Shower tile reglazing? Or??? (home, professionals, moving) - City-Data Forum

LindaGrace · 03-16-2011, 10:38 AM

Hey! So you all know that our lovely home was built in 1959. It has the original tile work in both bathrooms. It's in GREAT shape, luckily - no broken tiles, no chips...but good Lord, the colors.

So I started looking online about re-finishing/re-painting bathroom tile in showers. It seems this is a job best left to professionals. Does anyone have experience doing it themselves? Does anyone have recs for a pro?

Gracias!

MattTx · 03-16-2011, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LindaGrace

Hey! So you all know that our lovely home was built in 1959. It has the original tile work in both bathrooms. It's in GREAT shape, luckily - no broken tiles, no chips...but good Lord, the colors.

So I started looking online about re-finishing/re-painting bathroom tile in showers. It seems this is a job best left to professionals. Does anyone have experience doing it themselves? Does anyone have recs for a pro?

Gracias!

LindaGrace:

As you know already, I have a mid-century ranch home. When I bought it, it had crazy green / pink / and brown tile bathrooms from the 50's. One bathroom was in decent shape while the other had broken tile.

I attempted to re-glaze the tile and it came out really bad. I ended up having to replace all the tile in the end because those 50's era colors are next to impossible to match.

My reccomendation to you is to leave this one to the pros.

Dreadlockd · 03-16-2011, 12:35 PM

Redo it, had a buddy that tried DIYing it and the results...only a blind person could appreciate.

We have a 1960 home but with updates, we really hate the faux marble panels in the shower. When the budget allows we are going to rip that out and throw in some subway tiles and concrete counter tops.

Do you have Pepto Bismol pink or pureed mint cream? lol.

Montirob · 03-16-2011, 12:50 PM

If the tile was like ours (late '40's home) it is thickset w/ a metal mesh. Removing the tile is not an easy process. Definitely need the pros if you are going to replace tile. I've seen tile put over existing tile before, but this also required a pro to ensure that everything was straight. Painting the tile I've only seen on tv, so I'm unfamiliar with its difficulty.

But while I'm at it... Save The Pink Bathroom . This comes from a guy who initially hated our pink, light green, and white bathroom but has grown to love it over time... though I always use the blue and white bath.

LindaGrace · 03-16-2011, 01:36 PM

So my gut instinct was right - go with the pros. Anyone have someone they can recommend?

And thank you all for being honest about the results of your DIY projects!

Dreadlockd, the guest bathroom isn't horrible - it's a soft blue-gray with maroon accent tiles. The master bath, on the other hand, is pretty bad - yellow with that puree'd mint green you mentioned! We managed to not have the Pepto pink that seems so common in this era of home.

I'm dreaming of sky blue tile with white accents and spanky white walls and ceiling for the master bath... Will have to save my pennies to hire a pro to make that happen.

ETA: Montirob, this is one reason I sort of hesitate to redo our retro mid-century johns - they are SO indicative of that era! Thanks for the pink bathrooms link.