How many days to paint bathroom tiles?

RenoRaine

I'm weighing up whether to paint the wall tiles in my bathroom myself, or get someone in to do it. I've painted walls previously and have ok skills in applying silicone to gaps. I know how to use a sander.

This is the only bathroom in the house, and I will be housesitting close by soon. I work from home. I was wondering how many days I'd realistically be without a bathroom and how long each day of work would be. I was thinking of either - doing the prep work while I'm still in the house, working in between stages/drying time and use the bath instead of showering, or wait until I'm in the house sit, as long as I can finish it and allow enough curing time in the 7 days, as well as needing to work 5 hours a day.

Life's kind of stressful just now, and while a new bathroom look would cheer me up, I don't want to overload myself in the process.

MitchellMc

Hi @RenoRaine,

Can I first ask whether you're planning to paint just the walls, or are you painting both the wall and floor tiles?

The total time really comes down to how quickly you can complete each stage and whether you're able to dedicate full days to the project. As a general guide, I'd allow:

• Day 1: Remove all silicone, thoroughly clean away soap scum and grime, then sand the tiles to remove their sheen.
• Day 2: Apply the tile primer and allow it to dry as directed.
• Day 3: Apply the first coat of tile paint.
• Day 4: Apply the second coat.
• Day 5: Once the paint has cured sufficiently, reapply the silicone to all the wall and floor junctions, around fixtures and anywhere it was removed before painting.

You'll then need to allow the paint to fully cure before exposing it to regular use. While it may feel dry within a day or two, most tile paints require around a week to fully cure, so it's best to avoid heavy use or getting the surface wet during that time. Be sure to follow the curing times recommended by the manufacturer of the products you choose.

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

Please let me know if you have further questions.

Mitchell