What Kinds of Tiles Are Paintable?

Ceramic Tile

• Most ceramic tile is suitable for painting as long as it isn't constantly wet, such as tile inside a bathtub or shower stall. To paint ceramic tile you'll first need to perform a thorough cleaning to remove any excess grout, dirt and oil from normal wear and use. The clean tile will need to be sanded in order for the paint to adhere properly. Depending on the area you want covered, you can use a standard brush or roller and an oil-based paint.

Vinyl Tile

• Vinyl tile, like ceramic tile, has a glossy surface that resists painting unless you first sand it. Vinyl tile requires less sanding that harder, glazed ceramic tile. Once the surface is rough and clean, you can apply either an oil-based paint, or a latex exterior paint with a top coat of polyurethane to help it retain its color and appearance. Since vinyl tile often has larger individual tiles than ceramic tile, you can stencil designs and patterns onto individual tiles, or paint groups of tiles to create new color patterns.

Ceiling Tiles

• Tiled ceilings present another opportunity for painting. Ceiling tile is usually not as glossy as vinyl or ceramic floor and wall tiles, which means you won't necessarily need to do any sanding. The same cleaning is required to give the paint a clean surface to stick to. If your ceiling tiles are removable, taking them down to clean and paint will simplify the job. Pressed tin ceilings are an example of a tile ceiling that you can paint with a brush, roller or spray system to give a room an entirely new look.

Tips and Considerations

• Whatever type of tile you plan to paint, you'll get better results is you follow the directions that apply to the paint you're using. The right brushes, rollers and solvents will allow you to apply color smoothly and clean up spills and splatter without doing permanent damage to the rest of the room. If the tile you paint is in a highly trafficked area, or is exposed to moisture regularly, add a polyurethane top coat for protection. If the top coat wears down over time, reducing its gloss, apply a new layer to protect the paint below.