Tile is a common vehicle for household décor. It makes good flooring and is commonly used to create backsplashes or even ornamental mosaics. While it holds up well, it is not among the most durable materials by any means, but there is a way to change that. Covering tile with epoxy is an excellent way to make sure your patterns and arrangements remain intact despite frequent use. 

What We Love About Tile

Tile has a great deal going for it. It comes in a wide variety of patterns, colors, and even materials. It has an old-world kind of charm but also has infinite capacity to be modernized. There’s something grounded about tile, even though it is relatively easy to install. With the right kind of covering, it is possible to preserve the versatile material over extended periods of time.

Epoxy: Cover Your Bases

Epoxy serves as a protective barrier, protecting the floor underneath from the elements (including corrosive chemicals or liquids) and the wear of frequent use and time. Home- and business owners have a lot of flexibility when it comes to patterns, thickness, and even composition. An even layer of epoxy also makes a floor smooth, which in turn makes it easy to clean.

Epoxy is commonly used to cover surfaces that see a lot of wear, such as garage floors and patios. Installation is pretty straightforward, especially if no other epoxy has been previously laid. It does not change the height of the floor too dramatically, so doors to rooms and cabinets are still usually able to swing open freely when it is laid. All things considered, epoxy is an affordable and versatile means to preserve any floor.

Covering Tile with Epoxy

Choosing to cover your tile with epoxy is a great way to protect it from the ravages of time. It keeps out moisture in tiled showers and blocks grease staining in kitchen backsplashes. It is also a great way to refresh or even improve your tile’s appearance. If you want to augment the colors of your tile, find a shade of epoxy that will do so, or go colorless if you like your tile the way it is. Even if you want to completely switch up the appearance of your floor, epoxy is a great way to do so without the hassle of ripping out the old one.

Will Epoxy Stick to Ceramic Tile?

Despite the challenges that tile floors provide texture-wise, epoxy will adhere to most kinds. The biggest exception is tiles with a very high-gloss finish or which have been sealed. Sometimes these are too slick for epoxy as they are, but with the proper preparation, these can be sanded down slightly so you can coat your tile with epoxy.

How Do You Prepare to Lay Your Tile with Epoxy?

Before coating your tile with epoxy, you will need to make sure that it is not damaged or too worn down. Epoxy doesn’t adhere well to tile that is too beat-up. The next step is to assess the texture of your tile. If you have high-gloss tiles or if your tile has been treated with a sealer, these will need to be roughened up a bit. This can be achieved using a sander or an etching solution. This is also a necessary step if your tile is uneven. 

If you want to cover your tile with epoxy, it will need to flush with the grout. Either sand down the tiles or fill in the grout with a leveling compound. Make sure that your cabinets have plenty of clearance after this step. You can further prepare your tile by treating it with a primer. Once that is dry and all the shavings from sanding have been cleared away, give your tile a thorough clean so no bacteria or debris is trapped underneath the epoxy layer. Once the tile is cleaned, it should be treated with a glaze.

How Long Can We Expect Epoxy to Last on Tile?

Nothing lasts forever, even epoxy. In areas with heavy traffic and use, including industrial kitchens, factories, or even garages, epoxy coatings are likely to protect tile for two to three years. This window can be extended with regular maintenance and proper care. In spaces that are less busy, such as home kitchens or bathrooms, epoxy is more likely to last a lot longer. Properly preparing your tile and the floor underneath before the epoxy is laid will extend its longevity.