Can tile be painted?

Q.  I just bought a house that has very dated floral designs baked into various kitchen tiles on the counters and backsplash. Is it possible to remove the design and repaint the tile? I would be ok with a different color tile as long as I could remove the flowers

A.  Thanks for contacting us. You may be able to get away with painting your backsplash tiles, using epoxy paint. Backsplash tiles don't get much use, and you can use care when you clean them, so the paint should hold up. Countertop tiles are another story. Paint on countertop tiles would not last, and bits of paint could end up in your food. Some adventurous consumers try peel and stick tiles, which get mixed reviews depending on the brand. If you did this, you would want to be sure that the label specifically indicates the stickers are safe for use on food surfaces. Understand that peel and stick tiles are a temporary solution, and for sanitary reasons, they would need to be replaced every time the edges are compromised. Your only lasting solutions for the countertops would be to have them replaced entirely or to have your stone and tile restoration contractor remove and replace only the flower tiles. If you do not already have a stone and tile restoration contractor, you can find a Certified SurpHaces PRO Partner if you contact us.