How Do You Paint Old Ceramic Tile?
Say you’ve got an old ceramic tile wall or floor that’s still in good shape structurally, but is so dated and ugly that you want it gone. Ripping up and replacing ceramic is a major chore–but painting it is relatively easy. The trick to painting ceramic is using the right paints (oil paints stick better and dry harder than water-based) and sealing it all in polyurethane gloss. Don’t paint shower tiles or other areas that will be subjected frequently to direct water, as the paint will come off. Thoroughly clean the tiles and grout with a bleach-based cleanser and stiff scrub brush. If there’s any damaged grout, re-grout it and let it set. Load your sander with 100-grit sandpaper and sand the whole tile surface, pressing hard enough to scuff the glazed surface of the tiles and take off some of the shine. Thoroughly clean up the dust with paint thinner. Get the surface completely dry. Apply the primer with a brush in a thin, even coat, starting at one corner of the tiled area and working
