- What tiles can be painted?
- What tools and materials will be needed
- What kind of paint can be painted tiles
- Painting methods
- Preparing for painting
- Tile decoration
- How to keep the paint for a long time
Ceramic tiles have become an integral part of modern kitchens and bathrooms. The material from which it is made serves for many years. But time passes, fashion, tastes change, and we want to somehow change the interior without doing a global repair and without spending huge amounts of money. You can radically change the situation by trying to repaint the tile or draw a pattern on it that you like. Today, this has become possible thanks to the availability of a wide range of specialty paints on the market that are great for working with ceramic tiles. But not everyone knows how to paint tiles.
It should be remembered that the result depends on how correctly the painting was done and the tile was prepared.
What tiles can be painted?
Almost any tile can be painted, with the exception of the one that is located on the ceiling and on the floor of the bathroom - rooms with high humidity. This is due to the fact that the tiles here are often exposed to hot steam, which leads to its rapid wear and tear.
As for all other tile locations, there are no restrictions. you can even paint the one that is in close proximity to a water source or a gas stove. If you correctly do all the manipulations associated with painting, then it will not cause you any trouble. The choice of color and pattern depends only on you and your imagination. Do not be afraid to experiment, because with the help of paints you can draw whole pictures in the bathroom or in the kitchen, which will look very original and unusual. There is even a special non-tinted tile on sale, which is designed specifically for these purposes.
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What tools and materials will be needed
Before you paint the tiles, you must first prepare the tools and materials that will be used. Therefore, a list of everything that is needed is written in advance so that everything is at hand:
- washcloth, detergent, clean, dry rags, alcohol-based cleaner or ammonia;
- fine-grained sandpaper;
- epoxy primer;
- foam rubber or small pile roller;
- small brush;
- container for diluting paint;
- stick for mixing paint;
- paint for ceramic tiles;
- water-based varnish;
- masking tape;
- stencils.
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What kind of paint can be painted tiles
The best option for painting tiles are oil paints.
The best result when painting tiles can be achieved using oil paint. It adheres very tightly to the surface it is applied to and can last for decades.
Acrylic paint is quite economical and easy to use, so it deserves attention. To work with it does not require any special knowledge and skills.
Epoxy paints also showed themselves well in this matter. But if you are working with them for the first time, then you should first practice on a small area, since working with this type of paint may require some skill. However, there is nothing complicated here, so you should not be afraid.
Another option that is well suited for this type of work is auto paint. They fit perfectly on a smooth surface and withstand moisture without problems. Surfaces painted with car paints are perfectly washable and retain their original appearance for many years.
What kind of paint for tiles is highly undesirable to use, so it's water-based paint. It will start peeling and flaking very quickly.
As for the shades of paint, both ready-made colored paints and white ones are on sale, to which you choose the tone yourself. The second option is very convenient, because it allows you to achieve exactly the color that you need. This is especially suitable for creative people who have their own idea of \u200b\u200bcolor and its many shades.
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Painting methods
It is possible in several ways. If you want to paint it in a solid color so that no seams are visible, this can be done in the simplest and most common way. To do this, you just need to paint the prepared surface with several layers of special paint.
If you want beautiful and neat seams to be visible between the tiles, it is best to paint it before laying it on the wall. Otherwise, the painting process will be long and laborious, since you will have to seal the seams, thereby preventing paint from getting on them.
The tile can also be partially painted, applying only a small drawing or pattern to it (for those who do not know how to draw, you can use a stencil).
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Preparing for painting
Before painting a tile, it must be carefully prepared. First of all, it is necessary to wash the surface to be painted with hot water with the addition of detergent (it is better if it is slightly abrasive), using a washcloth or a stiff brush. Particular attention should be paid to the seams between the tiles, as they accumulate a huge amount of grease and dirt.
After that, we rinse the tile with clean water and wipe it with a clean, dry sponge dipped in vinegar or some kind of alcohol-containing agent to remove soap deposits and other particles from the surface that could remain after washing. Ammonia, diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 1, copes very well with this task.
Then you need to prime the treated surface well with a special primer and let it dry for about a day. You should not rush, because the final result will depend on how well the primer has dried. After that, lightly sand the surface again with fine sandpaper or a sanding grid. This is done so that the paint adheres to the tile as well as possible and does not peel off due to the influence of various factors on it.
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To make the painting look of high quality, it is necessary to paint the tiles in 3 layers.
The painting process itself consists in applying the paint in a thin layer several times on the prepared tile. To do this, you need to stir the paint to the consistency with which you are most pleased to work, but do not forget to look at the instructions that are written on the can: you do not need to dilute the paint more than indicated there, because you can spoil the expected effect and not achieve the desired result . Another important point is that the paint needs to be diluted so much that it is enough to apply one layer, since it cannot be stored for a long time. The maximum for this is up to 6 hours.
In order for the color of the painted tile to be even and beautiful, the paint must be applied in at least 3 layers, especially if the source is radically different from the color you want to achieve. After applying the next layer to the surface of the tile, you need to let it dry for at least 12 hours and only then apply the next one. And so on until you get the result you want. You shouldn't hurry.
The best way to apply the paint is with a foam or short pile roller. In this case, the paint will lay down beautifully and evenly, without leaving streaks and streaks. A brush can be used only in those places where it is impossible or extremely inconvenient to do this with a roller.
