From time to time, we come across the kinds of queries that have us scratching our collective heads in disbelief. But then there are those times when we hear the same query on so many occasions that we begin to think…maybe it’s not so crazy after all?

Within reason, and assuming you get the job done right, there’s very little around the average home that cannot be painted. Rather than replacing key fixtures and furniture, there’s always the option of adding a fresh coat of paint to liven things up. Nevertheless, there are certain home staples the average homeowner probably wouldn’t consider going near with a paintbrush.

…the faithful family toilet being one of them.

A Question of Color

These days, toilets are available in just about every color and style imaginable. Along with serving a deeply practical purpose which needs no explanation, a well-designed toilet really can make all the difference to the bathroom. The only problem being that painting the average toilet seems implausible at best.

In reality however, this isn’t the case at all. Weird and offbeat as it may sound, it’s perfectly possible to paint your toilet bowl just about any color you like. It’s a somewhat specific and intensive process, but nonetheless well within the reach of the average DIYer.

So if you, like a surprising number of homeowners, have been wondering if and how you can successfully paint your potty, here’s what the process looks like:

Step 1 – Choose Your Design and Color

First and foremost, the last thing you want to do is to go through the entire process, only to realize you’ve made a big mistake with your chosen color. When it comes to most aspects of the bathroom, there’s a very fine line between creative and tacky. In this instance therefore, we’d strongly advise taking a picture of your bathroom and using some kind of editing tool on your phone or computer to see what the color will look like in the flesh, so to speak.

Step 2 – Cleaning and Sanitizing

For relatively obvious reasons, you are going to need to make sure that your toilet bowl is cleaner than it has ever been. This means investing in a trisodium-phosphate, or TSP, cleanser and a rather abrasive toilet brush, in order to give the whole bowl the scrub of its life. Rinse the whole thing to ensure that every trace of the cleaning products is gone, wipe it down with a towel and give it at least 2 hours to dry.

Step 3 – Turn Off the Water

Ensure that the water supply is turned off before going any further. This should be done as soon as the toilet bowl has been sufficiently cleaned, in order to give it ample time to dry.

Step 4 – Sanding the Surface

This is where things are guaranteed to start feeling extremely bizarre, but stick with it nonetheless. Take hold of some good quality 120-grit sandpaper, before getting busy on the surface of the bowl. You’ll need to continue sanding the surface until it feels moderately rough and gritty, which will in turn provide sufficient grip for the primer.

Step 5 – Applying Primer

Grab yourself some premium latex-acrylic spray primer, applying a layer evenly to the bowl as specified in the instructions. It’s important to note at this stage that painting and priming the inside of the bowl isn’t a good idea, given that it can lead to blockages.

Step 6 – Painting and Finishing

Last but not least, in order to successfully paint your toilet-bowl, you are going to need some high-quality appliance-epoxy spray paint. Choose whichever color takes your fancy, applying it in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines. Give each coat sufficient time to dry before applying the next, waiting at least 6 hours before switching the water on again and getting back to business…no pun intended!

A Worthy Project?

Of course, all of the above represents a pretty intensive project, simply for the sake of changing the color of a toilet bowl. Particularly when considering the fact that replacing the entire thing isn’t the most expensive option these days. Nevertheless, if you fancy yourself as a creative type and would prefer to do things manually, feel free to give it a shot!

For more information on anything to do with home painting or to arrange an obligation-free quotation, get in touch with the Homm CPS customer service team today.