How to Tile a Backsplash. Project overview Planning, materials and tools. Nothing packs more style per square inch than mosaic tile. So if your kitchens got the blahs, give it a quick infusion of pizzazz with a tile backsplash. Because the small tiles are mounted on 1. You can install the tile on Saturday and then grout it on Sunday. Professionals charge about 2. On several occasions, homeowner Amy Harter wished she had dish storage in her dining room. However, there really wasnt enough room for a freestanding curio or. Installing Closet Doors On Tile' title='Installing Closet Doors On Tile' />The sheets cost 8 to more than 2. The total cost for our backsplash was about 2. Our sheets cost 1. For an 8 ft. backsplash, you could save about 4. We chose slate tiles, which sometimes crumble when you cut them. Other types of mosaic tile, especially ceramic tiles, are easier to cut. Installing Closet Doors On Tile' title='Installing Closet Doors On Tile' />In this article, well show you how to install the tile sheets. Youll need basic tile tools, available at home centers and tile stores, including a 31. Youll also need mastic adhesive, premium grout and grout sealer. You can rent a wet saw to cut the tiles about 4. For more tile tips and projects, click Tile or search Tile in the search box above. Step 1 Prep the walls. Photo 1 Draw a center line. Shop our Millwork department and save BIG on doors, moulding, skylights, windows and furniture. Here are some tips to consider when installing tile on a concrete slab outdoors, such as on a porch or patio. Choose a tile with a slip resistant surface thats. Mark a centerline between the upper cabinets so the tiles will be centered under the vent hood. Screw a ledger to the wall to support the tile. Before installing the tile, clean up any grease splatters on the wall mastic wont adhere to grease. Wipe the stains with a sponge dipped in a mixture of water and mild dishwashing liquid like Dawn. If you have a lot of stains or they wont come off, wipe on a paint deglosser with a lint free cloth or abrasive pad so the mastic will adhere. Deglosser is available at paint centers and home centers. Then mask off the countertops and any upper cabinets that will have tile installed along the side. Leave a 14 in. gap between the wall and the tape for the tile Photo 1. Cover the countertops with newspaper or a drop cloth. Turn off power to the outlets in the wall and remove the cover plates. Make sure the power is off with a non contact voltage detector. Place outlet extenders in the outlet boxes. The National Electrical Code requires extenders when the boxes are more than 14 in. Its easier to put in extenders now and cut tile to fit around them than to add them later if the tile opening isnt big enough. Set the extenders in place as a guide for placing the tile. Youll remove them later for grouting. On the wall that backs your range, measure down from the top of the countertop backsplash a distance thats equal to three or four full rows of tile to avoid cutting the tile and make a mark. Screw a scrap piece of wood the ledger board to the wall at the mark between the cabinets. The area between the range and the vent hood is usually the largest space on the walland certainly the most seen by the cooks in the houseso itll serve as your starting point for installing the tile. Make a centerline on the wall halfway between the cabinets and under the vent hood Photo 1. Measure from the centerline to the cabinets. If youll have to cut tile to fit, move the centerline slightly so youll only have to cut the mesh backing at least on one side. Step 2 Set the tile. Sam 6.0 Serial. Photo 2 Spread adhesive. Spread a thin layer of mastic adhesive on the wall, starting at the centerline. Spread just enough adhesive for two or three sheets at a time so the adhesive doesnt dry before you set the tile. Photo 3 Set the tile. Tap the tile into the mastic with a wood scrap and a rubber mallet. Stand back, look at the tiles and straighten any crooked ones. Using a 31. 6 in. Spread the mastic along the centerline, cutting in along the ledger board, vent hood and upper cabinets Photo 2. Then use broad strokes to fill in the middle. Hold the trowel at a 4. Have a water bucket and sponge on hand to keep the trowel clean. Whenever the mastic starts to harden on the trowel, wipe it off with the wet sponge. Place plastic tile spacers on the ledger board and countertop. This leaves a gap so the tiles dont sit directly on the countertop youll caulk the gap later. Align the first tile sheet with the centerline, directly over the spacers. Press it onto the wall with your hand. Powerpc Processor Driver Windows 7. If the sheet slides around and mastic comes through the joint lines, youre applying the mastic too thick remove the sheet, scrape off some mastic and retrowel. Scrape out any mastic in the joints with a utility knife. Eyeball a 11. 6 in. After every two or three installed sheets, tap them into the mastic with a board and rubber mallet Photo 3. If tiles fall off the sheets, dab a little mastic on the back and stick them right back in place. The sheets arent perfectly square, so you may need to move individual tiles to keep joints lined up. Marie Laforet Mon Amour Mon Ami 8. Move the tiles with your fingers or by sticking a utility knife blade in the joint and turning the blade. If an entire sheet is crooked, place a grout float over the tile and move the sheet. Youll have about 2. Step 3 Cut tiles to fit at edges. Photo 4 Saw tiles for exact fits. Cut tile sheets to the nearest full row to fit around outlets, then fill the gaps with tiles cut on a wet saw. If youre lucky, you can fit the tile sheets under upper cabinets and around outlets by cutting the mesh backing with a utility knife. If not, youll have to cut the tile with a wet saw. Nippers and grinders cause the slate tiles to shatter or crumble, although you can use these tools on ceramic tile. Slice the backing to the nearest full row of tile, install the sheet around the outlet or next to the cabinet, then cut tiles with a wet saw to fill the gaps Photo 4. Cut the tiles while theyre attached to the sheet. Individual tiles are too small to cut the blade can send them flying. Let the tile sit for at least 3. The sealer keeps the grout from sticking to the tile its not needed for nonporous tiles such as ceramic. Pour the sealer on a sponge, then wipe on just enough to dampen the tiles. Step 4 Grout and clean the tile. Photo 5 Apply the grout. Force grout into the joints with a float. Scrape off excess grout by moving the float diagonally across the tile. Photo 6 Scrape out corners. Rake the grout out of the joints at inside corners and along the bottom with a utility knife so you can fill them with caulk. Keep the dull side of the blade along the countertop. Wait 2. 4 hours after installing the tile to add the grout. We used a premium grout that has a consistent color and resists stains better than standard grout. Since the backsplash will be subject to splatters and stains from cooking and food prep, we recommend spending the extra money for a premium grout. You can find or special order it at home centers or tile stores. One brand is Prism. Sanded grout will also work and will save you a few bucks. Mix the grout with water until it reaches mashed potato consistency, then put some on the wall with a grout float. Work the grout into the joints by moving the float diagonally over the tiles Photo 5. Hold the grout float at a 4. Scrape off excess grout with the float after the joints are filled. Ten minutes after grouting, wipe the grout off the surface of the tiles with a damp sponge. If the grout pulls out of the joints, wait another 1. Continually rinse the sponge in a bucket of water and wipe the tiles until theyre clean. These slate tiles have a lot of crevices that retain grout. While most of the grout comes off the tiles with the wet sponge, some wont. Most pro installers leave some grout in slate and other rough surface tileits just part of the deal with some types of natural stone.