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If you've
grown tired of the look of your ceramic tile or you're
changing your decor, painting can save the expense of
tiling over the existing tile or replacing it. While
you should certainly leave painting ceramic tile shower
and tub walls to the specialists (see your telephone
directory under "Bathtub Refinishing" or "Appliance
Refinishing"), you can repaint ceramic wall tile
yourself in a half bath, kitchen, or other room provided
that the tile is not directly exposed to water and is
still in good condition. The key to success is very
careful preparation and using the right primer and paint. Tools
& Materials
- Rubber
gloves
- Pad
or random-orbit type power sander
- Goggles
- Box
or window fan (recommended)
- Tile
and grout cleaner
- Vacuum,
soft brush, lint-free dust cloth
- Mildew
remover (if needed)
- Paint
applicators (pad, brush, or soft-nap roller)
- Nonmetallic
abrasive pad
- Primer
- Bucket
and large sponge
- Paint
topcoat (100% acrylic latex)
- Dust
mask and protective clothing
- Drop
cloths and painting supplies
- 220-grit
aluminum oxide sandpaper
1. Clean Tile and Grout:
Use a good commercial bathroom tile and grout cleaner
to remove all grease, dirt, and grime. If there is mildew
present be sure to use a product designed to kill the
mildew and remove any stains. Use a nonmetallic abrasive
pad (e.g., green scrubber pad) to clean. Rinse thoroughly
to remove all traces of detergent/cleaner.
- Caution:
Wear rubber gloves and goggles.
- Tip:
If grout repairs are required they must be completed
at least 48 hours prior to painting so the new grout
will have adequate time to cure.
2. Sand Tile: To assure
a proper bond you must sand the tile very well. Use
a very fine (220-grit) aluminum oxide paper, which will
remove the gloss without leaving telltale scratches
that would telegraph through the new finish. For all
but the smallest areas, use a power pad (finishing)
or random-orbit type sander. (One manufacturer, Zinsser,
claims that sanding is unnecessary when using its well-known
bonding primers, such as its water-based product Bullseye
1-2-3. Of course, you can still sand as an extra precaution
if you use this product.)
- Caution:
Wear goggles, a dust mask, a hat, and other protective
clothing when sanding.
- Tip:
Put a window fan (set to "exhaust") in
the work area and open a nearby window outside the
room. This keeps dust from entering other areas
and exhausts much of it outdoors. If your sander
is equipped for it, attach a vacuum or dust bag,
too.
- Wipe
off sanding dust with a damp cloth to reveal any
areas that you missed, which will be indicated by
glossy patches.
3. Remove
Dust: Clean the tile thoroughly with a vacuum, brush,
and slightly damp lint-free cloth to remove all sanding
dust.
4. Apply
Primer:
4a.
In low-humidity area: Use a high-adhesion interior
latex bonding primer, such as Zinsser's 000. Because
the prime coat is critical to success, two coats may
be warranted. Generally you can achieve very similar
results with a paint pad or a short-nap roller. Experiment
with both if you wish but my vote is a pad.
- Caution:
Always read safety warnings and instructions on
the label, and follow the manufacturer's equipment
and application instructions.
4b. In high-humidity area:
In very high-humidity areas, you'll need the extra bonding
strength of a two-component epoxy primer or paint (the
paint does not require a primer). This paint generally
requires care and skill to apply and is best applied
with a brush, so only use it for more demanding applications.
- Tip:
Improper measuring or mixing of the components can
result in paint that won't cure or that dries too
fast. Either way you would be in for a very big
mess. Follow instructions to the letter!
5. Apply Topcoat: Apply a
100% acrylic latex semigloss or gloss paint over the
prime coat. Cut in around windows, doors, corners, ceilings,
and floors with a brush or pad applicator, and apply
paint to the remaining area with a pad (or short-nap
roller). Recoat after the proper drying time specified
on the label. Latex primers and paints may take a full
14 days to become scratch- and abrasion-resistant. So
prime and paint as directed above but make every effort
to avoid unnecessary contact with the painted tiles
for two weeks.
- Tip:
Cut in a limited area at a time so the paint won't
begin to set up before you paint the rest of the
wall. Go over as much of the cut-in area as possible
to minimize any visible changes in texture.
- A
wide variety of decorative painting techniques such
as sponging, rag-rolling, and stippling can add
a creative touch to your project.
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