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Can Bathroom Wall Panels And Tiles Be Painted? (Answered)

When you are thinking about renovating your old bathroom, painting the bathroom walls comes first along with installing and upgrading the fixtures and floor tiles. Generally, it’s easy to paint bathroom walls if you have solid walls with no wall tiles or panels on them. But what about bathroom walls with wall panels or wall tiles on them?

So such a perplexing condition will surely hit you with a complicated question that can you paint bathroom wall panels and tiles or not. Therefore, without worrying much, let’s find out the exact answers.

Can Bathroom Wall Panels Be Painted?

Bathroom wall panels can be painted using specific paint that can withstand water and are designed for using on bathroom panels only. But before painting the bathroom panels, it’s strictly needed to prepare the panels for adhesion as bathroom panels are waterproof so they can’t hold color well.

Can You Paint The Bathroom Wallboard?

In this section, four types of bathroom wall panels (laminated, waterproof, PVC made, and well walls) have been explained with a view that which wallboard you can paint and which not.

Can White Laminate Bathroom Wall Panels Be Painted?

You can paint laminate bathroom wall panels and inject a new invigorating color into your bathroom. Hence, laminate has a glossy finish on it, it doesn’t have the best texture to be painted.

So if you want to paint laminate bathroom wall panels, you have to use a bonding primer and prepare the surface first so that the new paint adheres well to it.

Can You Paint Waterproof Bathroom Wall Panels?

You can paint waterproof bathroom wall panels as well but you have to use water-resistant paint. Also, have to prepare the bathroom panels thoroughly so that paint sticks on them in a good manner.

As waterproof bathroom panels are either made from plastic or vinyl, make sure to check the paint applying on a small area first.

Can You Paint PVC Bathroom Panels?

You can paint PVC bathroom panels too by using exterior 100% acrylic latex color in a gloss, satin, flat, or semi-gloss finish. However, before painting the entire bathroom panel, make sure to apply a good quality acrylic latex primer to prepare the surface for painting.

Can You Paint Wet Wall Panels?

Wet wall panels can be painted also by using suitable paint only. But before starting to paint the wall panels, you got to roughen the surface first by using sandpaper or sanding stone. And then make sure to prime the surface only with an acrylic primer.

How To Paint Bathroom Wall Panels?

Painting bathroom wall panels might seem tricky. So to rescue you, here is a simple step-by-step guide for painting bathroom wall panels has been explained.

Cleaning:

First, clean the bathroom panels using soapy water and scrub the panels with a scrubber to remove dirt and grime which has accrued with passing time. Then allow the panels to dry.

Abrasion:

When it’s fully dry, start abrading the surface by using 180-grit sandpaper. Scour with sandpaper all over the panels until the texture of the surface become rough enough. Remove any dust with a damp cloth.

Primer:

In this step, apply a good quality 100% acrylic latex primer. Using a paint roller apply the primer evenly. And wait for the primer to dry fully.

Paint:

At the last step, paint the bathroom wall panels with a 100% acrylic latex color with your preferred finish. You can either choose a flat, glossy, semi-glossy, or satin finish.

What Are The Best Primer Paints For Bathroom Slick Panel Walls?

Here is the list of the top 5 primer paints for your bathroom’s slick panel walls.

  • KILZ Adhesion High-Bonding Interior Latex Primer And Sealer
  • KILZ Original Multi-Surface Stain Blocking Primer
  • Rust-Oleum Protective Enamel Paint Stops Rust
  • Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Water-Based Interior And Exterior Primer
  • INSL-X Prime Lock Plus Alkyd Primer

Can Bathroom Wall Tiles Be Painted?

Bathroom wall tiles can be painted using tile paints. But remember that only the ceramic tiles can be painted as most paints will stick satisfactorily on ceramic tiles. However, natural stone tiles can not be painted as the paint will plummet into the tile’s surface.

Is Painting Bathroom Tiles A Good Idea?

Here most popular two types of bathroom tile types have been explained precisely to give you an understanding of whether painting bathroom tiles a good idea or not.  

Can You Paint Ceramic Bathroom Wall Tile?

You can surely paint ceramic bathroom wall tiles. In fact, most paints adhere comparatively in a better way on only the ceramic bathroom wall tiles.

So if you use high-quality adhesion primer before applying the paint, the paint will stick to the tiles for a long time. Use, latex, enamel paint, or 100% acrylic latex paint to paint ceramic bathroom wall tiles.

