Everything You Need to Know About Staining Tile
Kesir Travertine Tiles – Honed and Filled Oasis Gold Premium / 18″x18″x1/2″, available at BuildDirect.com.
Tile flooring instantly adds character, personality, and value to any room. From sleek ceramic to travertine, there’s something for every aesthetic — and yes, it is entirely possible to get the exact color that you want, even if it’s not a traditional color for tile. DIY has come so far that you can now buy the tile of your choice and stain or even paint it to suit your preferences, which allows you to save money and gives you a marvelous sense of accomplishment. Let’s take a look at some of the ways in which you can customize your tile.
All About That Stain
In general, there are seven types of stain — oil stains, varnish, water-based stains, gel stains, lacquer, water-soluble dye stains, and metal-complex, or metalized, dye stains. For the most part, when you’re working with tile, the best tile stains to focus on are oil stains, water-based stains, gel stains, and maybe some varnish. That being said, it’s not a good idea to stain tile that you place near sinks or bathtubs. It’s not impossible, however. Just make sure you avoid using any water-based stains in those areas.
Porous Tiles and Stain
Image via Flickr by mcstandr
Different tiles take to stain in entirely different ways. Porous tiles — that is, tiles with porous surfaces, small holes, and rough textures — absorb the stain and paint much more than non-porous tiles. Saltillo tiles are porous; they’re ideal for anyone looking for a rustic design aesthetic. Terracotta is another porous option. Although it’s rustic as well, it also lends a Mediterranean vibe to your décor, allowing you to create a cool, open villa vibe.
These types of tile really allow you to control the depth of the color, the shading, and the richness of the shade you choose. You can easily cover up the traditional color of both tiles and get rid of their original patina. Certain types of stain can even lighten porous tiles although, in general, you’re changing them to a darker hue.
Staining Non-Porous Tiles
Agra Marble Tile Rainforest Brown / 12″x24″ / Polished, available at BuildDirect.com.
Non-porous tiles are sleek, solid, and hard to the touch. They include ceramic tile, porcelain tile, and travertine tile. All these tiles look lovely on their own, and they come in an impressively wide variety of colors. That being said, colored tiles are generally more expensive, and it’s still somewhat difficult to match your color choices exactly. That’s why stain comes in handy.
With non-porous tiles, you’re essentially painting the stain onto them. After all, since they have no pores, they cannot absorb the color in the same way terracotta and Saltillo tiles will. That means you have to exercise caution in your application to make sure you don’t initially stain your tiles too dark. Remember, it’s easier to add than it is to take away. Once you get your tiles too dark, there’s really no going back.
Staining 101
The staining process itself is lengthy and a bit involved, but it’s also not as difficult as it may sound. You should start by thoroughly cleaning your tiles. Get down and use some elbow grease, not to mention a good scrub brush and a powerful but safe cleaner; something industrial-strength works best. Get rid of dirt, debris, and grime, as well as wax buildup or any old sealers. Basically, get your tiles as squeaky clean as you possibly can, then let them dry.
The second step applies to non-porous tiles. If you’re staining terracotta or Saltillo, you can skip this step. If you’re staining ceramic tiles, travertine tiles, or porcelain tiles, you need to cover them with a primer coat. Use a regular paintbrush and apply the primer all the way to the edge of the tiles. You have to let the primer dry until it’s not tacky when you touch it.
Now you’re ready to apply your stain. Use a tile sponge, but cut it down into small pieces that you can easily manage. Don’t saturate your sponge; simply soak up a bit of the stain and wipe your tiles. Tapping or dabbing is helpful if you plan to use more than one stain. Let the stain dry completely between each coat or color application. You don’t have to apply additional coats, but you can.
After applying your last coat, wait 24 hours. At that point, seal your tile with a urethane-based sealer, preferably in an aerosol can. Give the sealer time to dry, then spray on another coat. Let that dry for 24 hours, then you’re done.
Creating Designs with Your Stain
As you learn how to stain tile, don’t make the mistake of assuming that all you can do is stain your tiles a single, solid, heavy color. There are so many eye-catching things to do with tile. Even with stain, you can create depth, texture, and designs. This technique works especially well on non-porous tiles, but you can do it on porous tiles as well.
Basically, you layer your stain. You can completely cover the tile with a light coat of your main stain, then use small sponges to dab on different shades and colors. In addition to creating stunning color palettes and designs with this method, you can also make your tile look like stone or even wood.
Staining your tile yourself is cheap, easy, and quite a lot of fun, especially if you get creative. Do you think you might take the DIY approach?
Do you have any questions about staining tile? Ask us in the comments section below.
judy
do you have to strip your tiles before staining them? thanks
Erik preis
Should i use a solid or a semi transparent stain for terra cotta tile
Erik
Cheri
When I stain tile, what about the grout?
BuildDirect Product Expert Team
Hi Cheri,
Thank you for getting in touch! You can include the grout when staining or leave it out, it’s all personal preference. Please let us know if you have any other questions!
Michael
Where do I find tiles stain? I see grout stain and tile sealer but no tile stain.
BuildDirect Product Expert Team
Hi Michael,
Thank you for your inquiry! Usually you can find tile stain in your local hardware stores. I would also suggest checking any tile suppliers in the area. Please let us know if you have any other questions!
Nikki
How do I figure out which tiles I have? Mine came with the house. I want to make them lighter than they are.
BuildDirect Product Expert Team
Hi Nikki,
Thank you for getting in touch! To find out the type of tiles you have you will need to get in touch with the previous owner or the installer. You may also have extra boxes somewhere in the home that specifies the type of tile. Either way you most likely will not be able to make them lighter without replacing all the tiles. Please let us know if you have any other questions!
john carroll
The tile I would like to stain is porous terra cotta looking tile. We want to go darker. What stain do you recommend and where to get it? I’m thinking of using a wood stain, would that be fine. Thanks, John
BuildDirect Product Expert Team
Hi John,
Thank you for getting in touch. The types of stain and brands will vary depending on your area. You will not be able to use a wood stain on a tile, you will need to find a stain that is specifically for staining tile. Please let us know if you have any other questions!
Barb schneider
I already have porcelin tile in my kitchen, they are white, I hate them, can I stain them?
BuildDirect Product Expert Team
Hi Barb,
Thank you for getting in touch! Yes, you can stain your porcelain tiles. Just follow the instructions outlined above and it should work just fine. Please let us know if you have any other questions!
lori chandler
How do I know how to measure for how many tile to buy …example ..6″ by 24′
BuildDirect Product Expert Team
Hi Lori,
Thank you for getting in touch! You will need to measure each room to get the square footage. From there you can calculate how many boxes you need based on how many square feet are in each box or if the product is sold by the square foot you can just get the amount you need based on your measurements. I also suggest adding 10% to your measurements to ensure you have enough for cuts and waste. Please let us know if you have any other questions!