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How To Tile a Backsplash

Your kitchen is no less than a war zone, with the sauces splashing all over; you definitely do not want it on your hard-to-clean wall. This is where a backsplash tile comes in handy. Other than that, it also ties the entire look of your kitchen together.

Adding a backsplash tile is the fastest and easiest way to revamp your cooking space. The good news is that it is super easy to install; therefore, if one piece breaks off for some reason and you cannot find a handyman, you can temporarily fix it too.

Start with gathering all the required materials along with tools. We strongly urge you to get professional services for these matters; their expertise is unmatchable for a foolproof result.

Clean Your Wall

It is best to start by cleaning the grease on your wall, so the adhesives stick properly.

  • Wipe out cooking stains with water and mild dishwashing liquid.
  • Make sure to leave a 1/4-inch gap between your wall and the tape for the tile.
  • Cover your countertops with a drop cloth.

Draw a Center Line

  • Draw a centerline between your upper cabinets to center the tiles under the vent hood.
  • Support your tile with a screwed-in ledger.
  • Measure the distance from the center line to the cabinets, and cut.

Time to Spread Adhesive

  • With a trowel, scoop mastic adhesive and put it on the wall.
  • Spread it with the centerline, cutting the ledger board, hood, and upper cabinets.
  • Next, use big strokes to fill in the middle area.
  • Now, secure the tile spacers on your ledger board and countertop. Caulking the gap later).

Setting The Tile

  • After every 2 to 3 tile sheets, put them into the mastic with a rubber mallet.
  • These sheets are not perfectly square in shape. Therefore, move individual tiles to line up.

Sawing Tiles For Exact Fit

  • Cut tiles using a wet saw to fill the gaps, if there are any.
  • Make the cut while the tiles are attached to the sheet.
  • Let it sit for around 30 minutes, then apply a grout sealer.

Apply the Grout

  • The waiting game starts here. You need to give it at least 24 hours to rest after installing the tile before adding the grout.
  • Mix it with water until the consistency is that of a mashed potato.
  • Place the grout into the joints diagonally over the tiles.
  • Scrape off the excess after the joints are filled.
  • Approximately 10 minutes later, wipe the excess grout off your surface with a damp sponge.
  • If it pulls out of the joints, let it sit for another 10 minutes to harden up.
  • Now, rinse your sponge in water and wipe your tiles until they are all clean.

Scrape Out Corners

  • Rake the grout from the joints inside corners to fill them with caulk.
  • Make sure not to use the sharp blade side with the countertop.
    Wipe the haze off your tiles two hours after you are done with grouting, using a microfiber cloth.
  • Now, caulk the expansion with the help of latex material. It is better to use a colored caulk that closely matches the grout.
  • After a week, sponge a grout sealer for protection against stains.

Final Words

Now, you may feel that a DIY session for tiling your backsplash is a good idea, but you must know that there are so many technicalities involved that a professional will be better able to handle. So, why don’t you choose Lucas Craftsmanship for your handyman services? (713) 864-2510 to connect with us.

The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as an advice for any individual case or situation.

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