The very thought of bathroom renovation or ceramic tile replacement makes many of us feel uncomfortable.
At the same time, the idea of getting rid of old, worn-out tiles or tiles you’ve simply grown tired of, in an easy and inexpensive way, is very tempting. The ideal solution that will provide a complete makeover for your rooms is TESSAROL CERAMIX – a topcoat designed for the decoration of ceramic tiles. You can use the product to completely change, brighten and enhance the look of kitchens, bathrooms or toilets very easily and without the use of a primer. The basic white colour can be used to prepare many shades according to the colour templates on the HGMIX tint mixing systems. The coating is quick-drying, so the project can be completed in one day. As it is water-based, it is also environmentally-friendly and has no unpleasant odours. It does not yellow in interiors, and it gives a semi-glossy (satin) finish. It’s suitable for short-term contact with water on vertical surfaces that drain, but it must not be in continuous contact with water.
The advantages of the colour film include good mechanical properties and durability against common cleaning agents used in households. The coating is not suitable for painting horizontal and floor surfaces, bathtubs, self-cleaning ceramic tiles, tiles in saunas, etc.
When facing the choice between a complete bathroom renovation and painting the ceramic tiles, it is recommended to consider a few pros and cons and determine if the product matches your needs. It is also important to note that any painting (not only for ceramic tiling), requires proper preparation of the surface and the right choice of materials, as only this will ensure good grip and long-lasting resistance of the coating.
In addition to ceramic tiles, the enamel also provides good grip to other challenging surfaces in interiors such as glass, hard PVC and coloured metals (tinned sheet and aluminium). Before painting, each surface should be prepared according to the instructions given in the technical information available on the Helios website (www.helios-deco.com). As the product offers no protection against rusting, TESSAROL ACRYLIC PRIMER UNI should be used to decorate interior iron surfaces before applying the enamel.
Procedure before painting ceramic tiles
Ceramic tiling is a challenging substrate, which is why instructions for surface preparation should be consistently followed before painting. Before painting, the surface must be completely dry, undamaged and clean (with no oils, fats, dust or any other dirt). Surface preparation is key for good grip and long-lasting resistance of the coating. Before painting, clean the ceramic tiles with a limescale-removal agent. To remove fats, oils and other dirt use TESSAROL NITRO THINNER or rubbing alcohol. Then sand the cleaned surface with sandpaper P400 and remove old silicone using a sharp knife. Clean any silicone residue with a silicone remover. Rinse the surface with ample water to remove any cleaning agent residue. Leave the surface to dry completely. Fill cracks or holes with standard grout. Silicone putty is not suitable as the paint will not adhere to it. The tile grout must also be dry and hardened before painting. Otherwise, the paint may pull dust particles out of the grout. If the particles are not removed from the surface, they can lead to a poorer final appearance of the coating.
Instructions for painting
Mix the paint well before use. Apply with a roller, paintbrush or spraying. We recommend using a short-hair felt roller or a roller made of synthetic fibres with a length of 4 – 7 mm as the most suitable application tool. We do not recommend using a foam roller, because it makes the paint foam and produces an unsuitable finish.
When painting, use masking tape of good quality which should be carefully removed immediately after coating, i.e. while the paint is not quite dry yet. If this is not observed, the coating film may crack at the edges. Clean any stains immediately, as the strong adhesion will make them very difficult to remove later. Wash the painting tools with water immediately after use, and you can remove dried paint using TESSAROL NITRO THINNER.
The coat is dry to the touch in 2 hours. You can apply the second coat of paint after 6 hours of drying. Before applying the second coat, we recommend you to gently sand the first coat with a fine sanding sponge. This improves inter-layer adhesion and enhances the final appearance. The rooms are ready for use after just two days of drying, and the coating takes about one month to reach its final hardness. If the surface needs cleaning soon after painting, gently wipe it with a soft damp cloth. Later, you can clean the surface using a soft sponge or cloth. The use of abrasive cleaners and coarse sponges is prohibited as they damage the coating film.
1 liter of the coating covers 10 – 12 m2 in one coat; two coats are necessary. For good painting results, the temperature of the coating, air and item should be at least 8 °C and no higher than 25 °C, and air humidity should be under 80%.
