How to Paint Ceramic

How to Paint Ceramic How to Paint Ceramic Have you reached a time when you are frustrated with the same old look in your bathroom and kitchen since the last few years? Installing new tiles may seem like an expensive proposition and a tiresome one too. But what about giving the tiles an entirely new look by getting them painted? If you are thinking of getting a painting work done on the entire house, then you can even think of colors complementing the look of the rooms. It may seem a little daunting at first to get paint to stick to the shiny and polished surface of the ceramic tiles but there are ways of doing it. You need to prepare the surface first and then paint it to get a completely new look.

But at the same time, it is advisable to not paint ceramic tiles which constantly get wet. The painting will not last long and will wear off within days. But though the work is not cut out for you, you can hire professional services to do the task if you are very serious about it. But if you want to try your hand at doing the painting of ceramic tiles, then it is better that you attempt the kitchen tiles which do not get wet very often. Let us go through the procedures of preparing the tiles for painting and the actual painting of the ceramic tiles.

Preparation of Ceramic Tile

Since the surface of the ceramic tile is so smooth, it is difficult for the paint to stick on it. A bit of preparation will get the slipperiness to leave the tiles which will allow the paint to stick to it. Make use of a tile cleaner to clean the tiles. Use a cleaner with a mild abrasive. This will not only clear away the dirt but also take the shine away from the surface.
Before you start your painting job, you must make sure that the tile surface is completely free from dirt and mildew with no chipped tiles or marks. Get them repaired first and then start the painting process.
To further prepare the tile surface for painting, you can make use of hand held orbital sander. Use an appropriate sandpaper to rub away the gloss. However, be careful that you leave no marks or stains which the painting cannot hide. You can also sand it with your hand which will take some extra time.
After the sanding process, remove the dirt from the entire tile surface including the corners and crevices. But make sure that the sanding process has been completed with diligence otherwise the paint will not stick.

Painting the Tiles

Now that the painting surface has been roughened, you can use a good high adhesion primer to prepare the base before painting it. You may have to incur some extra costs for the primer and the paint but if you want to do a good job then be prepared for it. Use an oil based primer and then an oil based paint later.
You can apply the primer in the difficult parts like corners with a brush and the rest of the areas with a short napped roller. Do your work well so that the painting will look good. Leave the first coat of primer to dry and then apply a second coat.
Once the primer is dry, sand it lightly so that the surface is totally prepared to be painted. Use a good quality oil paint for the top coat. It will take a long time to dry but will give a glossier finish. You can also use latex paint but the effect will not be as good.
Apply many thin coats of oil based high gloss alkyd on the ceramic tiles. It is advisable not to put on heavy coats as it will not work well with the adhesion.
Keep paint thinner handy so that you can clean up the paint if it runs down. It is also wise to keep rags ready to wipe the extra paint.

Now that your painting work is done, you will have a freshly designed kitchen to admire. It is sure to make you happy with your effort.