Can you paint bathroom tiles?

Short answer: yes, with a tile paint made for the spot

Dulux describes Renovation Range Tiles & Benchtops as a three-step system that gives bathroom tiles a fresh look without a complete overhaul. The three steps are clean and prep, topcoat, then a clear coat.

A normal wall paint isn't part of that system. Dulux says Tiles & Benchtops needs a clean, primed surface or the paint will peel and flake off. It also says Renovation Range Primer is absolutely necessary before any Renovation Range product, because the primer is what makes the paint grip the tile.

Dulux sells the tile paint and the clear coats in satin and gloss, in 1L and 2L tins, and labels the range as suitable for DIY projects. It also says the range is designed for interior use only. So painted tiles suit a bathroom, laundry or kitchen. Tiles on a patio or verandah are outside what the range is made for.

Zone by zone: which tile paint goes where

Which product you use depends on where the tile is. Dulux splits its tile range into a wall product and a floor product, and they're finished differently. Here's what Dulux says about each spot in a bathroom.

The clear coat rule matters most underfoot. Dulux says Renovation Range Clear must not go over Renovation Range Floors, because it reduces the slip resistance of the floor coating. Wall tiles are the opposite. Dulux says to finish them with two coats of clear for added protection. The Dulux Australian pages we checked talk about bathroom wall tiles without singling out the walls inside a shower recess, so ask Dulux about tiles that get sprayed every day before you start.

What the tile paint maker says to avoid

These warnings come from the Dulux data sheets for Tiles & Benchtops and Floors.

• Skipping the primer. Dulux says the primer is absolutely necessary before any Renovation Range topcoat.
• Painting over silicone, grease or dirt. Dulux says the paint will not adhere and will peel or flake off.
• Scrubbing with abrasive detergents. Dulux says not to use abrasive cleaning detergents.
• Painting in the cold or the heat. Dulux says the surface temperature must be above 10°C, and to avoid painting when the air or surface is below 10°C or above 30°C. Don't paint in direct sunlight either.
• Rushing on a humid day. Dulux says to allow longer drying times in cooler or humid conditions, which is worth keeping in mind in a steamy Sunshine Coast bathroom.
• Recoating too soon. Dulux says early recoating will reduce the gloss.
• Clear coat on a floor. It cuts the slip resistance of Renovation Range Floors.
• Using the room too early. On wall tiles, Dulux allows light use after 2 days, with nothing left sitting on the tiles and no water or detergent. Medium use, cleaning with mild detergent and water, starts after 3 days. General use starts after 7 days.

A painted shower base runs on a similar clock. Dulux's shower base guide allows light use after 2 days, including running water and foot traffic, and general use with water and soap after 7 days.

Prep: clean twice, strip the silicone, sand, then prime

Tile prep is mostly cleaning. The tile has to be free of grease, silicone and dirt before the primer goes on. These steps follow the Dulux data sheet for wall tiles.

1. Clean the tiles. Dulux says to clean wall tiles with Selleys Rapid Mould Killer, then wash down well with water.
2. Strip the silicone. Remove all silicone sealant from the joints with Selleys Silicone Remover. Then sand every spot where silicone was removed with P400 paper.
3. Scrub the grout. Wash with sugar soap and use a scrubbing brush or a toothbrush to clean the grout lines. Dulux says to clean at least twice with clean water and sugar soap each time.
4. Rinse and dry. Rinse with clean water and dry with a clean cloth. Dulux says to let grout lines dry for at least 2 hours before painting.
5. Repair. Remove any loose and flaking paint. Fill cracks or holes with a hard epoxy based filler such as Selleys Knead It Aqua.
6. Sand the glaze. Sand glossy and semi gloss finishes to a dull, flat finish with P400 paper, then wipe off the dust with a clean damp cloth.
7. Mask. Tape off everything you don't want painted. Dulux says the paint will be difficult to remove once it's cured.
8. Prime. Apply one coat of Renovation Range Primer. The primer page says to allow four hours before the topcoat. Dulux's shower base guide says at least eight hours. Go by the label on your tin.

How to paint ceramic tile: two topcoats, then a clear coat

Paint ceramic wall tiles with at least two coats of Tiles & Benchtops, at least 8 hours apart, then seal them with clear. Dulux's data sheet sets out the order.

1. Mix in the additive. Tip all of the additive from under the blue lid into the paint. Stir for 2 to 5 minutes with a broad flat paddle. Once mixed, Dulux says the paint is good for up to 10 days.
2. Cut in. Use a 38 to 50mm angled sash cutter brush around edges and fittings.
3. Roll. Coat the tiles with a 4mm nap, 100mm wide microfibre roller.
4. Lay off. Go over each finished section in the same direction with an unloaded roller and light pressure. That's what gives a smooth, even finish.
5. Wait, then recoat. Leave at least 8 hours before the second coat.
6. Clear coat. Finish wall tiles with two coats of Renovation Range Clear. Skip this step on Renovation Range Floors.

Dulux says every Renovation Range product covers 12 square metres per litre per coat. Its worked example: 10 square metres, two coats, plus 30% for waste and what's left in the roller and tray, rounds up to 3 litres. Our guide to how much paint you need covers the same sum for walls.

Grout lines and silicone: paint covers grout, silicone has to go

Tile paint goes over the grout as well as the tile. Dulux's floors guide says the grout lines will be covered when you paint tiles. To bring the lines back, Dulux sells a Renovation Range Grout Pen that re-whitens grout. On wall tiles, the pen goes on before the clear coat, so the clear protects it. On Renovation Range Floors there's no clear coat, so the pen goes straight onto the grout lines.

Silicone works the other way. Paint won't stick to it, so every bead on the tiles you're painting comes out before you start. Dulux's data sheet says silicone left on the surface means the paint will not adhere and will peel or flake off.

Sealant still matters once the paint is done. The QBCC lists replacing silicone joints every few years, and promptly repairing cracked grout or loose tiles, as simple upkeep that protects the waterproofing underneath.

Paint only suits sound tiles; loose or leaking ones need a tiler

Painting is a surface refresh for tiles that are firmly stuck down, with grout that's intact. If the tiles show any of the QBCC's warning signs of waterproofing failure, paint would only hide the problem. Those signs include:

• loose tiles or crumbling grout
• damp patches that get worse after showers or rain
• peeling, bubbling or blistering paint
• silicone joints that are peeling or discoloured

The QBCC says waterproofing is regulated work in Queensland and must be carried out by licensed professionals. Re-tiling sits under the QBCC's wall and floor tiling licence class, which covers cutting and fixing tile and applying waterproofing for wall and floor tiling. The QBCC also says building work valued over $3,300 needs a QBCC licence.

Don't drill into a tiled shower wall to hang a shelf or a rail. The QBCC says DIY renovations and drilling can puncture the waterproofing membranes hidden behind tiles. If you see loose tiles, crumbling grout or damp patches, get a QBCC licensed contractor to find the cause before anyone paints.

Having the rest of the bathroom painted on the Sunshine Coast

Tile paint is sold as a DIY system, and the steps above come straight from the people who make it. If the walls and ceiling need a repaint too, our interior house painters can quote that work. Our guide to painting a bathroom covers wall and ceiling paint, sheen and airflow.

Getting ready to sell? Read painting before selling on the Sunshine Coast before you pick which rooms to do. We work across the Sunshine Coast, so check the locations page for the suburbs we cover. We're QBCC licensed (licence 1281728). Call 0403 571 616 or use the instant estimate for a guide price.