Tile paint/primer - is inecessary or will ordinary paint do?

[Tinkjon]

I have some old burgundy tiles that I'm thinking of painting white. It doesn't really matter what it looks like because it's going on a wall at the back of a cupboard which will then have shelves all over it so won't see much of the paint. I just want to lighten it up a bit in there as there's no natural light. But I obviously don't want it to be peeling and flaking off... do I really need to use a special (ie. expensive!) tile primer and paint or can you use ordinary paint & gloss? Thanks!

 

[elrobbo82]

i would recommend a tile primer for its adhesion properties. undercoat will not adhere properly and will easily scrape off.

 

[Tinkjon]

Specifically tile primer - not other primer? I have a tin of oil-based primer in the cupboard, don't suppose that would do? And what on top of the primer - special tile paint or normal gloss? Thank you very much!

 

[elrobbo82]

i would use tile primer as this will bond to the ceramic. you can then just undercoat and gloss over the top. the primer is the most important part though.

 

[Tinkjon]

Brilliant, I'll do that - much appreciated!

 

[TheDec]

Go for international or esp.

Dec

 

[misterhelpful]

International also do a one coat tile paint that doesn't need a primer. It's pretty expensive, but not needing the primer, it should work out cheaper (and quicker) overall.

TILE PAINT

 

[TheDec]

International also do a one coat tile paint that doesn't need a primer. It's pretty expensive, but not needing the primer, it should work out cheaper (and quicker) overall.

TILE PAINT

Thanks for that info I was not aware that they did, don't myself care for painting over tiles yet handy to know.

Dec

 

[misterhelpful]

Must admit, it's not a job I care to do either but having used the seperate primers and topcoats on a few occasions, if I ever have to do it again I will give it a try - not tried it yet so don't know how good it is. (Probably should have mentioned that in my initial post )

 

[TheDec]

Not a problem, yet as said it is not work of which I care to undertake, Ronseal as well do a one coater, yet I doubt that I put that one to the test.

Dec

 

[misterhelpful]

Going by some of their other products, I'm with you on that one!

 

[ic1927]

Bedec do a similar product called multi surface paint. They claim it can go straight on tiles with no primer/undercoat required, it comes in gloss or satin.

 

[Tinkjon]

I'll have a look at those ones too, thanks. I apinted tiles in the kitchen once, as a temp job only intended to last a year. I hated the look and would never do it on anything that's going to be on show but I really think it will be virtually unnoticeable here. I just want it to stay on the wall

 

[Tinkjon]

Thanks for the tips here, I got some International Tile Primer & have done 2 coats. There's still a lot of the original colour showing through (it was dark red and I'm changing to white) and I was wondering whether I ought to put on undercoat before the gloss, or can I do more coats of primer until it's ready for gloss? I know that you usually go primer, undercoat, gloss but I was just wondering whether I could use more primer instead of undercoat as the tin will only go to waste otherwise! Also this is nice, water-vased primer and I hate using oil-based undercoat

 

[TheDec]

You should have only applied one coat of primer, your need is only to provide a bond and not obliterate the surface/substrate.

Dec