If you are interested in freshening up an old bathroom floor, painting the bathroom tile may be all you need to get the job done right. Just about any type of ceramic tile can be painted, so this makes for a fairly easy project under any budget. Painting ceramic tile is straightforward and simple and avoids the need of having to deal with the messy project of retiling. Still, homeowners are often hesitant to paint tile because for fear that it may chip or not hold up well.

While it's true that there are some added difficulties when painting bathroom tile, this project is one that can transform your bathroom when done correctly. First off, it's important to know that not all areas are ideal for painting. If your floors are subject to getting wet all the time, paint may not be the best option. Since the bathroom is one of those rooms that can't help getting wet, consider what bathroom in the home you're choosing to do this in. Kids' bathrooms are hard to maintain, while a master bathroom can utilize bath mats and towels to keep the flooring dry.

Powder or guest bathrooms should be fairly easy to maintain, as they are not used on a regular basis. Why is it important to assess how wet the tile will get? Areas that are continuously exposed are subject to having the paint peel off. Instead, a professional can come out and paint these areas. When you have decided which tile you will be painting, your first job is to get rid of the shiny, high gloss surface that paint simply won't stick to. Start by cleaning the tile with a commercial cleaner that has a mild abrasive. This will get the tiles sparkling clean, while eliminating some of the shine.

Also take care of any broken tiles or grouting issues at this time, as you don't want to paint over problem areas. Next, use a hand or orbital sander and finish getting off the rest of the shine so that the floors are completely sanded. Then clean off the debris and you have a carefully sanded floor that is ready to be painted. Start your painting job by using a high adhesion primer that is of excellent quality. Then paint over using a latex or oil-based paint. While oil is messier and takes longer to dry, many professionals are happier with the soft texture and durability left behind by oil-based paints, in place of rubbery latex ones. Finally, add an oil-based semi-gloss or high-gloss alkyd for your top coat and be sure to paint several layers instead of one thick one.