We do not define painted bathroom tile as a defect unless it has areas that are peeling, bubbling, or flaking off. However, we do call it to the homebuyer’s attention for two reasons: 1) it is often not noticed that the original tile has been painted and, 2) it is essentially a temporary solution for making an older bathroom more presentable by the homeowner, often done after watching a do-it-yourself video. The color is usually white and the tub is often painted too, like in the photo above, along with spray-paint silver on the valves and spout.

    To paint tile properly, it must first be cleaned and sanded thoroughly to roughen and prep the surface so that it will hold paint well. Then an epoxy or similar  primer has to be applied that forms a strong bond to the tile before the final layers of paint are added. Professionals use a sprayer in order to get an even, smooth finish.

    But many homeowners do minimal or no sanding, and use a roller to apply the primer and paint. The resulting finish looks alright as long as you don’t look too closely but, after about a year or so of use, the fact that it was painted becomes obvious—especially on the center traffic area of the floor and the wet areas in and around the shower. 

    Even the pros typically warrant a tile paint job for only five years. It’s just not meant to be permanent.

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Here’s links to a collection of our other blog posts about STRUCTURE AND ROOMS:

• What are the building code requirements for notching and boring holes in a wall stud? 

• What causes dark or light "ghost" lines on ceilings and walls?

• Can you access or exit a bedroom through another bedroom?

• What is the difference between a carport and a garage? 

• What are simple ways to find the cause of a ceiling stain?

• What is the minimum size of habitable rooms in a house according to the building code? 

• Why is my garage ceiling sagging? 

• How can I identify what kind of wood flooring I am looking at?

• Why does my concrete floor slab sweat and get slippery?

• What is the minimum ceiling height for rooms in a house? 

• Why are there score line grooves in the concrete floor of the garage?

• How much can I cut out of a floor joist? 

• How can I tell if my floors are sloping?

• Why do the floors slope in this old house? 

• What are the common problems when a homeowner converts a garage to conditioned living space, such as a family room?

• How can I tell if a wall is load-bearing? Which walls can I take out? 

   Visit our STRUCTURE AND ROOMS page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.