Replacing bathroom tiles is a big job, involving chipping out the existing tiles and restoring the wall to a smooth finish.

Wet areas then need waterproofing before the tiling can begin.

The amount of labour combined with the cost of the new tiles makes this an expensive renovation.

For an easy and high-impact makeover, you can paint directly over the tiles, and the paint can be tinted to suit your colour scheme.

The finish is gloss, so proper preparation is the key to a professional result. Scrub any soap scum, mould or dirt from the areas to be painted, then use a tile cleaning product.

Apply a primer and two coats of tile paint, sanding between coats, taking care not to overload the brush or roller.

To calculate how much paint you need, measure the length and height of the area to be painted to give the number of square metres. Divide this by 12 to get the total litres required.

This ensuite had been renovated a few years ago, but the original wall tiles were retained. The faux-marble design was outdated and the shower had discoloured grout as a result of being plumbed to a rainwater tank.

After two days of DIY, the tiles and grout now repel water and the bathroom looks clean and modern.

Taping a clean edge

When using painter’s tape, press it down on the edge of the area to be painted. If loosely applied, paint will bleed underneath the tape, resulting in an uneven edge.

It’s best to remove tape before the paint has dried. But if two or three coats are needed, the base coats will be dry. To break the seal between the paint and tape, score the edge with a utility knife, then pull it away at a 45° angle.