A tile backsplash spices up the room and transforms a small wall area into a tile haven. Most backsplashes involve the kitchen wall. Whether it’s a basic square pattern or a fancier pattern with different shapes, the process is the same. The basics of tile laying on a wall involve adhesive and grout. As long as your tile is level, which is easy to achieve with a kitchen wall, your backsplash is attractive.
Instructions
1. Scrape the wall with 100-grit sandpaper. It is not necessary to remove all the paint, just scrape the surface to make the adhesive adhere more easily to the wall.
2. Design the mosaic to your liking. Before installing the tile, know how you want it to look. Put some pieces on the wall first without any adhesive. For a backsplash, you may want a border along the bottom and a standard 6-by-6-inch tile along the rest of the walls.
3. Measure and cut the tile to the pattern you want. For a fine molding along the bottom or edges of the wall, decide on the size of the molding. Cut the tile to the recorded length with a tile cutter.
4. Apply tile adhesive to the wall with a notched trowel. There are many different types of tile adhesives, some with mortar and some without. Read the manufacturer’s instructions to determine if you need to mix the adhesive before applying. Brush the wall at a 45 degree angle with the notched trowel. Do not apply an excessive amount as it covers the grout lines. Apply the adhesive to small areas of the wall. Once you place the tile on the adhesive, go ahead and apply the adhesive to another small area.
5. Place the tile on the wall. Start by laying a piece of tile at any lower corner of the wall. Align the bottom of the tile with the bottom of the wall and the edge of the countertop, making sure the tile is level. Continue by laying another piece of tile next to the existing tile. Repeat this process until the wall is covered. Always placing the next tile next to or directly on top of an existing tile ensures that the wall is even.
6. Place spacers between each tile as you lay the tile. Spacers allow for uniform grout lines. Insert a space in each corner of the tile. Some tiles come with pre-made spacers and do not require the use of plastic spacers.
7. Allow the adhesive to dry. Read the manufacturer’s instructions for drying time, as each adhesive is different. Remove the spacers once the adhesive dries.
8. Grout the tile with a grout float. Hold the grout float at a 45 degree angle and brush the grout along the tile, applying the grout in the grout lines. A drop of grout is very helpful as it brushes the grout at a 45 degree angle and scrapes the excess down to the unfilled grout lines.
9. Dip a sponge in cold water and squeeze. Brush over the excess grout on the tile and then brush along the grout lines. Use your finger to apply a little pressure as you go over the grout lines. If excess grout appears on the tile within an hour after sponge cleaning, use another damp sponge and go over the tile again.