How to paint the tiles in the bathroom with your own hands

Is it possible to paint the tiles so as not to spoil the bathroom

It is quite possible to do everything carefully and avoid ugly streaks. To do this, you need to choose the right paint and not skip any of the steps in the process. The result depends on every little thing - even the size of the pile on the roller. You can repaint any tile, but before arming yourself with brushes, you should take into account the features of different surfaces.

• Glazed tiles are more difficult to work with than matte ones. Gloss has poor adhesion - the ability to hold the coating. Simply put, it is difficult for paint to adhere to slippery tiles. To increase adhesion, you will have to sand the walls several times and apply a special primer.
• Aligning volumetric ornaments with paint alone will not work. Abstract drawings can be accentuated with color. But outdated decor with voluminous dolphins or ships is better to roll up in a monotone so that they are not so conspicuous.
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• To cover a dark tile with light paint, you will need 3-4 layers. While pastel-colored tiles, as a rule, two are enough. It is worth remembering this if you have a typical renovation from the 2000s - one half of the room is light, the other is dark.
• The coating on the floor wears out faster than on the walls. If you decide to upgrade it, do not save on consumables. Choose special floor paints and paint at least 3 coats.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of repainting tiles

The main disadvantage is that this is a temporary solution: sooner or later the outdated tile will have to be replaced. In addition, independent work on the bathroom will take time and effort. But if there is energy and free weekends, the method has much more advantages.

• Repainting is cheaper than a full repair. Dismantling, removal of construction debris, the work of a master - all this is more expensive than a couple of brushes, cans of paint and soil.
• This method is suitable for beginners. It will be easier to deal with a brush than with a tile cutter if you did not hold either one or the other in your hands.
• No need to look for a house during the work. Plumbing will remain in place, and painting will not immerse the apartment in clouds of dust.
• You can transform even the most boring tiles. Stencils will allow you to create an ornament, and a textured roller will imitate wood or leather.

How can I paint the tiles in the bathroom so that the new finish does not wear off in a year

Not every ceramic paint is suitable for a bathroom. The coating must be waterproof and withstand temperature changes. The host of the popular American show about the renovation Danny Lipfort advises choose products with a latex or epoxy composition. Some Russian DIY masters prefer alkyd and slate paints. Each type has high adhesion, but has its own characteristics.

• latex paint. Easy to apply, does not smell, perfectly repels water. Another plus is the high drying speed. Each layer will take a maximum of several hours. But such paint is not able to hide serious wall defects. If you have deep cracks or chips on your tiles, you will have to repair them with putty.
• Epoxy paint. Gives a smooth glossy finish. It dries for about a day, but the surface painted with epoxy can be washed even with aggressive cleaning agents. If you choose this option, take care of additional ventilation - the smell of paint will disappear only after complete drying.
• Slate paint. School boards are covered with such compositions, hence its second name is chalk. It gives a matte finish and goes on smoothly. In addition, it is non-toxic and dries quickly. Of the shortcomings - the high price.
• Alkyd paint. After drying, a dense protective film is formed on the surface, which does not allow water and steam to pass through. The enamel lays down in a neat glossy layer and does not fade. And this is the most budget option in the selection. But all the advantages can be crossed out by one fat minus - alkyd compounds toxic and may smell for some time after drying.

After deciding on the type of coating, select an adhesive primer for difficult surfaces. Its composition must be compatible with the paint so that the polymers do not conflict with each other. If you plan to paint ornaments, stock up on a suitable varnish to protect the decor from damage.

What else is needed

• Ordinary brush with hard bristles. Useful to wash the walls from limescale.
• A little putty for ceramics. She can repair chipped grout, cracked tiles and old holes from fasteners.
• Any degreaser. It is better to use white spirit or a universal solvent, but even vodka will do.
• Rag without lint. An old cotton T-shirt will do.
• Grinder. You can get by with sandpaper, but if the tile is glossy, manual sanding will take a lot of time and effort.
• roller. Choose a medium width. Too short a roller will take longer to work, and a long one can leave streaks.
• Several interchangeable rollers with short pile. One will go to the ground, the other to the paint.
• Small brushes. They will paint over the corners and seams.
• Paint bath. Needed to gently remove excess paint from the roller.
• Construction tape, newspapers or a piece of polyethylene. Useful for protecting plumbing and floors from spots paints.
• Mold remedy. It will never be superfluous in the bathroom.
• Respirator and gloves. When working with paints and varnishes, do not neglect safety precautions.

