How to Repair Peeling Paint on Ceramic Tiles

Due to high levels of humidity commonly found in bathrooms, ceramic tiles will not hold on to a coating of paint for long. As a result the paint will peel at a faster rate than you might expect. Here is a brief guide to help you repair the peeling paint and create a finish to your tiles that will last longer.

Step 1 – Remove Old Paint

One of the best agents used to remove old paint is soap. A scrub brush with a rough end will also get rid of the peeling paint quicker. Remember that along with the peeling paint you are removing possibly years of wax, grease and dirt from your ceramic tiles. It is important to clean the surface of the old tiles too as the new paint will not adhere properly otherwise. If necessary you can use grout cleaner, to clean the grout at the joints of the tiles.

Step 2 – Repair any Chipped or Cracked Tiles

Chipped or cracked tiles will still be visible even after applying layers of paint! Thus it is advisable to work on them from beforehand. To help with the chipped tiles, one of the best products to use is quick-drying epoxy. It fills in the chipped parts and dries quickly (as its name implies!). Chalk can be applied to help cover the cracks. Both the chalk and epoxy must have dried before the painting process begins.

Step 3 – Protect the Furniture and Units

While the quick-drying epoxy or chalk is drying you should cover up and protect the furniture. The paint you are about to use is probably suited to stick properly to ceramic surfaces. Keep this in mind, especially if your toilet seat, sink is a ceramic based material! Covering the units and pieces of furniture with newspaper or even pieces of cloth will save endless hours of scrubbing later!

Step 4 – Start Painting

A cheap roller will do the job for painting the tiles. A roller is a good tool because it would not leave any unwanted bubbles on the surface. When buying the correct paint look for oil based paints or epoxy paints. You can opt to buy a semi-gloss paint for a defined finished look.

If do not want the gout to have the same color as the tiles, plan from beforehand and apply tape along the grout lines. Stencils may also be used to create complex designs and patterns. Furthermore, they are easy to use and do not require any particular artistic expertise.

Step 5 – Apply Urethane As a Coating

Apply several coatings of urethane after the paint has dried. This chemical is water based and would act as a coating to your freshly painted ceramic tiles. Urethane is not expensive and can be found at any ironmonger.

As a further precaution to increase the lifespan of your new paint, installing a bathroom exhaust fan would work wonders. It drastically decreases the humidity, thus reducing the contact of water with your paint, drastically diminishing the chances for it to peel. As shown by the steps above, repairing old peeling paint isn’t a hard job!