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Do you have a bathroom with outdated tile? Maybe it’s a less than desirable color? 70’s green, pink or blue? Or maybe a dark brown?
Did you know that the tile in your bathroom CAN be painted?
To hire it out can cost thousands, and I don’t know about you… but that is NOT in my budget. BUT, did you know that you can paint it yourself?
Yes… YOU can paint your tile in your bathroom and give it a fresh, updated look and do it on a budget. It cost me less than $50 in paint to update my shower tub and tile.
Want to know how?
I’m going to tell you what I did. What didn’t work and what did, and some tips along the way.
First, I always like to share the BEFORE. Now, while my tile wasn’t bad (I’ve seen and had worse in prior homes) it wasn’t the bright, fresh look I wanted for my bathroom. So while I was starting my bathroom refresh, I knew that giving the tub and tile a fresh look was on the list.
Supplies needed:
- Tub & Tile Paint kit, roll on version (I would get 2-3 kits)
- painters tape, I prefer this brand
- drop cloth
- paint spray project respirator mask
- 6 inch foam roller, get at least 2-3 extra replacement rollers (you will need to use a new one with each coat)
- brush to cut in as needed (don’t spend a lot on one… you will have to throw it away when your done)
With any project, I always tell y’all that the most important thing is the prep work. So I’ll say it again. PREP IS KEY. Follow ALL the instructions on how to prep your area you plan to paint. I set aside one day for prep and painted the next day. You will need to remove the old caulk. Clean, sand, and clean again. Then you will need to tape off all the areas you don’t want the paint to get on- including faucets, drains, and water spouts.
Now, I am the type that likes a quick and easy fix, but of course want it to be long lasting. So spray paint is always my first choice. It dries quick, and gives that “instant gratification” of a new look quick. So I bought 2 cans of the tub and tile spray paint. It WAS NOT enough. I went and bought 3 more. Surely, I felt like 5 cans total would have covered my shower walls and tub. Well it did….sort of.
Now, I need to stop and tell you a few things about this Tub & Tile Paint. BOTH the spray version and roll on version smell. I don’t mean just a little. I mean A LOT. It’s like spray paint on crack kind of smell. So you need to properly ventilate the space you will working in… use the exhaust fan, open windows and you will definitely need to use a respirator mask.
The spray version also requires more prep work… the overspray goes EVERYWHERE … I mean EVERYWHERE… and leaves behind a film on everything in its path. Check out how I taped and tarped off my bathroom in preparation for the spray.
The spray also runs and leaves drips if you get a little heavy handed in any one spot. Another problem I found while using the spray, I found it was hard to see what you had covered and what needed mort because of the overspray … think a cloud of spray paint that lingers a longer than normal. So after five cans and a very smelly bathroom, the coverage was still very splotchy and left a slightly rough surface. So rather than get more spray with possibly little improvement in coverage, I ordered the roll on kit.
I had to wait one week for the kit to arrive. During that time, we did not use the shower area. So before I used the roll on kit, I didn’t have as much prep work. I lightly sanded the surface to smooth out the rough grainy texture left from the spray and then cleaned again with my TSP substitute. I taped off the edges of the shower, floor, side walls and also around any faucets, etc that I did not want to get paint on.
I followed the instructions on the back of the can for mixing. It is a two part paint… the paint color and the epoxy, which makes it durable and perfect for use in a wet area. I opened both cans, poured the small can of epoxy into the larger can of color and stirred well.
This is where I learned another tip I can pass on to you. Once you stir the product, let it set for about 3 minutes. I did not wait and the paint was VERY runny and didn’t give good coverage initially. But I found that after a few minutes the paint began to thicken up and the coverage was great! I worked my way from left to right, working top to bottom on on side, then moved to the center area, then finished on the right hand wall and then painted the tub last.
TIP: I used a regular nap roller, so my final product had a slightly textured finish. If I do it again, I will use a foam roller for a smoother final product.
After the first coat was applied, I waited one hour, per instructions, and then applied a second coat. I used a new roller for each coat. The paint gets thick as it sets longer, so the roller cover really wasn’t reusable. Good thing the roller covers aren’t very pricey.
I applied the second coat the same way I applied the first one. Since I had previously used the spray on version, two coats was all I needed to get full coverage. I was able to get two full coats out of the one kit. However, if you are doing this project… I recommend NOT even bothering with the spray version. I would get at least two or three kits. It always better to have more and just return what you don’t use. No one likes to stop mid-project and have to go to the store for more supplies.
Now the can says to let it cure for 3 full days before full use. I waited 4 days. A little extra time just means more time to cure, right?
Let’s check out a little before and after.
Once the paint has cured per the instructions, you will need to go back and re-caulk all the edges, cracks and crevices where you had previously removed the old caulk. (I hadn’t caulked mine yet when I took these pictures.)
One last tip. If you paint your tub, the surface will be VERY slippery (I learned the hard way). You may need to apply non-slip shower treads or use a tub mat.
I hope you found this helpful. Let me know if you have any questions.
Be sure to come back soon for more projects, DIY’s, home decor and all the in between.
