Tile paint: can you really paint over existing tiles, how long does it last, and is it cheaper than retiling?

Can you really paint over tiles?

Yes, and it isn't just a decorating trick from a short video. Tile coatings are made to grip the smooth, slick surface of a tile, which ordinary wall paint cannot do. Put wall paint on tiles and it is like sticking a sticker on wet glass: before long, it peels.

Voqe Tile Finish is a two-part, semi-gloss coating that you mix before use. That gives you a film that bonds straight onto your existing tiles. Same tiles, a whole new wall.

How long does it last, and what does that depend on?

How long a tile coating lasts does not come from the paint alone. The other half comes from the surface underneath. If the old tiles are lifting, coming loose or have water seeping up from below, no paint, however good, can help. Fix them first.

The other issue is the grease and soap scum that builds up over years. The less of it you get off, the less well the paint will grip. Spend more time cleaning than painting, and the job will stay with your home for a long time.

• Tiles must be firm, not lifting or loose, and not sound hollow when tapped
• Clean off all grease, soap scum and mould
• The surface must be completely dry before you start
• Let the paint cure for the full time on the label before heavy use

Painting tiles vs retiling: which is better value?

Retiling means smashing out the old tiles, carting away the rubble, levelling the floor, buying tiles and tile adhesive, hiring a tiler and living with dust for days. If it is your only bathroom, you could be without it for a week.

Coating over the top means smashing nothing at all. A Voqe Tile Finish kit in 3.028L/0.757L costs ฿2,200, and you can do it yourself over a weekend. For how much you need per area, see the product page. If your old tiles are still sound, this route clearly saves both money and time.

But if many tiles are cracked, whole sections are coming loose or there is a leak, ripping them out and fixing the cause is the better answer. We don't want a pretty colour covering up a problem that is still there.

How to paint over existing tiles, step by step

You can do this yourself; just be patient with the preparation. For the mixing ratio and drying times, follow the label and the product page.

• Clean the tiles thoroughly, removing grease and soap scum, and let them dry completely
• Repair cracked or loose tiles and fill any grout that has come away
• Mask the edges of the walls, pipes and sanitaryware with tape
• Mix Part A and Part B in the ratio on the label, mixing only as much as you can use in that session
• Use a roller for large areas and a brush for corners and grout lines
• Let the paint cure for the stated time before walking on it or letting it get wet

Choosing a tile colour that makes the room look new

Tile Finish comes in around 24 shades, from a clean white like Soap Bubble to a damp-cement grey like Wet Cement for a minimal look. In a small bathroom a light colour helps it feel more open, while on a kitchen wall where you want to hide signs of use, Phu Kha Stone or Moo Kra Ta Charcoal is more forgiving.

Not sure? Try the 170ml/42ml trial kit at ฿285 on a single tile first. Look at it in the room's real light, in the morning and at night, then decide. Colour on a screen never matches colour on the wall.