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starfishmanor

paint ceramic inset tile border in bathtub

7 years ago

I have a white tile bathtub surround with a narrow coloured inset border, which is not amenable to my new color palette. Is there a special technique to paint this inset border which is about 6 inches down from the top of the ceiling all around the tub area?

Comments (13)

  • 7 years ago

    Can you post a photo? If it's just a border of tiles 6 inches from the ceiling, I would use whatever paint you have available in the color you what and then once the paint is dry put a protective coating on top.


    Starfishmanor thanked ilikefriday
  • PRO
    7 years ago

    Klenk makes a paint for tile and it works very well as long as you follow the instructions.

    Starfishmanor thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Well, today I took the plunge and painted my ceramic tile insert border in the tub surround. I got product advice and product from Benjamin Moore store.

    First I made sure there was no residue on tiles; wiped with rubbing alcohol.

    I taped off the ceramic tile border above and below with frog tape.

    Then i painted the tile two coats with a medium grey chalk paint to seal the tile and prepare the surface for the metallic silver paint I was going to use.

    Then 2 coats of the silver metallic chalk paint.

    Once dried, a top coat of clear, flat gloss non-yellowing polyurethane.

    Removed the frog tape and voila; an insert tile border which went from a dusty rose to a metallic silver! Looks like it has always been there!! Will post pic soon!

  • 7 years ago
    How did it turn out? Did you paint each individual tile or paint the grout also?

    I have a tile bullnose green trim that wraps around my bathroom. If like to paint only the green bullnose tile but not sure how it will look because the grout (which is off white like the rest of the tile) will be painted also.
  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    This is what painted grout looks like. IMO it looks almost like plastic when the grout is painted but if you are only doing trim it may not be that noticeable at all. You can see the difference with this photo painted versus non painted tile.

  • 7 years ago
    I am going to try this in my kitchen. I bought a grout paint pen I plan to use after finishing the tiles.
  • 7 years ago

    The grout didn't bother me because I stenciled over the tile after I painted it and the grout became unnoticeable after the stencil was applied. If I were going to go with just the painted tile, I would try regrouting the entire floor after painting. I don't know about a grout pen. I have never used one but that sounds to me like just another paint over the grout.

  • 7 years ago

    Hello again! I have some photos of my finished painted ceramic tile border, but I don't know how to post them on this page. . . Any guidance welcome, thanks

  • 7 years ago

    If they are in your computer, click on as tho you are going to post a reply, then click photo, then find photo and click open.

  • PRO
    7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    From the computer? Click on the camera/ icon below the comment box. It will bring up your files. Click and highlight, click "open" and .........presto. there it is.

    Same on your phone, and tap the photo in your phone file, in "moments" or wherever : ) you store them.

  • 7 years ago

    I think I figured out how to upload my pics. . . of the brushed silver painted ceramic border inset. Original tile in the lower pic. The images depicting the white tile are looking yellowish, but they are a clean white . . .There are white silver threaded shower curtains up now which I open up in the middle so that the tub tile area is revealed.






  • 7 years ago

    Looking great.