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.