DIY Painting of Ceramic Tiles

Ceramic tile usually comes already painted to a solid color and sealed in a glaze. If you want your tiled backsplash or wall to be a different color, or if you want to paint a design into it, you'll have to dull that glaze first to get the new paint to stick. Then you'll want to seal it all in under a coat of polyurethane. Oil-based paints and polyurethane dry much slower than water-based products, but will dry much harder and adhere to the tile better.

Vibrating sander
Medium-grade sandpaper
Rags
Oil-based sealing primer
Paintbrushes
Oil paint
Oil-based polyurethane
Fine sandpaper

Instructions

- 1
  Sand the surface of the ceramic with a vibrating sander and medium sandpaper. Sand it repeatedly, until the glaze on the ceramic turns slightly dull. Wipe away the dust with dry rags.
- 2
  Apply a thin layer of sealing primer with a paintbrush, starting at one side of the area and working your way across. Brush in one direction, avoiding streaks or drips. Cover the grout lines as well as the tile face. Let it dry at least 24 hours.
- 3
  Apply oil paint as desired, either in a specific design or as one solid color. Either way, apply it thinly, without streaks or drips. Let it dry for at least 24 hours.
- 4
  Brush on a second layer of oil paint in the same way as the first, and let it dry for 24 hours. Apply a third layer if desired.
- 5
  Cover the whole area in a thin, even layer of oil-based polyurethane, brushing it on as you did the primer. Let it dry for at least 24 hours.
- 6
  Lightly sand the polyurethane by hand, using fine sandpaper and short, quick strokes. Sand it just enough to dull the surface (this allows the next coat of polyurethane to adhere). Wipe away the dust.
- 7
  Repeat steps 5 and 6 for a second coat of polyurethane, and then a third. Don't sand the third coat, but let it cure for 48 hours before resuming use of the area.

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