If you’ve got old tiles floor that looks like it’s straight out of a 1980s time capsule, and you’re ready for a change. But ripping it out? That’s expensive and time-consuming. Plus, it’s messy and tiling is NOT an easy DIY. So what do you do?
You paint it! Today, I’m going to show you how to give your ceramic tile floor a new look without the hassle of replacing it. You can paint it all one color, or a checkerboard pattern. I wanted to make my floor look like real marble checkerboard pattern!
Here’s the good news. It’s a really easy project. I used the Rustoleum Home Transformation Kit. It includes everything you need to prep, paint and seal your painted floors. This kit is great for kitchen, entryway or bathroom tile floor. It can also be used on wall tiles like a backsplash in a kitchen or bathroom that doesn’t get a lot of water exposure. For shower tile, you need a different kit meant to withstand the constant water.
What I love about this kit is that you can get the paint tinted to an array of colors from the hardware store. Rustoleum has a list of colors that you can choose from. Just take the white can to the paint counter at your hardware store and ask!
Your tiles should be in good condition as the kit doesn’t fill in any cracks. One mistake I made was not refilling where the grout had not been filled. I assumed that the paint would disguise those cracks. It did not.
Materials
- Paper towel or rags
- Painter’s Tape
- Paint Brush
- Extension Roller
- Paint roller
- Paint tray
- A good vacuum
- Krud Cutter Cleaner
- Rustoleum Home Transformation Kit (I used White and Icy Grey)
- Rustoleum Home Transformation Top coat
- Craft brushes
Step 1 – Prep and Clean your dated tile floors
Here’s the thing. Painting tile isn’t as simple as slapping on a coat of paint. If you don’t do the prep work on the floors, the paint might not stick at all. Before we even think about painting, we’ve got to deep clean this floor. Any dirt, grease, or soap scum can prevent the paint from sticking.
Since I bought the kit, it came with enough Krud Cutter for this area. I poured the Krud Kutter on the floor and mopped and scrubbed. If you have any hard residue like paint, scrape it off. Try to get a smooth surface.
Taking the time for this extra step prevents chipping, peeling, or a complete disaster. Rinse with clean water to finish the cleaning process. Vacuum to get the tile surface clean.
Step 2: Taping the Edges
Next, tape up all the edges, especially where the tile meets the walls. Apply painter’s tape along the baseboards and edges of the floor where the tile transitions to another room, hardwood, or carpet.
Step 3: Painting the base color of the tiles
Okay, now for the fun part—finally, we paint! I know you might be thinking “Do I need to sand or prime?” Well this paint is made with special properties that allow you to skip those steps. That’s a major advantage to using this paint kit! It saves a ton of time.
Start with a thin coat, and use a brush for the edges. Then using an extension roller, paint your way out of the room. Be sure to work in sections, and use long, even strokes. It’s better to do multiple thin coats than one thick coat, which could bubble or peel.
I had a hard time getting into the grooves for the grout with my roller. I had to go in with a paint brush and paint all the grid lines. Tedious, but worth the effort!
Follow the instructions for the dry time before moving on to the next step.
Since my floor tiles are dark grey, one coat of paint was not enough. I had a lot of splotchiness. For full coverage, I applied a second coat of paint, using the same method. First cutting in where the tiles met the basements, then painting my way out of the room.
How to keep kids off the floors
I have 3 kids aged 9 and under. I needed to keep them away from the floors while I painted it. I used green painters tape to rope off this area. This is our front entryway, but I had already moved our shoes and coats to the garage entrance.
Step 4: Add the checkerboard pattern
If you’re happy with a uniform paint color, you can move to sealing it. However, I wanted to experiment with a checkerboard pattern. To make the pattern is straightforward, but it will take you a few hours with tape. I used a drop cloth under my paint try to avoid scratching my painted tiles.
Be sure to use painter’s tape which is meant for freshly painted surfaces. If you don’t you’ll risk your base coat of paint peeling off!
I planned my design before taping it down so I got as many full squares as possible. I wanted to start in front of the door, as that’s where the eye will naturally go.
I got a straight edge (I used a box) and drew the design first. You simply draw from one corner to the opposite on each painted tile. And then form a square.
Once you draw your square, apply the tape on the outside of the square. As you’re taping the squares, be mindful of which squares will remain white, and which will be painted. This helps you determine which side of the lines to tape on. You’ll also have to go in with a utility blade or sharp scissors to clean up the edges where the diamonds meet each other.
I used a small piece of tape in the center of the squares for the white floor tiles, so I wouldn’t accidentally paint them.
Take your time. This is a tedious step, but worth getting the crispy lines.
Step 5: Paint your checkerboard pattern
Use a small roller to paint the checkerboard. I also had to go in with my brush to paint the grout lines. After the first coat, I was so excited. But This required 2 coats of paint, with time to dry in between coats. Be sure to keep checking for dust or debris. I vacuumed between every step of paint.
If you accidentally get paint on the white, don’t panic! Simply use a baby wipe as soon as you can. If it doesn’t clean up, you can always add white touch up paint.
Step 6: Marble your tiles
Here is the most fun part of the process! Grab your kids paint brushes. You’ll need a few different types. I used the thin brushes the most. I had a sponge, a dry and damp cloth and a regular paint brush too. Grab some scrap cardboard to practice on as well.
I used 2 containers of paint – one with the original paint, and the other with watered down paint. Marbling takes some trial and error. The best part is that you can control how much veining you want. I also found it helpful to have some pictures of marble floor on my phone to refer to.
For the thin veining, use a light land and the light brush. I also liked doing thicker veins and blotting them out with my sponge or brush.
After I applied faux marble to the grey tiles, I peeled the tape off. Then I marbled the white tiles in the same way. In my excitement, I removed the tape around the perimeter of the room and baseboards. Don’t do this! You still need to seal the room.
Step 7: Seal your floors
I know you’ll be IN LOVE with your floors! Now, the final step: protecting your hard work. A clear, durable topcoat will keep your paint job looking fresh and protect it from wear and tear. The Rustoleum kit comes with the top coat too.
Give your floors one more vacuum so you don’t seal down dust or hair. Using the extension paint roller, paint your way out of the room. Work in small 4×4 sections. Since this is a high traffic area, I decided that adding a second coat of sealer would be a good idea. I would also apply a second coat in high traffic areas like a bathroom tiles or kitchen tiles. The sealer has to be applied within 24 hours. After 72 hours, you can lightly walk on it.
To remove the painter’s tape, use a utility knife to score the edges. At first I did not do this, and regretted it because the corner paint peeled off immediately as I was removing the tape.
Do not place any furniture on it for 7 days, and minimize foot traffic for that time too.
Painted Checkerboard Marble tile Reveal
I love the way I updated these floors on a tight budget, with no mess! From outdated to updated, these new tile floors look like a million bucks! Not only was this SO easy, but it cost a fraction of what you’d spend on new ceramic tiles. This is a simple DIY project that requires no DIY experience. You can tackle this as long as you can paint!
I expect this tile to last 2-3 years. Since I have small kids, I will be adding another topcoat of sealing every 4-6 months.
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