Installing a Tile Backsplash
Installing a tile backsplash is a relatively easy do it yourself job. This job requires very few tools, a lot of patience, and at least a weekend of your time. Generally, the hardest part involved with installing a tile backsplash is the first step which involves removal of whatever type of backsplash is currently in your kitchen. If you are lucky, you current backsplash will only be a piece of painted drywall. If you are really unlucky, you will have a tile backsplash in place that does not fit your new d�©cor ideas. Somewhere in between being lucky and being unlucky is a wallpaper backsplash.
If you only have painted drywall to deal with, you can skip ahead to the steps on preparing your wall for tile. If you have a wallpaper backsplash, you can skip ahead to the paragraph on removing wallpaper. However, if you have a tile backsplash, begin by reading the paragraph below.
Your current tile backsplash is in need of replacement, but you must first remove you existing tile. Its removal will probably be easier than you think, but you will not be certain until you start to remove a few pieces of tile. Old, brittle mortar will barely hold the tile on the wall. To check for old mortar, take a flat blade chisel and insert it on the edge of a tile. Give the chisel a few light taps with a hammer. If the entire tile comes off cleanly, then the mortar is old and the job will be easy. If however the tile breaks into many pieces before you finally get it completely off of the wall, then this task will be difficult.
If the tile came off of the wall cleanly, then continue across the kitchen until all of the tiles are removed. If the tile came off in small pieces, then you will need to be careful while removing to avoid damaging the wall behind the tile. Take your time and slowly chisel each tile off in pieces. The fact that the tiles are coming off in small pieces indicates that the mortar is intact and is stronger than the tiles are. This backsplash is probably relatively new and is still in sound condition. It can be removed but try to avoid hurrying yourself and avoid gouging the wall underneath. There is no shortcut here, just take your time and gently remove a tile at a time.
If you have a backsplash that is currently wallpapered, then I would recommend scoring it with a razor blade and thoroughly soaking it with hot water. Allow the water to penetrate for several minutes and then reapply. Start with a flat blade scraper at an edge or seam in the wallpaper and begin scraping off the wallpaper. This will take time, but is relatively easy. Once the wallpaper is removed, go over the wall with a scouring pad to remove any remaining glue residue. You are now ready to prep your wall for the new tile backsplash.
To prepare your wall for a tile backsplash, you will need to follow a few simple steps. Assure that the drywall is sound and is securely attached to the studs underneath. You may use a stud finder and secure the drywall to the studs with additional drywall screws for extra assurance.
Next we will need to make sure that the wall is relatively flat. Glance down the wall where the tile will be applied and make sure that there are no obvious bows or curves in the wall. If there are, you will need to address them by filling the dips in with mortar. Mix the mortar according to the directions and lightly trowel some on the low surfaces of the wall. Be sure to spread the mortar out evenly and try to make it blend with the high surrounding areas. You are just trying to make the low surfaces even with the rest of the wall. We do not need perfection here, but the dips sound no longer be easily visible by eye.
Finally, we need to give some extra grip to the wall to assure that the tiles will stay up for years to come. This extra grip is achieved by scoring the wall across the entire surface. Take a sharp utility knife and deeply score the wall in an X pattern. Make sure the score is deep enough to pierce the paper on the drywall and to expose the cement like material inside the drywall. The mortar will create a stronger bond with this cement like material than it will with the drywall paper. Your wall will now have deeply scored, overlapping X’s everywhere. Don’t worry; this will be permanently covered with tile.
Now that the wall is prepped, you will need to mark out the layout lines for you tile. This will vary based on the tile size that you selected and the patter in which you have chosen to lay your tile. For this example, we will assume that you are using a 4 inch by 4 inch tile and installing it in a straight pattern. The straight pattern is the easiest installation method.
