Many people believe that it is impossible to repaint tiles. In fact, to update the interior and paint the tiles in the kitchen or bathroom – quite simple, and the procedure consists of several successive steps. Let’s understand, of what steps is the technology, and what tips will help to make the painting quality and durability.
When to paint a tile: the motivation for change
The opportunity to change the tile coating appears quite rarely; for this you need a happy coincidence of different (and not only financial) circumstances. In addition, the re-laying of tiles on any surface belongs to the most complex tasks that require time and skill.
If you are determined to update the kitchen apron, walls or floors, lined with ceramics, it is not necessary to start an expensive repair with a replacement coating. When the tiles are strong, instead of laying new tiles you can get by with repainting the old, enough to understand how and what to paint the tiles in the bathroom or kitchen.
There is an uncomplicated, time-tested method of painting, free from the hassle of dismantling and debris. Owners who decide to update the interior with its help, set the following goals:
- Quickly change the design (if not the style) of the room with a dramatic change in the color scheme. Depending on the style, coating do monochrome, decorated with patterns or graphics. Changing the palette is often complemented by updating the furniture, buying new things (e.g., mirrors) and replacing textiles (if we are talking about the kitchen).
- Refresh the existing design. In this case, limited to repainting without a radical change in the color palette. The new color will help to create new accents, will emphasize the existing stylistics. The decor can also be done using ornaments.
- Camouflage traces of use. Over time, defects accumulate on the ceramic surface: chips, cracks or traces of mold on the intertile joints. Cosmetic renovation will get rid of annoying flaws.
The limits of what is possible
It is not enough to know how to repaint tiles in the kitchen or bathroom and perform the work in the prescribed order. It should be understood that ceramics is a specific material, which is also operated in a humid environment, with periodic changes in temperature regime. In the bathroom, humidity often reaches critical values (as can be seen in the fogged mirror). The kitchen has its own difficulties – splashes of grease and, if there is no hood – the stench of cooking.
Glossy tiles are painted worse than matte, but you can paint any tile surface. It is important to choose the right paint composition, as well as to carry out preparatory work.
There are no restrictions in the bathroom, hallway and kitchen, including the kitchen apron. Also suitable for painting surfaces lined with ceramics in wet areas (bathroom, shower, sauna), free of permanent water procedures. The rule also applies to walls and floors lined with porcelain tiles.
What you need for work
Renovation of cladding is composed of several actions, so you will need a set of tools and materials. They are needed to prepare the ceramic surface for painting and apply the dye without contaminating the surrounding objects and finishes. In the work can not do without the following things:
- Primer and paint compound of a suitable color.
- Choosing what to paint ceramic tiles, start from the type of composition. If you have chosen an ordinary (can) paint, stock up on a set of brushes and roller. Need a container (tray) for portioning paint. All of this will not be needed if you have purchased an aerosol.
- It is convenient to paint on a wide surface with a flat flute brush. To draw a pattern or paint a narrow area, you need a filleted brush.
- At some point you will need to degrease the surface; you will need thinner or white spirit.
- Protect your health with gloves and a mask (goggles).
- To protect clean surfaces, you will need a covering sheet (you can use newspaper). You will also need masking tape (paper tape).
- A fine-grit sandpaper is needed to pre-treat the tiles.
- Household detergents, metal sponge.
- Construction varnish.
- If you are going to apply ornaments to the tiles, you will need a template (stencil), perhaps a palette.
The nuances of paint selection
Kitchen and bathroom are places where it often gets hot and humid. In the kitchen, tiles are also covered in grease and need to be cleaned regularly. Not every paint is able to create a coating adapted to contact with water, resistant to cleaning with detergents. There are several types of paint that can withstand the harsh conditions.
When considering whether you can paint tiles with this or that paint, pay attention to its quality. Poor-quality paint compositions are known for their ability to release toxic substances, and not only when heated.
Acrylic dyes
Water-soluble acrylic paints refer to universal materials. They are divided into several varieties: facade, interior, decorative. Among interior kinds popular are matte compositions (they paint ceilings) and paints for wallpaper; there are special paints for tile walls in the kitchen and bathroom. Manufacturers also offer 2-in-1 formulations that do not require a primer.
