A Rustoleum Floor Tile Paint Review After One Year!
One year ago, I shared a tutorial on how to paint tile floors when we transformed our pink tile floor on our covered back porch, which we use as a workshop. Since then, I’ve received numerous questions about the durability of the painted tile and how it’s holding up. Does painting floor tiles last? Well, it’s been a year, and I’m excited to share a completely honest review!
Before and After: A Look Back
BEFORE PAINTING TILE FLOOR
AFTER PAINTING TILE FLOOR
Note that I’ve also painted bathroom floor tiles, and you can see the tutorial and 6-month update on those painted bathroom floor tiles in a separate post.
Important Factors to Consider
Before I dive into the full one-year review, there are some important factors to cover first.
Floor Tile Paint Used
This review will focus on Rustoleum floor tile paint, as I used Rustoleum floor paint and top coat for interior floors in Windsor Gray. However, I mentioned in my painting tile floor tutorial that there are different types and brands of floor tile paint that can be used. I’m curious to try a different brand to see how it compares to Rustoleum.
Number of Top Coats Used
We only used one coat of the Rustoleum top coat over the painted floor tile because we were short on time. Rustoleum recommends one coat of the top coat but suggests using a second coat for extra durability. Looking back, I wish we had made the time for the second coat.
Traffic Level on Painted Tile Floors
The painted tile floor in our workshop is exposed to an excessive amount of floor traffic, much more than your average interior room. We put this floor tile paint to the test this past year!
Workshop Activities
Our workshop is used for all our DIY furniture builds, which means there are always large amounts of wood piled on the floor, and our DIY mobile workbench with heavy-duty caster wheels is constantly being moved around the room. We also use the room for outdoor toy storage for our son, and it connects to our shed and backyard, so we’re constantly going in and out of this space with dirty, wet shoes and puppy paws.
Cleaning the Painted Tile Floor
Because this room is our workshop, the floor tile doesn’t get cleaned as well or often as our interior floors. We basically just sweep it. For this review, we took the time to give it a deep clean to assess its condition. I started by sweeping the dirt up, then vacuuming the tile. Next, Brandon and I mopped the tile with a mild cleaner mixed with water.
Does Painting Floor Tiles Last?
The short answer is that yes, painting floor tiles does last, even with excessive amounts of floor traffic! However, there are definitely some issues to consider.
Overall Condition
Overall, when standing and looking at the room as a whole, the painted floor tile looks good, and you can’t see any major problems. However, if you look closer, there are several small nicks, scratches, and chips. There is noticeable wear and tear in the high-traffic areas of the tile, especially along the edges of the tile. Also, there is some darker discoloration of the tile in certain areas.
High-Traffic vs. Low-Traffic Areas
In the lower-traffic areas of the room, the painted tile looks really good with barely any chipping or scratches.
Video Review
Make sure to check out my review video on YouTube for a better view of the room and the painted tile after one year!
Would I Paint Tile Floor Again?
Yes, I would paint tile floor again, depending on a few factors. Overall, here is my recommendation for when to paint tile floor:
High-Traffic Rooms
For a high-traffic room, if you need a short-term, cheap solution for ugly, outdated flooring, painting tile floor is a great option! It’s definitely not as durable as real floor tile or other flooring, so that’s why I recommend it as a short-term solution.
Low-Traffic Rooms
For a low-traffic room, it can be a longer-term solution for updating your flooring. But keep in mind it will still be subject to chipping because it’s still paint!
Cost Savings and Simplicity
Painting our tile floor only cost us about $100. If we had used real tile, it would have cost much more and would have been a very labor-intensive project. If we hired a tile installer, it would have been significantly more expensive! Cost savings and the simplicity of this project are definitely the biggest pros.
What Would I Do Differently?
If I were to paint my tile floor again with Rustoleum, I would definitely use a second coat of the top coat. Maybe even a third coat! I would also make sure to stay off the painted floor for a full 7 days after applying the top coat. We didn’t use the room much during those first 7 days, but the flooring was more prone to chipping, and even light foot traffic caused a few chips.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it a Good Idea to Paint Floor Tiles?
Yes, it is a good idea to paint floor tiles if you want a cost-effective way and an easy DIY project to update your old tile on your entire floor and make a huge difference! It can look just like new tile after painting! Make sure to use the right type of paint for painting floor tiles, though.
What Paint is Best for Floor Tiles?
The best kind of paint for floor tiles is paint specifically formulated for painting floors. Examples include Benjamin Moore Floor and Patio paint and Rustoleum Floor Tile paint, both available in multiple paint colors. By using the right paint, you will achieve the best results and longest durability.
Does Tile Paint Peel Off?
As I showed in the photos above, tile paint, if applied properly, does not peel off, but it can wear off or chip off over time in high-traffic areas of the tile. It shows a lot of wear on the edges of the tile rather than the grout lines or any low-traffic areas of the tile. Peeling may occur, though, if you did not clean the tile properly before applying.
Conclusion
I hope this one-year Rustoleum floor tile paint review has been helpful and answers your question: does painting floor tiles last? If you haven’t checked out the tutorial yet, make sure to head over to how to paint tile floor, as well as how to paint tile floor in a bathroom for bathroom floors.
- Use the right type of paint for painting floor tiles
- Clean the tile properly before applying
- Apply multiple coats of top coat for extra durability
- Keep in mind that painting tile floor is a short-term solution for high-traffic areas
By following these tips and being aware of the potential issues, you can achieve a beautiful and durable painted tile floor that will last for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it a Good Idea to Paint Floor Tiles?
Yes, it is a good idea to paint floor tiles if you want a cost-effective way and an easy DIY project to update your old tile on your entire floor and make a huge difference!
What Paint is Best for Floor Tiles?
The best kind of paint for floor tiles is paint specifically formulated for painting floors.
Does Tile Paint Peel Off?
No, tile paint, if applied properly, does not peel off, but it can wear off or chip off over time in high-traffic areas of the tile.
