How to Paint Tile

1. Clean the Tile

   Fill the bucket with warm water and add the TSP to the bucket. Wearing gloves, wipe down the tile to remove as much of the dirt as you can. Start at the top and work downward, frequently changing out the bucket with warm water and TSP. Rinse the tile with clean water and let it dry.

   What Is TSP?

   Trisodium phosphate, known as TSP, is an odorless dry powder. When mixed with water, it becomes a highly effective cleaner for cutting through grease and grime. In some areas, TSP is banned. If that's the case for your area, look for phosphate-free substitutes.

2. Repair the Tile

   Thin cracks and small chips on the tile surface can be repaired with caulk. While wearing gloves, apply a small amount of caulk to the crack or chip and wipe it level with your finger.

   Larger defects can be filled in with exterior-grade waterproof spackle. As with the caulk, apply a tiny amount to the crack or chip. Use the putty knife to wipe off the excess, bringing the filler down to the tile surface.

3. Repair the Grout

   Since painting tile means painting over the grout, it must be in good condition. For small spot repairs, use tile grout sold in tubes. Apply the grout with a gloved finger, then wipe away. For more extensive grout damage, remove the grout and replace it with new grout.

4. Sand the Tile

   While wearing eye, hearing, and breathing protection, use a hand-held orbital sander equipped with sandpaper in the #100 to #150 grit range. Do not sand down to the tile body (the section below the glazing). Instead, scuff up the glaze.

   Tip

   Though liquid deglosser or liquid sandpaper works well on painted surfaces, it will not degloss tile. You'll still need to physically sand the tile.
   

5. Clean the Tile With Tack Cloth

   Clean the tile with water. After the tile has dried, clean once more with a tack cloth. Hard pressure on the tack cloth will embed beeswax on the tile surface, requiring another round of sanding. Keep the pressure light.

6. Protect Non-Paintable Areas

   Use painter's tape and sheet plastic to protect areas that will not be painted.

7. Apply the Bonding Primer

   Pour a small amount of bonding primer into a lined paint tray. Dip the paint roller into the primer, then roll out the excess on the tray until the roller is nearly dry. Roll the primer onto the tile, being careful not to press too hard on the roller. Apply only a thin coat to avoid dripping.

   After the primer has dried, apply a second thin coat of primer.

8. Paint the Tile

   Put a new liner in the paint tray. Add only a small amount of paint to the tray reservoir, then roll out the roller until it is almost dry. Roll the tile surface with one coat of paint. Fill in and touch up the edges with a paintbrush.

   Tip

   Avoid overloading your roller or brush with paint, as too much paint will drip and could leave unsightly marks on your final surface.

   Let the paint cure, then apply a second coat. If two coats are not sufficient, you can add a third coat after the second coat has dried.
   

9. Apply a Sealer

   Once the paint has completely cured, apply two coats of polyurethane sealer to protect the color coats.

5 Tips for Painting Tile

Painting tile is unlike many other painting projects because tile surfaces do not take paint well. Tile surfaces are often glazed to a high sheen to repel practically anything—dirt, smudges, dust, oil, and yes, paint. The key to painting tile is to give the surface tooth—an informal term for dullness or a lack of gloss.

• Choose the best surface: Painting tile works best on vertical surfaces such as dry or low-moisture walls or backsplashes. It also works well on low-impact horizontal surfaces such as select tile countertops.
• Clean the tile: Because tile is a protective surface, years of dirt and grime can be difficult to remove. Take time to thoroughly clean all areas of the tile, especially the grout seams.
• Scuff the tile: Glossy surfaces shed paint more easily. Sanding the tile surface creates a matte finish—tooth—to help the paint stick better and longer. Tile will never have the porosity of wood. But sanding away the gloss does expose some of the pores below the tile glazing.
• Primer the tile: While the use of primer may be debatable with other surfaces, it's mandatory with difficult surfaces like tile. Always use primer, and make sure that it's a bonding primer.
• Use tile paint only: Acrylic-latex interior or exterior house paints should not be used when painting tile. For better results and maximum durability, use epoxy paint or paint designated as tile paint.

When to Call a Professional

Professional painters usually deal with walls and ceilings more than kitchen or bathroom tile counters or wall surrounds. But companies that refinish bathtubs usually include tile coating or painting in their list of services.