Renewing Your Bathroom Tiles without Replacing Them

Renovating your bathroom is a worthwhile but expensive venture. You can save a precious dime when you repaint your bathroom tiles. This will breathe new life to your bathroom without the expense associated with a whole overhaul.

Things you will need:

• A bathroom cleaner
• A painter's mask
• A high-adhesion primer paint
• Latex paint
• High adhesive epoxy paint
• Sandpaper or a deglosser
• A spray painter

Clean the Tiles

The first step you need to take is to remove any accumulated grime from the tile surfaces. Use a textured cloth or brush to scrub the surfaces using the bathroom cleaner. Rinse off with water when done. You will need to wait for the tiles to completely dry before starting the next step.

Sand Down the Tiles

In order to get the tiles ready for the paint you will need to roughen their surfaces. This will enable them to have a holding power on the paint. For this you will have the option of using either a 220-grit sandpaper or the acid-based deglosser. Weigh the option between the two. Deglossers use chemicals to remove the gloss on surfaces, but they save you time. Sanding on the other hand does not have chemical fumes but emits dust particles. Be sure whichever you choose to use a painter's mask and keep the area well ventilated. Once you have completed sanding, wipe away all the dust to present a clean surface for the primer paint.

Painting the Tiles

The painting should be done with a spray paint to give a smoother finish. Start by applying the primer evenly over all surfaces you need to paint, applying one to two coats. Choose a high-adhesion primer specifically made for surfaces like tiles to maintain the coat of paint longer. After painting the primer, give it the recommended time to dry. Finish off painting by applying two coats of latex paint. Remember to check that the first coat has dried before applying the second. This painting option is good for areas that do not have too much water pouring on them.

For painting over areas like the bathroom floor and the shower area use the epoxy paint. Apply two coats and check that the first is dry before applying the second. Note that epoxy paint is limited to pastel colors. It however has good bonding properties in the presence of water. Even though you are doing this work yourself, consult a professional bathroom renovator if you have questions.