Decorative tile floors can make a serious impact. Whether you want a bit of funk or a bit of elegance, decorative tiles can help you achieve it. The problem? The price tag. But the good news is that you can mimic the look of decorative tiles for much cheaper with the use of paint, and your friends at The Grout Medic are going to explain how you can do it.
Technically you can paint any ceramic tiles, but the paint won’t hold up equally well in all spaces. The biggest threat to finished painted tiles is going to be moisture. Prolonged exposure to water and moisture will cause the paint to bubble, chip, and peel away rather quickly. Which is why tiles near tubs and showers are not great paint candidates.
As when you are painting anything, for the best adhesion the surface needs to be clean. Take some time to scrub your tiles with a bit of bleach and warm water. Use a scrub brush to get into all of the pockets and grooves in the tiles. If there are any cracks or chips that you notice, repair them using a two-part epoxy. Once everything is clean, dried, and cured, use masking tape to protect baseboards. And if you do not want the grout to be painted, cover these with acrylic masking tape.
Any paint you choose will adhere best on top of a primer. So be sure to prep your tiles with an epoxy bonding primer before you get started. As for the types of paint, there are three that work best for this project; chalk, latex, and oil-based paint. Chalk paint dries matte and is a favorite for fans of the shabby chic look. Latex paint is ideal if your aim is a high gloss finish. And oil- based paint takes longer to dry but is the most durable option.
If you are painting just one solid color, apply the paint with a roller brush in one direction, if possible. If you are painting alternating designs like a checkerboard, first cut in each square with a paint brush and then use a roller to fill in the rest of the tile. Once finished, don’t forget to seal.
And that’s the basics of how to paint tile flooring! Once you have that down, you can get creative with stencils or create your own interesting pattern with masking tape. And if your grout or tile needs touch ups before you can get started, call The Grout Medic. We’ll make sure that you have the perfect canvas to paint on.
By Grout Medic 6-3-2022
Recent:
