Can you paint tile and does it last?

I painted the floor tiles in my studio a few years ago. But did they hold up? I'm showing you how they look today PLUS answering all the FAQs you have on this DIY in this blog post and video!

Can you paint floor tile?

Yes, you sure can! You can paint almost anything with the right preparation, the right paint, and the right finish. If you have old ceramic tiles that you want to make look new again, this is a budget-friendly way to update your flooring. It's one of my favourite DIY projects of all time!

How to paint floor tile

There are a few different methods for painting floor tiles, but here's mine:

1. If there are any cracks or chips in the tile, you can use a wood filler or latex caulk to fill in any issues and make repairs.
2. Sand the original tile to make it rough & ready to accept the paint. I use a 100 grit sandpaper.
3. Clean and scrub the tile with a degreasing cleaner like this one to get rid of any dirt and dust.
4. Tape off any trim and baseboards near the floor.
5. Use a small brush to paint chalk style paint in the grout lines and edges of the floor.
6. Use a foam roller to apply chalk style paint to the rest of the flooring. You may be able to get away with one coat of paint, but apply a second if needed.
7. Once the paint is dry, you can add a pattern with a stencil and a contrasting colour of chalk style paint.
8. If using a stencil, use a very small amount of paint on a foam roller to apply. You can roll off any excess paint onto a paper towel before rolling on to your floor.
9. Use a small craft brush to touch up any of the stenciled areas.
10. Once all the paint is dry, seal with Varathane polyurethane in a satin finish. I don't recommend a high-gloss sealant as it's slippery underfoot.
11. Use a foam paint roller and at least 2 coats of polyurethane to protect the paint beneath. Alternatively, you can wipe it on with a foam brush.

If you want to see a video tutorial and more information on how I painted my floor tiles, visit this blog post.

Other tile painting methods

If you don't like chalk style paint, there are other ways to paint floor tile:

• Clean the tile, scuff sand the tile, apply a primer like this one, and then use an enamel paint like Julie Blanner did here.
• Clean the tile, scuff sand the tile and use a specialty tile refinishing kit like this one. It's a two-part epoxy paint formula that I've used on my camper tub with great results.

How to seal painted floor tiles

I think it's very important to seal your painted tiles with a polyurethane coating. This is a hard, durable clear coat that will prevent your paint from chipping or wearing as much (if at all). I like to use Varathane products for this step.

How to clean painted floor tiles

Cleaning sealed & painted floor tile is easy. I use the exact same method as I clean other flooring in my home - a mop and all-purpose cleaner! If you have any stuck-on residue, I'd be careful scraping it with anything sharp or metallic. Using soft, plastic tools would prevent the flooring from getting scratched.

Watch my YouTube video to see how I clean my painted floor tiles, and how they look after 2+ years:

How durable are painted floor tiles? Do painted floor tiles last?

I've had my painted floor tile since May 2018 and it still looks great! There's no peeling or lifting, and it still looks fresh years later. I think that most painted tile should last many years if the surface is prepared properly, a good paint is used, and if it's sealed properly. You may want to consider re-sealing the floor every year or two if it's in a high-traffic area that will get lots of wear and tear.

Our painted floor in 2018:

Our painted floor now:

Here are some spots that have worn. One was where I scraped something heavy over the tile, and the others are from water and moisture damage from a ceiling leak:

Can you do this in a high traffic area?

My painted floor tile is in a low-traffic area, so that's definitely one of the reasons it still looks so good. I personally don't have painted floors in a more used area, but I know that my blogging friend Dale has painted her bathroom tiles and you can find her thoughts right here. Last I checked, she had her bathroom flooring painted for over a year and it's lasted.

Can I also paint tile backsplashes? Countertop?

You can use this same method to paint the tile on a kitchen or bathroom backsplash or countertop, too. Instead of replacing an old backsplash completely, painting the old tile is a budget-friendly way to get a brand new look.

Do I use my wood stove over the painted tile?

Many of you have asked if I use my wood stove that sits on my painted tile and if the tile is still to code. I DO NOT use this stove as it's in my work studio, so I didn't worry about how the paint would affect fire code. If you do plan to paint the tile around a stove or fireplace that you're using, you should consult a professional to ensure that your finish will be heat safe. If we ever sell our property (which we aren't planning on doing in the near future), I may either have to remove the old wood stove in my studio or replace the tile.

Final thoughts

Overall, I would recommend painting tile floors AS LONG AS you take your time to carefully prep and seal them. I'd recommend testing this method on a smaller spot first like an entry, and then proceeding to do a larger area after you're happy with the look and durability.

Would YOU try this DIY? If you have any other questions about painting tile floors, please let me know in the comments!

This post was first published September 2020 and has since been updated.

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