistant to chemical and cleaning solutions so it can cope with continued exposure while not incurring damage. Finally, it can also handle high temperatures and moisture, making it a match for wet areas like kitchens and bathrooms.
The conventional kit for painting tiles typically includes masking tape, paint trays, paintbrushes, paint rollers, protective gloves, goggles, masks, sandpaper, scouring pads, tile cleaner, paints and primers.
The first step in painting tiles is to clean and sand the tiles. Use a suitable tile cleaner, scouring pad and sandpaper (180–240 grit) to remove any build up and tile glaze present. It’s advisable to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) like a mask, gloves and goggles.
Next, apply a layer of basecoat paint or primer. You can use either a paint brush or paint roller to apply your topcoat paint to the tiles. As mentioned earlier, it is recommended that you use an epoxy paint. Some painters refinishing tiles with a fresh colour will add a polyurethane sealer after the paint is cured to protect the colour.
To stay in good condition, tile requires proper maintenance. Tiled areas should be kept clean and routinely inspected for undue wear. Tiles deployed in outdoor areas should also be treated to prevent mould growth.
Painted tiles can be used in a wide range of different areas. However, painted tiles are not always ideal for flooring in high traffic areas where they can face and excess of wear and tear. Unless epoxy paint is used, painted tiles can also struggle in areas where constant water use is involved or chemical cleaning solutions are applied.
At Digital Ceramics we work with artists, architects and interior designers. Using innovative printing technology, we create cutting-edge digital ceramic tiles for an extensive array of design projects and commercial applications. As part of our personalised service, we colour match with both Pantone and RAL colours to make sure our clients get a precise match for their project. Whether you need tiles that represent a company’s specific brand colours or a specific hue to complement interior décor, we can assist.
Our colour matched glazes service lets you access the exact tile colour you require to complete your vision and is ideal for tiling based both inside or outside and on floor and walls. To find out more about the tailored service we supply or track down the perfect paint colour for a project, connect with our expert team of friendly professionals today at Digital Ceramics.
Talk to us today and find out how we can transform a project of any scale into an exciting visual experience.
