Painting Ceramic Tiles?

[clipclop1]

Some of you answer-bankers may know that my other half and I are currently nearing completion on buying a house. We're beginning to think about decorating and one thing he particularly wants to change is a line a bright red tiles on the splash back in the kitchen. Part of these tiles are half covered by a plug socket so removing them ourselves looks to be tricky and I was wondering if anybody had ever painted ceramic tiles before? As they're super glossy I wasn't sure if it could be done at all! We want to make them all white so they match with the others :)

[carrust]

http://www.rawlinspaints.com/products/Zinsser-Coverstain-Primer-%7B47%7D-Sealer_.html?gclid=COzfiqKnlb4CFTHItAodiQgAaA#sthash.oakOIpsL.dpbs
You'll have to use a specific primer like the 1 in the link.

[clipclop1]

Oh ok thank you I'll have a lookie! :)

[Prudie]

I'd have thought you're going to have to paint them all, it would be really hard to match whites. I know you can get specific tile paint though.

[anneasquith]

im sure ive seen transfers that can be applied to tiles.

[clipclop1]

Yeah I thought that too... If I could get away with just painting that one strip of red that would be great but I suppose it wouldn't be too much hassle to paint all of them!

[Sycamore3House]

I have done this in a kitchen. I painted the whole lot. It does take 2 coats to give a good effect. Clean the tiles with sugar soap & You have to paint each tile individually the second coat goes on really easily. I finished it off by regrouting and re mastic ing the bottom edge where it meets the worktop.

[The Builder]

If it's only the splashback, Clippers, I think I would tile right over them with some you really like. You'd be much more satisfied with the result.

Tile paint is available, but after a while, it can chip and look awful. Especially in a kitchen, where a lot of work goes on.

[clipclop1]

Oh thanks for the answers Builder and Syca!

Wouldn't that look a bit awkward and stick out if we tiled over them?

[The Builder]

Not at all, Clips. It's done all the time. Any visible edges of the tiles would be double thickness, and need to be hidden. I often use pieces of hardwood trim, or some "quadrant" tiles.

or, tile edging trim.....

http://www.diy.com/nav/decor/tiles/tiling-trims

[theshedman]

I would also go along with The Builders answer. Probably easier to do than painting, it will look much better and it will last a lot longer. Plenty of things on market to finish the edge.

[boxtops]

I've done both - you can get a tile trim to lie across the top if it's only a partial area of tiles of doubel depth. It looks fine.

[Old_Geezer]

I have used special tile paint in the past on a kitchen windowsill. Worked fine. Would not like to try ordinary gloss or emulsion though.

Matching is another thing though. Worth trying and seeing how well it matches.

[clipclop1]

Oh ok I'll give it some thought.
There's part of the tiles that are semi covered by an electric plug, how do I get around that? :)

[anneasquith]

ceramic tile transfers !

[Old_Geezer]

I assume you mean a socket.

If you need to sort such an area out, you must turn off the electricity to the socket so you don't get a shock first. Then unscrew the faceplate and pull it away a little. If what you are doing doesn't need anything more (such as painting around it) you can do what you want and then refit the faceplate again.

If it does need more then you would need to note down exactly which connection each coloured wire connects to, unscrew the cable from the socket, then do whatever you need to do, and once again carefully reconnect everything exactly the way it was.

If lacking confidence get someone else to do it for you.

[theshedman]

If you mean putting tiles under the electric switch then undo screws after turning off power to it, then tile under cutting them the same as they are at moment, then just screw the plate back. Sometimes when doing this the screws are a bit short so you will need to buy some a bit longer. You can get them at any builders merchants or DIY store.