Although this is not a permanent bathroom fix, if you want to extend the life of your ceramic bathroom tile for a few years, then painting ceramic bathroom tiles is definitely an option.
1. clean, clean, clean! I read on countless sites that the most important thing people forget to do is clean the tile thoroughly before starting. Make sure that you get all of the soap scum, grime, lime scale, etc. off of the tiles and grout.
2. Let dry, and then sand the tiles with a medium grit sandpaper until they are dull and no longer glossy. Make sure that you clean up all of the excess dust with a damp towel or equivalent.
3. If you are going to re-grout your tiles you may want to do that first. If you grout after it can ruin your newly painted tiles.
4. Coat the tile surface with a bonding primer to seal it against moisture and everything that goes with it (mold, etc.)
5. Let dry according to the directions, sand the primer, clean, and then prime again.
6. Once dry, apply an oil based gloss paint with a natural bristle brush.
7. Let the paint dry thoroughly and apply another coat.
8. After that has dried, apply a clear polyurethane finish to seal the color in.
Again, I want to emphasize that this is not a forever fix for your bathroom. But it is a nice and less expensive way to remodel your bathroom on a budget. In order to ensure it's longevity, try not to paint tiles that are constantly wet, and make sure that when you clean the tiles you aren't using an excessively abrasive cleaner.
16 months ago