How to prepare your bathroom for tile painting

1. Remove the furniture

It is worth taking out appliances and interior items: a washing machine, laundry baskets, shelves, cabinets, faucets, a mirror, a cornice and a curtain. The more free space, the more comfortable you will work. Plumbing does not need to be dismantled.

2. Treat seams and corners from mold

First of all, carefully inspect the places where the tiles adjoin the plumbing. It is better to remove the old shower sides and cut off the sealant. Take a look at the tile seams - this is one of the favorite places for fungus. Treat affected surfaces with mold.

3. Wash the walls thoroughly

You can use any detergent, even soapy water. The main thing is to thoroughly rub the tiles and seams with a stiff brush to remove limescale drops and dried shampoo. You can not skip this stage: the coating will not adhere well to a dirty surface.

4. Protect Surfaces

It is worth covering with newspapers or polyethylene everything that should remain clean. Cover the floor as well, if you don't plan to paint it at the same time as the walls. Apply painter's tape where you want even seams, such as between tiles and a door frame.

How to paint bathroom tiles

1. Apply putty

Time to get small renovation. Spread the putty and repair cracks and chips on the tile. Special skills are not needed here, the composition can be smeared even with a finger. Fill holes from old towel and toilet paper holders with putty using a conventional syringe.

Pay special attention to the seams. The old grout sometimes looks pretty strong, but if you gently tap on it, the weak spots will crumble. They should also be puttied so that the paint lays evenly and holds well.

2. Sand the tiles

The longest, most unpleasant, dusty, but a categorically necessary process. Even if the tile is matte, you need to walk on it with fine-grained sandpaper. Gloss will have to be sanded several times. First walk thoroughly with large grains, then finish off with small ones. The surface should be slightly rough to the touch. With special attention, sand the puttied places - they need to be leveled with tiles.

When the job is done, wash the walls thoroughly again. Wipe them down with a cloth soaked in degreaser.

3. Prime the tile

It is better to prime hard-to-reach places and seams with a brush, but the smooth surface of the tile - with a roller.

If you chose a bright paint color, you can add a color of the same shade to the white primer. Color rendering will be much better.

Wait for the surface to dry. Each manufacturer in the instructions indicates the exact time, and you should not deviate from it. Prime the tile with a second layer.

4. Apply paint

When the primer is completely dry, you can proceed to the most interesting. The technique here is the same: first, go over the seams, corners and joints with a brush, and with a roller - along the main surface. Do not forget to clean off excess paint - the thinner the application, the more accurate the result. And it is also important not to change the course of the roller - work with the same lines from bottom to top.

Be prepared for the fact that after the first layer you will not want to say “wow”. Most compositions, even the most dense and saturated, initially leave bald spots. Let the surface dry completely, and then paint again - the result will please.

5. Make patterns through the stencil (if needed)

In the decor of painted walls, you need to consider the following points.

• Wait for the base paint to dry completely. Otherwise, it may peel off along with the stencil.
• Apply the pattern with a sponge or small roller. To prevent anything from bleeding under the stencil, remove excess paint on paper or cardboard. You need to decorate the tile with an almost dry tool.
• Prepare a thin art brush and some base paint. If the ornament is smeared somewhere, the pattern can be trimmed.
• Coat the surface with a compatible varnish. When the ornament is ready, apply several thin layers of the finish, allowing each to dry completely.

Some DIY craftsmen prefer to make their own stencils out of paper or cardboard, but it will be difficult for a beginner to work with such. They quickly soak, and the picture may turn out to be blurry. It is easier to buy ready-made stencils on a self-adhesive film. For a small bathroom, you need at least three pieces so that the work goes faster.

Do not forget to fill the tile joints with the bathroom and sink with fresh sealant at the end.

How to care for bathroom tiles after repainting

If you used high-quality materials, then special tricks are not needed. Try not to run the bathroom - aggressive chemicals and abrasives will not be needed if you regularly rub tiles from contamination with ordinary soapy water.

If the room is poorly ventilated, keep the door open and remove excess water from the sides of the shower with a cloth. This will help prevent mold growth.

Some types of paint can take quite a long time to set. For example, latex needs about a month. To avoid leaving scratches on a freshly painted surface, stick felt pads on furniture legs and do not rub the coating with hard brushes.