You will need to mark out the starting point for your first tile at the edge of your countertop. Mark a straight vertical line followed by a straight horizontal line. The vertical line should line up with the edge of you countertop backsplash. The horizontal line should be placed 4 inches up from the top edge of your existing backsplash plus the distance of your grout line. The grout line can vary but we will use a 1/8 inch grout line for this example. Using a 1/8 inch grout line and a 4 inch tile, you will mark a horizontal line that is exactly 4 and 1/8 inch above the exiting backsplash. Mark this line and continue it down the entire length of the wall. Be sure that this line is level. Check to make sure that the bottom tile will fit in between this line and the top of your existing backsplash down the entire length of the wall. If it will not fit at a certain point along the length of the backsplash, this means that your existing backsplash in not straight and we will need to move the line up accordingly and fill in the variation with a thicker grout line on the bottom run of tiles.
Now you have your layout ready. You will need to mix the mortar according to the directions on the bag. Only mix a small amount to start because we will only be applying the bottom row of tiles to the wall at this point. Once mixed, apply the mortar to the wall with the specified trowel. Line up your first tile with the edge of the horizontal and vertical lines drawn on the wall. Push firmly into place and put spacers in between and install the next tile. Continuing installing tiles in a horizontal manner until the entire bottom row of tiles have been installed.
If you encounter a corner along the way or come across an area where a tile has to be cut, there are several ways to achieve the desired cut. If the cut is a straight line, you can cut it with a tile scorer, which scores the tile and allows you to snap it. If the cut it more complex you may use a rental of purchased tile saw. If the cut is circular or only requires a small edge of the tile to be removed then you can use tile nippers to slowly nip away a small portion of the tile. Though these tools should be purchased, rented, or borrowed ahead of time, the cuts should be made only when needed and not ahead of time. When you need to make a cut, measure from the last placed tile and make your cut accordingly. This ensures accurate cuts and a consistent grout line.
Now that your bottom row of tile is complete, you can wait for the mortar to set up. Preferably, you should wait overnight. This allows the mortar to set and support the weight of the next rows of tile.
Now you can install the next rows of tile in the same manner as the first row. Make needed cuts as you go and only mix the mortar that you are capable of using in 30 minutes or less. Proceed along until you come to the top row of tiles.
The top row tiles under the cabinets will need to be cut to fit. Take measurements for these cuts ahead of time from the existing row of tiles underneath. Since every tile in this row will have to be cut, it makes sense to make these cuts ahead of time. You can measure from the existing row of tiles and transfer these measurements to the tile that will be place directly above it. Label the tiles ahead of time so you know where they will go once they are cut. Do not assume that all of the measurements will be identical. There are likely variations in the cabinets above, slight variations from the backsplash below, as well as slight variations in the tiles you have already installed.
Once you have made all of your cuts for the top row, you can mix your mortar and install each tile according to the markings that you have put on them. Once completed, gently wipe an excess mortar off of the face of the tile and surrounding areas. Allow the mortar to thoroughly dry before advancing to the next step.
Once to mortar has thoroughly dried, you can begin grouting. Take the grout that you have selected and mix it according to the directions. Apply the grout to the spaces in between the tiles. Do not be concerned if you get grout onto the surface of the tile. Make sure that you have thoroughly filled all of the grout lines. Once completed, you will need to remove excess grout.
To remove excess grout, begin with a damp sponge and clean water. Gently remove the grout from the tile surface and try not to remove any grout from the grout lines. Rinse the sponge frequently and repeat the process several times until the face off the tiles is left with only a slight haze. Now use a dry cloth and cautiously buff the face of each tile. Do not touch the grout line with the cloth. Repeat the process as necessary until the faces of the tiles now longer have a haze. Allow the grout and tiles to dry for several days. Avoid spilling anything on the grout at this time.
Once the grout has dried for several days, you will need to seal the grout. A grout sealer helps to avoid stains in the future, makes clean up of the grout easier, and resists mold and mildew. You may need to apply several coats of sealer, but always follow the direction on the bottle.
Aside from periodic cleaning, which is as simple as wiping down with a wet cloth, your tile and grout should require no maintenance for years perhaps even decades. Tile is a finishing treatment that rarely requires replacement. Therefore, it is beneficial to choose the correct tile for your project and one that will fit the d�©cor of your home for years to come. Please consult my article on how to choose a tile for specifics on what to look for when purchasing tiles for this backsplash job as well as any other tiling job around the house.
