How should I paint these laundry wall tiles?

NornZzz

Hi everyone,

I’m looking to refresh my laundry without removing the existing wall tiles. I’d like to paint the dark brown tiles white (or a warm white) to brighten up the space.

I’ve never painted tiles before, so I’d really appreciate some advice on the best way to do it.

• Do these tiles look suitable for painting?
• What preparation is needed before painting?
• Which primer and paint would you recommend?
• What tools should I use?
• Are there any common mistakes I should avoid?

Photo attached. Thanks in advance!

MitchellMc

Hi @NornZzz,

I'd be a little cautious here. My main concern is whether the tile surface is actually smooth and glazed, or whether it has a textured finish. From your photo, it's hard to tell if the pattern is beneath the glaze or if it's a raised texture.

Painting tiles relies on thoroughly sanding the glazed surface to dull it so the primer and paint can bond properly. If these tiles do have a textured surface, you may not be able to sand the low spots effectively, which could affect how well the paint adheres over time.

If you're keen to go ahead, I'd suggest doing a small test patch in an inconspicuous area first. That will give you a good idea of how well the paint bonds before committing to the whole wall.

If the tiles do turn out to be smooth glazed tiles, the rest of the process is fairly straightforward: clean them thoroughly, lightly sand the surface, apply a suitable tile primer with a fine nap < 9mm roller, then finish with a durable tile paint. If you were to use something like the https://www.bunnings.com.au/white-knight-1l-white-satin-renew-tile-laminate-paint_p0197788 this https://www.bunnings.com.au/white-knight-1l-renew-tile-laminate-primer-paint_p0197362 would be the correct primer.

One of the most common mistakes I see with tile, benchtop and cabinet painting is going back over and trying to correct issues on areas that have already started to dry. Lay your paint down, smooth it off and move onto the next section. Do not go back to a previous section and re-roll it as it disturbs the self-levelling process and causes more issues than it solves. If there is a defect in the area you've just painted, wait for the coat to dry and sand the area before applying your next coat.

Here's a helpful guide: How to paint tiles.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell