Can you paint bathroom floor tiles?

[diyerau]

Hi, I’ve been planning to upgrade my oldish bathroom and one of the projects is to paint the existing floor tiles. 
I went to Bunnings Alexandria in Sydney for advice and was told that it’s no paint for that. I mentioned the renovation series , still the answer was no.

Then I went to a big Dulux shop, the answer was the same. The paint not good for floor tile.

After then , went to Taubmans in Bondi Junction where the advice was almost identical.

I'm very disappointed with the results so far , need the community’s help ! Why do I see so many DIYs videos if the expert do not recommend the product. 
p.S. I’d like to paint the shower floor as well but it was a big NO, NO.

I look forward hearing from you guys. Thanks 

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @diyerau. It's sensational to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about painting floor tiles.

There appears to be a bit of confusion, as ceramic floor tiles can certainly be painted. You'd use the Dulux Renovation range for floor tiles. This product, when combined with the primer, is suitable for bathrooms. Testing last year revealed that it's also suitable for use within a shower recess. Given the opposition, I've reconfirmed this with Dulux this morning.

So, not only can you paint floor tiles, but there are specific products for it. However, some of the feedback might have been on coatings in general. Any coating applied over a surface that hasn't been prepared properly runs the risk of becoming compromised. Dulux has some excellent preparation guidance, especially for the shower recess, and you should follow it exactly. I'd also recommend you try not to wear shoes on the painted tiles, as small stones lodged in the bottom of the shoes could cause a scrape.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell
 

[diyerau]

Hi Mitchell,

thanks for the quick reply ! Although , I’m not 100 % convinced that painting with Dulux is worth it especially because the Dulux expert didn’t recommend it. 
I am in doubt and wondering if another solution, for example , stick on tiles would be a better option. What is your opinion? Thanks Judit

[EricL · Accepted solution]

Hello @diyerau 

In my humble opinion the stick-on vinyl tile is a thicker material and will put up a much better defence against wear and tear. If you are thinking of using stick on vinyl tiles, I suggest having a quick look at this discussion - D.I.Y. flooring using adhesive vinyl over tiles by @diy_hausdesigns. Please note that you can only use this on the bathroom floor area, and not inside the shower wet area. My only other suggestion is to regrout the tiles inside the shower to give it a fresh new look.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric