How To Paint Outdoor Tiles

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If your outdoor ceramic tiles could benefit from a little updating, freshening them up with a new coat of paint helps breathe new life into your curb appeal without emptying your wallet. Painting outdoor tiles allows you to improve the look of your exterior space without the inconvenience of messy demolition projects or frequent trips to the hardware store. When you freshen up the paint on the exterior of your home, take time to update any worn and dated outdoor ceramic tile you have, as well.

Step 1

Clean your outdoor tile thoroughly to remove any buildup of dirt or grime by mixing oxygen-bleach with water according to package instructions. Apply the solution to both tile and grout. The oxygen in the bleach will clean deeply, removing the dirt buildup. Allow the oxygen-bleach to penetrate for 10 minutes.

Step 2

Scrub the tile with a scrub brush, and the grout lines with a grout brush. The specialized grout brush will remove the dirt without damaging or removing any delicate grout.

Step 3

Allow the floor and grout to dry for at least 48 hours before painting, as grout needs to be completely dry.

Step 4

Paint over the ceramic tile in a paint color of your choice. Choose a water-based paint with urethane resin to prevent paint from peeling down the road. Roll the paint onto the tiles using a low-nap paint roller, so that it rolls on smooth with a minimum amount of texture.

Step 5

Hang a tarp around the area to keep dust and debris from blowing onto the fresh paint. If you are painting a patio, hang the tarps off of the roof to create a room-like area until the paint is dry.

Step 6

Allow the paint to sit for 48 to 72 hours to ensure it is completely dry and hardened before removing the tarp.