For bathroom and kitchen decorations choose waterproof and washable compositions. They have bright, saturated shades, don’t leave any smell and are easy to apply. The paint is well distributed over the surface, so it is consumed economically. The coating dries in 1-2 hours and is smooth and even.
In an open can the composition visibly thickens after 5-6 hours, but to restore its properties, it is sufficient to add a little water. It is worth refusing acrylic paint if you plan to paint tiles in the bathroom or sauna.
Latex compositions
Dyes also have a water base, but have improved water resistance; they paint any rooms with high humidity (including saunas and saunas). The emulsion composition includes latex, so the coating is not afraid of washing with a wet sponge, but it is unstable at sub-zero temperatures.
Latex-based paints are varied in color and the type of surface created. You can make the cladding glossy, matte or intermediate in the degree of matting. Important advantages of the composition are plasticity and economy. It is applied to the substrate as a thin layer, filling and masking mini-cracks. However, significant (over 1 mm) defects are not under its power.
In a constantly humid environment there is a possibility of mold on the surface coated with latex composition. Therefore, it is important before painting tile in the kitchen or bathroom, to think about the ventilation system and conduct additional treatment with bioprotectors. Of the disadvantages, you can highlight the high price, which, however, is compensated for by the long service life.
Silicone dyes
Most compositions refer to water-soluble emulsions. They are environmentally friendly, vapor permeable, and do not emit harsh odors. Silicone paint can be applied to any surface; it withstands variations in humidity and temperature, while remaining resistant to mildew. Since the paint is recommended as a facade material, it easily copes with kitchen, bathroom and sauna conditions.
The silicone-coated surface repels water and dirt, does not burn out under UV light, and these properties remain virtually unchanged for 25 years. Silicone coating levels the substrate, as it fills and masks cracks up to 2 mm.
The advantage of the emulsion is a wide variety of colors and the possibility of tinting. The lifetime of the coating is designed for 20-25 years. A significant disadvantage of the dye is the high cost.
Oil paints
If you need to freshen the appearance of tile masonry, then oil paint is suitable for this purpose. It is far from the most popular variety, as its production does not reach the standards of environmental friendliness, and the color variety leaves much to be desired. But oil dyes create a dense coating, scramble hard and last longer than many compositions.
Durability is not the only advantage of oil paints. They have good moisture resistance and are affordable. Oil paints have good hiding power, that is the ability to properly overlap the color of the basis. This quality is especially valuable for tiles with patterns, the pattern often comes through when painted with other compositions.
A significant disadvantage is the long drying time (3-4 days), accompanied by a fairly heavy odor from the evaporation of volatile compounds. The coating is not elastic, and over time may crack due to temperature changes. The composition includes olive, which over time turns yellow.
Epoxy compounds (enamel)
When drying, the enamel forms a strong film resistant to mechanical damage and impervious to water. The coating has good adhesion to any materials (including tiles), it can be used to obtain permanent painting of walls and floors.
Plastic coating is not afraid of mold, long retains its original appearance, safe for health. On sale you can find almost any shade of enamel of three types: aerosol, powder and two-component. For painting tiles choose glossy or semi-matt enamels, creating a glossy or visually velvety surface, respectively.
Epoxy paint – a worthy alternative to oil dyes for painting tiles in the kitchen, as it is optimally suited for ceramic cladding. Enamel dries quickly, gives an excellent result, but the work requires certain application skills. Therefore, before applying it, it makes sense to try your forces on a not very visible area.
Stained glass compositions
Stained glass paints are a kind of paint materials. They are used for painting smooth surfaces: glass, ceramics, plastic. They are highly resistant to abrasion, do not fade under UV light.
The materials are varied not only in the choice of shade, but also in consistency, which depends on the composition. But after application and drying, they all form a dense film. Distinguish stained glass dyes on a lacquer, alcohol, water, acrylic basis.
