How To Paint Tile and Update Your Kitchen
Earlier last week, I shared the 10 ways I updated my kitchen using only paint. One of those ways involved painting my outdated tile countertop that is on my look-through bar.
The results were amazing!
Before we get started with the tutorial, let's take a quick look at the before and after of the tile countertop, so you can see how great this worked.
Big improvement, right? I used a product called Homax Tough Tile Tub & Sink Refinishing Kit. It's a kit made for revamping dingy old tubs, sinks, and tile. I decided to try it on my tile. You can find it at Home Depot and it costs about $35.
This kit comes with several parts. Please read the instructions very carefully. **This stuff is very toxic and you'll need to take the proper precautions. It's an epoxy, so you'll want to wear rubber gloves (included in the kit), a high quality mask, and protective eye wear.**
I also opened all of the windows in the house to allow for adequate ventilation. Our tiled countertop is right next to an exterior door and two giant windows. I had them open the entire day. Being able to do so really helped to lessen the intensity of the fumes. DO NOT BREATHE THIS PRODUCT IN. It is crucial that you wear a proper mask. The fumes are so strong and won't dissipate for a good 24 hours. I painted my tile in the morning so that we could leave the house for the rest of the day.
Here's me in my nerdy, yet awesome protective goggles. Seriously, if you're going to use this product, or any sort of epoxy, wear protective eyewear AND a mask. All the cool kids are doing it.
So let's get started. Here is the tile countertop before I painted it. It was covered in outdated tile and it drove me crazy. The previous owners did a great job with the tile pattern, but the tile colors were straight up 1980's. It had to go.
The first thing the instructions tell you to do is to clean the tile with the solution provided. It comes with a packet of powder. I used a large bucket to mix the powder with water. Then get a rag or towel and wash your tile thoroughly.
After my tile was dry, I used some masking tape to tape around the wood trim that surrounds my tile, to keep it from getting painted. (Make sure to remove the tape before your final coat of of epoxy dries)
The kit comes with a paintbrush and epoxy paint. I started on one side of the tile and just brushed on the product. You will see brushstrokes at first, but in my experience they went away quickly. The epoxy seems to level itself out. I worked my way from side to side with the epoxy paint, brushing a light coat of the product over all the tile and grout.
Here I am, finishing up the first coat. With just one coat, you'll still probably be able to see your tile underneath. Let the first coat dry for a couple hours, and then apply a second coat.
Two coats were completely sufficient to cover my tile and provide a great looking finish. You may need less OR more coats, depending on the surface you paint.
The instructions said the epoxy paint would cure in a few days. In my experience, it took a lot longer. It was fully cured after about a week. It was super annoying to have to wait so long, (especially when the instructions said it would take a few days!), however I was pleased with the final outcome.
In the WEEK it took to dry, my cats managed to dig their claws into it several times, so I'll have to touch it up in a few spots eventually. Have you ever tried to keep 2 cats off a countertop for a week?! However, overall I was pretty pleased with this product. It has a durable finish and is incredibly shiny. It really reminds me of porcelain tile, and turned out exactly how I was hoping.
Since this is essentially PAINT, keep in mind that it probably won't last forever. You will have to touch it up eventually. But, until/if I actually make forever changes in my little kitchen, this provided me with a decent solution.
If you're on a small budget and can't afford to replace your tile, (or maybe you just don't want to deal with having to rip it up), this may work for you, too.
(Did you see my new chalk wall in the kitchen above?! I'm in love with it!!!)
Here's what the tile looks like from the opposite direction, looking out to the dining/living area.
I hope you enjoyed today's post! Have you ever used this stuff? I'd love to know what you used it on and if you loved the results as much as I did.
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