Learn how to paint tile floor for a cheap and easy room makeover
Your ceramic tile floor is there since the beginning of times, but what if you get bored of it? Can you paint ceramic tile floors? Is it very time-consuming? In this post, LANGRIA will give you the solution to all these questions. Let’s get started! ✓ Yes, you can paint tile floor. X No, it is not as time-consuming as you might think. ✓ Yes, this is a DIY step by step guideline. Painting tile floors is actually a fun and cheap way to transform the style of a room. And opposed to what you might think, it is easier than you can expect. While you can paint all types of tile floors, it is important to keep in mind that tiles which are in contact with humidity or moisture, such as those in the kitchen walls or the bathtub walls, will cause the paint to peel off from the tile over time. But don’t let this stop you from working on your tile floors, there are specially labeled paints and the results are pretty awesome!
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Preparing the floor
The first thing to do before you start working on your floor masterpiece is to clean the floor. You can use a TSP cleaner (Trisodium Phosphate Cleaner) or any other type of bathroom cleaner to clean the floor. Be careful and read the instructions when you handle this type of products as they are strong cleaners. Let it dry and wipe it down with a wet sponge to remove any residue. Then, let it dry again. Time to sand the floor. Sanding the tile floor will rough up the surface so the prime color adheres better. If you have an electric sander, this step will be even quicker than if you have to sand the floor by hand. Vacuum the floor. Make sure that all the dust and debris is gone before you start painting the tiles. If you spot some missing grout or cracked tiles, it is time to fix them. You can use caulk to fill the missing parts on the grout.
Prime the floor
In order to succeed at painting the tile floor, using a good primer is mandatory. Apply it all over the surface with a paintbrush for the edges and the more difficult areas, and with a small roller brush for the rest of the floor. Tip: make sure you start painting the far end of the room, otherwise you will find yourself trapped in a corner! Let it dry and add another layer for better results. Let it dry for a few hours (if you leave it dry overnight, it is better to ensure that all coated paint is 100% dry).
Choose your paint
For better results, we recommend you to choose a paint among these 3: – Chalk paint: if you plan to use this paint as a base coat, you can apply it without priming your floor (although we recommend using that primer). – Latex paint: if you use latex paint as a base, you need to apply a primer in order for the latex to adhere to the tile. Apply a couple of layers of latex paint. – Oil-based paint: it will hold up better than latex paint and it withstands chipping and damage well. However, it will take way longer to dry and it is harder to find, as its components are not as environmentally friendly as those on latex paints.
It’s time to stencil the tile floor!
If you want to apply a pattern, the straightforward way is to use a stencil. Stencils are easily purchased online for a reasonable price. On the other hand, if you have a clear idea of the kind of pattern you want to have on your tiles you can make the stencil yourself. Secure the stencil to the floor with tape and use a roller brush to apply the paint over the stencil. Make sure that you remove the extra paint from the roller before you apply over the stencil in order to prevent waste of paint. Move the stencil to another tile and repeat the process. If you need to do some touch-ups work, use a brush. If you don’t want to add a pattern, only a solid color to your tile floor, the process will be faster. Paint the floor the same way you primed it, using a brush for the corners and details such as the grout, and a small roller brush for the rest of the floor.
Seal your tile
Once you are done painting your floor, let it dry for about 2 days to make sure everything is completely dry – patterned tiles will dry faster than solid-colored tiles. In order to seal the tile, you should use 3 coats of polyacrylic, or a clear, water-based polyurethane (do not use oil-based, as it can yellow the color). Let each layer dry before you apply a new one. How do you feel about this DIY to paint tile floor? Have a look at the following examples of before-and-after photos as well as beautiful tiles and find inspiration in them for your next DIY project.