6 steps of tile preparation
Tiles were not originally intended for staining. Therefore, in order to achieve a beautiful and high-quality result, before painting the old tiles in the bathroom or kitchen, the surface is prepared. It will be necessary to perform the following actions:
- Cleaning the tiles and intertile joints from contamination. Using a stiff brush or metal sponge, dirt is removed from ceramics; abrasives and liquids can be used for cleaning. Potentially moldy areas are thoroughly cleaned and treated with a disinfectant.
- Matting. Smooth glossy surface does not hold paint, so the tiles are made matte (rough), sanding with sandpaper. For matte tiles the procedure is not necessary, but desirable – the paint will lay better. Process not only tiles, but also joints. Grinder will speed up the process, but you will need respiratory and eye protection.
- Restoration (can be skipped). If the joints have sagged, have chips, cracks and other defects, the grout is renewed with putty and let it dry. Restored places are treated with primer to increase adhesion (adhesion to the paint coating).
- Degreasing the substrate. The tiles are treated with a solvent (white spirit or regular turpentine), let dry.
- Surface protection. Those parts of the wall that do not need to be painted are covered with film (packages). Small elements (pipes, switches, sockets) are protected with masking tape, and it is better to look for tape with acrylic adhesive, so as not to damage the surface, cleaning traces after painting.
- Priming. Before you paint tile in the kitchen, the tiles are primed. To do this, you need moisture-resistant compositions that are suitable for the treatment of ceramic surfaces (this is indicated on the packaging). The primer is applied with a thin, even layer, preferably with a flat brush. Allow it to dry completely within a day.
Methods of staining tiles in the kitchen
Technology of staining ceramic tiles differs depending on the place of application: on the wall (on the kitchen apron) or on the floor. Wall tiles are painted in the following way:
- The paint is applied in two steps. Before applying the second layer, let the first one dry completely (the drying time depends on the type of paint).
- For work on a large area it is more convenient to use a roller. Use a brush to paint corners and hard-to-reach places (for example, behind a pipe).
- If there is a pattern on the ceramic, you will most likely need to apply not two, but three or four layers, so it does not come through after drying. Two coats are sufficient if the pattern is faded.
- After the last layer dries, drawings are applied by hand or with a stencil, if this is stipulated by the design.
Painting the floor will require more time, and it is not about the choice of paint product. On a freshly painted and dried surface can not be walked on for a day barefoot, and within three days – in shoes. When working with floor tiles, there are the following peculiarities:
- It is applied in at least two layers, with each one completely drying. The intervals are specified by the manufacturer on the package or in the instructions.
- More layers will be required if the tiles have patterns or textures (e.g., under marble), and the grout has a darker shade. Almost certainly they will shine through 1-2 colorful layers.
- Experts advise to buy for painting tile in the kitchen on the floor composition with good hiding power. It is expensive, but gives an excellent result after two layers. Cheap paints are not economical in consumption, applied in 3-4 layers, the work takes more time, but at a comparable cost.
- The work starts from the back of the room to the exit; also make sure that there is no dust on the floor.
Choosing a color for the joints
Before you paint tiles in the kitchen, you need to decide what to do with the joints. The easiest option is to paint the joints the same color as the tiles. But if you like contrasting combinations of tiles and grout, the work on such a finish will be long and laborious. The hardest part is to make the seams perfectly even.
To work on the joints proceed after the tile is painted and completely dried. The tiles are carefully sealed with masking tape, and then the seams are painted with a thin brush. If you need to update the grout entirely, this is done before staining the ceramic masonry, and to paint the tiles will have to be very careful not to hurt the seams.
How to protect the new coating
When the surface is completely dry, it is varnished to make it more durable, protect it from abrasion and scratches. The lacquer is applied in one or two coats; refer to the instructions on the package.
The lacquer should have the same chemical base as the paint. For acrylic paint, for example, a transparent acrylic varnish should be purchased. A water-based urethane varnish can be used as a finishing coat for any paint (even oil-based). It is applied in one layer with a roller, or in several thin layers with a brush.