My house is taking on a new atmosphere. I have painted the cork tiles in the entrance and hallway an off-white. I love the change in dynamics. Before I did this the house had a river of drab and dreary, brown cork tiles running from the front door through the hall to kitchen and the back door.
The tiles are easy to paint. So why all the cautionary advice I got from friends and professionals?
When I was in New Zealand, Resene Paints told me it would be a ‘piece of cake’ and they gave me a pamphlet on their Super Sealer. With this product as an undercoat you can paint on stainless steel – in fact anything!!! There is no need to sand or do any other surface preparation. Just paint this on as an undercoat and you are away.
In Australia there is a product more readily available than Resene products called ESP (Easy Surface Preparation)
I was going to do it myself but then I got my friendly painter to experiment with it. He was apprehensive. He’d never painted cork tiles before.
One sealer and two coats of low sheen paint and it was a breeze. The effect is a little different from painted wood. Denser I think would describe the difference. And if I want to change the colour I can give it another coat myself.
The only problem was the length of time it took the ESP to dry. The tin said 90 minutes but it was more like 12 hours before it was dry enough to paint over.
Entering the house now is like entering another house.
The change from a dreary brown to a light grey-cream has changed the whole area.
The change does require different pictures, another hall table and new rugs. Something that looked okay with brown isn’t so successful with off-white. Clear colours and possibly stronger colours are needed. I’m looking forward to doing this and creating a new feel to the house. And I’m also looking forward to hiding the rest of the cork tiles under a coat of paint. I just have to decide o9n the colour.
Looks like we're both painting with colour at the moment. I have a new site, more colour than food!
ReplyDeleteVi (not Viv) http://singlesfood.blogspot.com/
Just thinking about painting my cork tiles (kitchen and family room) and came across your post. Just wondering, exactly what is the issue with the project? Is it the durability of the paint, or is it the choice of color (maybe a darker color needed?).
ReplyDeleteStill cant decide whether to just refinish with a clear coat (but then I will still have cork) or whether to go for it with either paving paint or else paint and then put a couple of clear coats on top. In a previous house I painted my bathroom floor and then put a couple of coats of clear on top - this was quite successful, but not such a high use area.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Lisa from Camberwell (not that far away.....)
Hi Lisa
ReplyDeleteI think one of the problems is to get the paint to stick on the tiles and not chip. (There is no wear but it did chip) This seems to be because they have already got a sort of gloss sealer on them and the paint doesn't stick too well. I think the ÉSP (Easy Surface Pre) was effective but not excellent. My floor now has three coats of paving paint and the durability has increased. I haven't put any clear on top and they may help them to wear well and not chip.
I still have cork tiles in the kitchen and I would like a paint surface there but I am relucant as it is a much bigger area and I am not sure how somewhere that gets a lot of traffic will wear. I'm not sure about a different colour. I love pale coloured floors so I would want a soft white. I love my entrance way and get a lift when I come home.
It may work better if you sanded first ( what a lot of dust!) Also I didn't get any helpful advice from the paint shops. Good luck. And, please let me know if you decide to paint. If you are successful I may give my kitchen a go. Em
Hi Em
ReplyDeleteI also am interested in painting cork tiles in the bathroom. My question is did you use a roller to apply the paint or a brush?
Dear Pamela
ReplyDeleteI used a brush for the 'hard to get to bits with a roller'. That showed me that a roller surface was so much better. In the end bought a very small roller for the 'hard to get to bits'.
I'd go for the roller anytime.
Good luck Em
Many thanks Em I shall now leap into the work!!!
ReplyDeleteBest of luck Pamela. Let me know how it goes if you have time. Em
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy I found this page! I have been wanting to paint the cork tiles in our kitchen for ages as we made the mistake of putting down a couple of black spongey mats in front of the sink and the black left an indelible stain on the cork tiles :o( Hopefully, painting should be cheaper than putting down new flooring.
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Hi I hope you are still accepting comments. I think that these designs are great but you never get the full impact of the tile unless you physically touch it and see it live. Tiles truly can dynamically change a room and working with a local supplier is your best option.
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ReplyDeleteGood morning from Perth WA, how cool to find your blog...we are in a dilemma as our whole house is cork tiling, it was built in 2000 and we purchased it in 2007 with the craft he’s and stains from water in the en-suite ( we have since pulled the cork up and laid ceramic tiles) but what to do with the kitchen and dining etc etc.
ReplyDeleteYour blog has given us new hope, and your pics of the finished job....we were so chuffed at the colour.
We noticed the tile marks are going ( awesome) is that just how it happens or did you do something specific to get that effect ?
After you painted did you seal over the paint for strength and water protection ?
Lastly Bunnings over here in WA only sell 500 mil cans, how much would that cover ( the ESP website doesn’t say )
They say they do up to 4 Ltrs but Bunnings don’t sell it :(
We are in our 60’s and any other way of fleshing up our home was going to cost a fortune, so your blog has really put a spring in our step and the Zimmer frame is shaking in expectations 😱😜😁
Thanks for any help.
Kindest regards to you and your family.
Trevor & Charmaine 👋👍🤝