Painting tiles is a cheap way to change a bathroom or kitchen without building work. But a glazed tile is smooth and absorbs nothing, so paint only holds if the preparation is good. This guide uses CIN and Robbialac data sheets to say when it is worth it, how to prepare, what paint exists and where you should not paint.
Updated on 4 November 2026. General information; it does not replace an assessment by a technician.
The essentials
- It is worth it when the tiles are whole, firmly bonded and dry, and the area does not get direct water.
- Preparation decides everything: degrease, sand (the CIN sheet asks for it), adhesion primer, and only then the paint.
- Shower and bath: the CIN sheet says tile painting is not recommended in areas exposed to direct water.
- Wait: 7 days before using the painted area (CIN). Washing only after 28 days.
- It does not cure damp. If there is mould, tiles coming loose or water behind the wall, deal with the cause first.
When it is a good idea
- Old tiles, without chips, in a place that only gets steam and splashes: kitchen, wall behind a washbasin, a bathroom with no shower on that wall.
- When you want a new colour for little money. For painting costs in general, see how much painting a home costs.
When it is not
- Inside the shower or around the bath. CIN says painted tile is not recommended for direct water, and warns that even cleaning must be gentle because water can compromise the film’s adhesion.
- Loose, cracked or hollow-sounding tiles. Paint does not glue them.
- Mould-black joints, damp walls or salts. Paint does not treat the cause. See mould on walls and damp walls: the three types.
- A rented home without the landlord’s agreement. See painting before renting or selling.
We found no independent tests (for example by DECO PROteste) of how long these paints last in bathrooms. We do not know how many years they last.
What paints exist
| Product | What it is | What the sheet says |
|---|---|---|
| CIN Cinacryl Mate 12-230 (data sheet, October 2015) | Water-based 100% acrylic enamel | Applied on tiles after specific preparation, 2 to 3 coats, 12 to 15 m²/L per coat, touch dry in about 1 hour, recoat in about 6 hours |
| Robbialac epoxy enamel for tiles and sanitary ware 830 (information dated 03/12/2025) | Two-component epoxy, gloss | 2 coats, 7 to 9 m²/L per coat, next coat after 14 to 24 hours, use after 16 hours, mix 4:1 |
Cinacryl is water-based. The Robbialac epoxy contains solvent: VOC is at most 499 g/L (the EU limit for the category is 500 g/L), flash point is 23 to 61 °C and the sheet says to apply in well-ventilated areas. The mix lasts 4 hours at 25 °C (8 hours at 15 °C). Read the safety data sheet before buying.
The epoxy sheet also warns that it is not recommended outdoors and that colours tend to yellow in harsh or hot environments. CIN says Cinacryl Mate “has lower durability” outdoors.
A wall paint for kitchens and bathrooms, such as Barbot 1601 (sheet of 29/11/2024), is for plaster and renders. The sheet does not recommend it for tile. See which paint for each room.
Preparation steps
- Remove fittings: roll holders, soap dishes, brackets, taps, shower head. CIN also asks you to remove old sealants and silicones.
- Degrease. CIN: water and neutral detergent, rinse and let dry. Robbialac: degrease very well with the Robbilava Universal cleaner, diluted as the sheet says.
- Sand. The Cinacryl Mate data sheet says to sand the dry tile, wash with clean water and let it dry. CIN’s online guide (March 2021) does not mention sanding. Follow the data sheet.
- Adhesion primer. CIN: one coat of Aqua Primer. Robbialac: Primalac Plus. It evens out absorption and gives grip.
- Joints and flaws. Cracks and holes are filled with filler (Hantek at CIN). To hide the joints, fill them with the same filler. Sand lightly and prime those spots again.
- Paint: 2 to 3 coats. The CIN sheet recommends a light sanding with fine paper between coats.
- Silicone where tiles meet sanitary ware, 24 hours after the last coat, so water cannot get in.
- Wait 7 days before using the area. Wash only after 28 days, with a soft cloth and neutral detergent, no abrasives.
Conditions and joints
CIN’s sheets ask for air above 5 °C, relative humidity below 80 % and a surface 2 to 3 °C above the dew point. Do not paint tiles warmed by the sun. A steamy bathroom is the worst place: ventilate well and paint when it is dry. See condensation and ventilation and preparing the home for painting.
If you only redo the joints, the Robbialac sheet “Juntas de Azulejos” (updated January 2010) is a ready-to-use filler applied in layers up to 2 mm. Do not use it on surfaces with permanent damp. This sheet is old.
What we could not confirm
- Durability in years with daily bathroom use: there are no independent tests in the sources read.
- Current data sheet of Cinacryl Mate: we read the October 2015 revision, hosted on a reseller site. Check the current version with CIN.
- Adhesion in a bath or shower for any product: the sheets we read do not guarantee it.
- Prices: we did not check. We give no figures.
- Paints from other brands (Barbot, Dyrup, Sika) for tile: we found no data sheets.
- Epoxy safety: we read only the ventilation and VOC lines of the technical sheet, not the safety data sheet.
Sources (read on 4 November 2026)
- CIN, Technical bulletin 12-230 Cinacryl Mate, revision October 2015, copy hosted on tintasepintura.pt (tile preparation, coats, times, silicone, 7 and 28 days, direct water, VOC).
- CIN, Pintar azulejos, 5 March 2021 (steps, Aqua Primer, Hantek, 2 to 3 coats).
- Robbialac, Epoxy enamel for tiles and sanitary ware 830, technical-commercial information of 03/12/2025. The PDF is an image, read by optical character recognition.
- Robbialac, Juntas de Azulejos, updated January 2010.
- Barbot, Data sheet 1601 Cozinhas e casas de banho, 29/11/2024 (interior wall paint).