The short answer is yes! You can paint a porcelain sink for whatever reason you want to, whether it is because the original color is fading and needs a touch-up or you want to change the color.
There is always the safer option of getting a professional to do this job as it requires a lot of prep work, and for the best results, requires more materials than just paint.
However, it can definitely be done by yourself, it just needs the right preparation work and the right equipment!
What Paint Should I Use For A Porcelain Sink?
The best choices for painting porcelain are either enamel paint, epoxy paint, or acrylic latex paint.
All of these paints have the ability to look similar to fresh porcelain and match the look and feel of a bathroom or kitchen well.
They also are great at adhering to tiles like porcelain without peeling or chipping, meaning that you will not have to worry about constantly needing to touch up.
These paints are also good choices because they are not porous for water to mix with, they are resistant to chemical damage, and they are more resistant to abrasions and damage than similar paints.
These qualities are essential for painting sinks, as they are a utility that can not have their use compromised by a bad choice of paint.
To get the most even coverage for what is occasionally an awkward shaped item, it is recommended that you get the paint you like in spray form to make the job as easy and time-efficient as possible.
On top of a fitting paint choice, also try to find a primer designed specifically for porcelain.
Also keep in mind that if you want to paint your sink a drastically different color, you will likely need multiple coats of primer and may even need more coats of paint as well.
With whatever paint color you choose, make sure to keep some after you finish the project for touch-ups if they are needed.
No one wants mismatched paint on their sink.
The kind of paints you want to avoid for a project like a porcelain sink are normal (not for latex) acrylic paint and oil-based paints.
This is because these paints are not as resilient as the recommended choices and will likely not stand the test of time, especially since what you are painting is a utility and not decoration.
How To Paint A Porcelain Sink
Step 1. Coverage
Before you start anything, the most important step to save time on clean up and even stop potentially damaging your belongings is to cover up as much of the surrounding space as you can.
Putting down a sheet on the floor, covering countertops, draping on walls, are all essentials.
Do as much as you can to ensure you get as little mess as possible on your surroundings.
Paint is designed to stick, especially the kinds of paint used in this project, so the mess they can cause is much easier to prevent than it is to clean.
Plastic sheets, old sheets, any large light material you can use to cover as much as you can is perfect. Obviously, if you don’t mind getting paint on it.
Step 2. Safety Considerations
Another essential step for preparation, this time for your personal safety, is ventilation.
As recommended, for the best results painting a sink is with spray paint, but doing so means you will risk inhaling potentially harmful fumes.
As well as the paint, some primers or other chemicals used for cleaning the sink can be harmful, so you want to make sure to use gloves and wear a mask.
If it is an option, the best way to do this project is outdoors.
A mask and gloves are still necessary, but this way you do not have to worry about keeping windows open and covering other surfaces.
However, sometimes removing a sink to do the project outside and then subsequently reinstalling once it is dry is more effort than it is worth.
Also, you will have to be able to guarantee that the weather is not too humid or rainy.
Step 3. Cleaning
The first proper stage is to clean the sink as thoroughly as you can to get rid of any residual stains and soap marks.
Any regular tile cleaner you have should work great for this step, but to follow it up it is recommended to use a product like denatured alcohol to wipe it down with afterwards to make sure there is no residual cleaner left before painting.
Step 4. Priming
Depending on the type of porcelain you have or the kind of primer you are using, it is recommended to use some sandpaper (usually around 150 grit) to prepare the porcelain for a new coat of paint.
The best way to know if this step is necessary is to work based on what the paint brand recommends.
Then the first actual application is of a bonding agent or a primer.
Specific products work better with specific paints, and a primer and paint for this specific purpose can often be bought bundled together.
Depending on how much the color will be changing from the original to what you want it to be, especially if you are not just going between shades of white, you may need multiple coats of primer.
Step 5. Painting
The next stage is to actually paint your sink.
As previously mentioned, a spray paint is the best way to go, and if you are using a spray gun for a non-spray paint, make sure you have prepared the paint and the gun correctly.
Make sure when painting to keep track of which areas you have covered with each layer, as once it dries completely (depending on color choice) it can be quite obvious if you have missed a layer in a specific spot.
The best method for spray-painting an object like a sink is multiple light coats, at least 3 coats for best results.
And once you have finished a layer, try to let the paint dry for at least 15 minutes before doing another coat.
If you do not wait between coats, this can actually make the overall drying time of the sink longer, so do not be tempted to act impatiently.
Once you are happy with the amount of paint you have applied, you are ready to let the paint cure.
If you have access to one, a heat lamp will get this part of the process done the most efficiently.
With the heat lamp the drying should only take around an hour, but if you do not have access it is no reason to worry, just make sure to let the sink completely dry before doing anything else.
Final Thoughts And Finishing Touches
If you want an amazing finish before you reinstall the sink or remove painting cover-ups, there are some further steps you can do.
If you think there are some uneven layers with the paint-job (more likely if you did not spray paint) then you can use a high grit sandpaper to quickly get rid of the uneven surface.
After this, it is recommended you buff the surface with whatever tools you have access to.
Some would recommend using a foam head on a power buffer, others would recommend hand buffing with car wax, but the best option would be to do both for optimum results.
And that’s how you paint a porcelain sink. It’s a challenging process, but as long as you follow this guide carefully, it’ll be loads of fun, and the final product will be amazing!
