Do Tile Painting
Tile paintings can be produced as unframed works of art on their own or added to an existing tiled surface for a beautiful, personalized touch to any countertop, shower wall, or fireplace. Instead of spending your time and money replacing discolored tiles, try painting them to achieve a fresh look on a tight budget. Follow the tips below to add some color to your home or simply create an original piece of art.
Contents
Steps
Identifying Your Materials
- Choose a non-textured, plain ceramic tile. If you are simply painting a tile as a stand-alone art piece, the simpler the tile the better. You can also, however, paint any ceramic tile that already exists in your house, though textured tiles require a bit more precision.
- Both glazed and unglazed tiles will work fine for this process.
- Purchase ceramic tile paint or an oil-based paint. It is extremely important that you use the correct type of paint in order for it to adhere to the ceramic tile and not be affected by exposure to elements such as water.
- Select appropriately-sized brushes for your project. If you are painting an intricate scene or design on your tile, you'll most likely need several different sizes of brushes. If you are painting a large bathroom wall, for example, you can use a larger brush.
- Set up your workspace. Make sure to lay down newspaper or a drop cloth over any surface that you do not want to get paint on.
- Keep damp rags nearby in case you need to fix any mistakes and have water ready to clean your paintbrushes if necessary.
Prepping Your Tile
- Prepare the tile or the surface for painting. You'll need to extensively scrub home surfaces using a toothbrush and a bathroom cleaning product in order to remove any stains or discoloration before beginning to paint. For single tiles, simply wipe the surface clean using a rag and soapy water.
- Use bleach or hydrogen peroxide to remove any mold.
- Vinegar works well for removing soap scum and shower residue.
- If necessary, obtain an orbital sander to prep any rough surfaces to be painted. Use 1800 grit sandpaper to smooth the tile and remove uneven gloss.
- Clean up the grit and shavings with a vacuum before continuing.
- Apply an oil-based high adhesion primer to home surfaces. Oil primers are efficient at preventing stains and holding on to ceramic and/or oil-based paint. Apply two coats if necessary.
- Allow your surface to dry before beginning to paint.
Painting Your Tile
- Decide on your colors and/or design. If you are painting existing tile in your home, make sure that the colors you choose complement the rest of your design scheme. It is usually best to choose light colors when painting your tile, as dark or bright colors can overwhelm a room.
- Ask yourself aesthetic questions. Do you want to fill up the entire tile space or simply paint one part of the tile? Both ways can be effective. One centered image of an animal, face, or object can look striking while a country scene, landscape, or cityscape would be a good way to fill the whole tile.
- For a home surface, maybe you want to include an accent tile or a row of accent tiles that contain a pattern, picture, or word. Accent tiles can add beautiful variation and subtle color to a home tile surface.
- Transfer your design to the tile very lightly using a pencil before you start to paint. This is especially effective for intricate scenes or patterns. Be sure to press the pencil very lightly so that it is easy to hide with paint and/or erase if necessary.
- After you've outlined your designs (if any), paint the surface following your template.
- If you are working on a whole home surface, apply several thin layers of paint, allowing the paint to dry in between coats.
- Let the paint dry for 48 hours on large home projects and 24 hours for small, decorative art pieces.
- Coat with a final layer of clear urethane to seal in the paint. You can apply several coats if desired.
Tips
- Consider adding an accent tile to brighten up a boring surface.
- Paint with patience. The more attention you pay to detail the better your project will turn out.
- Clean and repair any grout that needs attention before painting the tiles.
- We can also use glass paints on a really glossy surfaced tiles.
Warnings
- Spray can paints, enamels, and epoxies will not work as well as oil-based paints for painting tiles.
- Be sure to take the appropriate safety methods when using power tools and/or dealing with potentially toxic fumes by wearing safety goggles and a painter's mask.
- Re-painting tile on home surfaces is not a permanent fix and will most likely need to be repainted in the future.
- Don't bend over for too long in an awkward position or you might risk straining your back. Try to squat or bend from your knees when painting home surfaces.
Things You'll Need
- Ceramic tile
- Cleaning products to prep surface
- Orbital sander with 1800 grit sandpaper (if necessary)
- Safety goggles and a painter's mask
- Newspaper or drop cloth for covering workspace
- Water for cleaning brushes
- Oil-based high adhesion primer
- Paintbrush (or paintbrushes)
- Oil-based paint or ceramic tile paint
- Clear urethane
Related Articles
- Clean Unglazed Wall Tiles
Sources and Citations
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-diy-paint-ceramic-tile-68877