Can You Paint Plastic Bathroom Tiles?

These days, plastic bathroom tiles can be painted too but it takes lots of work to prepare the tile surface and not suitable for every decor. However, if you apply an old-based primer before painting the tiles, the paint will adhere to the surface to a quite good extent.

How To Paint Bathroom Wall Tile?

To make paint your bathroom wall tiles easy for you, here’s an easy step-by-step guide has been provided for you to follow while painting.

Clean The Tiles:

Thoroughly clean the tile using a strong cleaner like TSP cleaner and scrub the tile surface to remove any dirt and grime. Then rinse the tile surface, wipe it with a dry cloth, and let it dry.

Sand The Tiles:

Then using a 180-220 synthetic grit sandpaper sand down the tile surface lightly to take off the gloss from the tile surface. And then remove any dust with a wet cloth and let it dry.

Priming:

Now prime the entire tile surface with a highly adhesive primer and allow it to dry fully. You can apply 2-3 coats.

Painting:

At last, paint the bathroom wall tiles by using 100% acrylic latex tile paints or epoxy tile paints.

Can Bathroom Paint Be Used On Tiles?

Bathroom paint can not be used on tiles to paint them. Because tile paints need to be water-resistant, otherwise, the paint will not be able to withstand water exposure and will dissolve. So, you must use water-resistant epoxy tile paints or 100% acrylic latex paints.  

What Paint To Use On Bathroom Wall Tiles?

Here’s the list of 5 best paints to use on the bathroom wall tiles.

  • XIM Tile Doc Epoxy Acrylic Coating Aerosol
  • Valspar Premium Enamel Spray Paint
  • Rust-Oleum Tub And Tile Refinishing Kit
  • Valspar Terracotta Touch
  • Rust-Oleum Latex Tile Paint

Does Painting Bathroom Tiles Really Work?

Painting bathroom tiles work to quite a good extent but it doesn’t last forever. However, if you want to upgrade your bathroom’s look cost-effectively, you can paint the bathroom walls. And it will work and last long for quite some time only if you use a good primer before painting the tiles.

Know that any kind of bathroom paint doesn’t work on bathroom tiles, only water-resistant bathroom tile paints are acceptable. Moreover, it’s not really recommended to paint bathroom tiles because you may lose the original characteristics of bathroom tiles.

Can Shower Panels Be Painted?

Shower panels can be painted only if they are thoroughly prepared with highly adhesive primer before applying paint on them.

As shown panels are waterproof, smooth, and glossy, therefore, they can not hold a new coating of paint well. So to make sure that new paint will not strip away from the panels, you need to improve the adhesion condition of the shower panels. And also need to use water-resistant paints.

Is The Tile On Bathroom Walls Outdated?

Tiles never go outdated and spatial even in today’s time tiles have been used by homeowners in their bathroom walls, especially around the shower area to make it 100% waterproof.

However, since there’re new decorative, cost-effective, and easy alternatives are out in the market, so people are installing them too instead of tiles. But that doesn’t mean tiles on bathroom walls have become outdated. Tiles are still the most popular choice of people.

Can Shower Tiles Be Painted?

Shower tiles can be painted. But again mentioning that you can paint shower tiles and get a good result only if you thoroughly prepare the shower tile surface by using the correct primer before coloring the tiles.

And to get the best result, you are suggested to paint shower tiles in the less moisture spots in the bathroom like tiles behind the latrine.

How Long Does Bathroom Tile Paint Last?

If you have had prepared the bathroom tile surface before painting it, then the bathroom tile painting will last about 1 to 2 years. But if the surface of the tiles hadn’t been prepared well then within a few months the bathroom tile painting will start peeling and coming off.

Is Tile Paint Waterproof?

Bathroom tile paint is waterproof because it has to be waterproof so that upon being applied on the tiles, it doesn’t dissolve or come out due to water exposure.

So most manufacturers are producing waterproof tile paints. 100% acrylic latex, epoxy tile paints, etc. are the waterproof tile paints.

Both bathroom wall panels and tiles can be painted only if you make sure to prepare the wall panel surface and tile surface thoroughly with a good quality primer and improve the adhesion power.

And on well-prepared wall panels and tile surfaces, the paint will stick better. Also, you must use water-resistant bathroom wall and tile paints on them.