• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header left navigation
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
  • Start Here
  • Money Pit Podcast
The Money Pit house logo

The Money Pit

Home Improvement Tips, Ideas & Podcasts

  • Media Kit
  • Posts
  • Spaces
    • Kitchens
    • Bathrooms
    • Home Exteriors
    • Garages & Sheds
    • Outdoor Living
    • Basements & Crawlspaces
  • Reno/Repair
    • Heating
    • Floors
    • Windows
    • Roofs & Gutters
    • Lighting & Wiring
  • Popular Topics
    • Storage & Organization
    • Painting & Decorating
    • Cleaning
    • Pests & Wildlife
    • Buying or Selling a Home
  • Features
    • DIY
    • Pet Friendly
    • Green Home
    • Quick Tips
  • Podcasts
    • Subscribe
    • The Money Pit Podcast
    • Your Calls, Our Answers Podcast
    • Money Pit Minute Podcast
    • Top Products Podcast

How to Install Tile Backsplash | Video

Home » Kitchens » How to Install Tile Backsplash | Video

How to Install Tile Backsplash | Video

KitchensCountertopsVideos
Facebook0Tweet0Pin0LinkedIn0Email0
by The Hosts Leave a Comment

There is nothing like a well-designed backsplash to liven up your kitchen. Believe it or not, even on a tight budget, it’s an upgrade you can easily do on your own. Whether you’re using whole tiles, mosaic sheets, or any other tile variety, tile installation always follows the same steps. We recommend ordering ten percent more tile than you need to account for cutting, breakage, and other unexpected needs.

Here’s what you’ll need to install your backsplash.

TOOLS

  • Level
  • Tape measure
  • Utility Knife
  • Notched trowel (specific for the type of tile you’re installing)
  • Tile cutter
  • Tile nipper
  • Rubber mallet
  • Grout sponge
  • Rubber grout floats
  • Drill
  • Mixing paddle
  • Bucket for mixing thinset
  • Bucket for mixing grout

MATERIALS

  • Wall tile
  • Tile adhesive
  • Grout
  • Caulk
  • Pencil
  • Tile spacers (if needed)
  • Masking or painter’s tape
  • Cardboard or drop clothes
  • Grout sealer

When taking on this DIY task, be sure to equip yourself with the proper safety gear. Throughout the video, we’ll alert you regarding when you should and should not use the safety gear.

STEP ONE

Prepare area. Before you begin, turn off the power connected to the area where you’ll be working. Since tiling is a messy job, it’s important to take the proper precautions to keep your space and your belongings clean. Be sure to completely clear off your counter. Then, cover it with cardboard or a drop cloth. Remove all outlet covers, and cover them with masking or painter’s tape. Tape off counter and cabinet edges, and touch up any dents or cracks on the wall. In order for your tile adhesive to adhere properly, wipe down the wall with water and a mild cleaner.

STEP TWO

Plan layout. Planning your layout is one of the most important steps to creating a great looking backsplash. We recommend starting at a focal point, such as the center of the backsplash area.

STEP THREE

Determine midpoint. Use a tape measure to determine the center of your backsplash area. Using a level and pencil, mark the midpoint with a vertical reference line on the wall. Starting at this point, position your tiles along the counter to check their placement. If an end piece is too small, adjust your midpoint to allow for larger end pieces.

STEP FOUR

Confirm counter is level. Before installing backsplash, you’ll need to ensure your counter is level. To do this, run a level along your counter to find the lowest point. Mark a point two tiles or a sheet up from this low point, leaving one eighth of an inch at the bottom for caulk. Mark a level line with a pencil across the entire work area.

STEP FIVE

Apply adhesive. Use a notched trowel to evenly apply tile adhesive to the area beneath the horizontal reference line. Using the notched edge, hold the trowel at a forty-five-degree angle to create horizontal ridges. Work in small sections to install the tile before the adhesive dries. If the adhesive dries before you’re able to place the tile, remove it and apply a new coat. Since you’ll be positioning your tiles next to the reference line, be sure it stays visible.

STEP SIX

Place tiles. With a slight twisting motion, press tiles into the adhesive, making sure to leave room at the bottom of the tile for caulk. If your tiles aren’t self-spacing, use plastic spacers to maintain even grout lines.

STEP SEVEN

Install row. Continue placing tiles along your reference line. If your counter top is uneven, you may need to cut tiles that are too tight. Trim any tiles as needed with a wet tile saw. For smaller cuts, use tile nippers.

STEP EIGHT

Small areas. If you need to install tiles in a small area where a trowel won’t fit, you’ll need to do something called back buttering. To do this, apply adhesive to the back of your tiles, using the notched edge of the trowel to create ridges on your adhesive as you apply it.

STEP NINE

Secure tiles. To ensure tiles are even and secure, use a rubber grout float to lightly press the tiles into the adhesive, paying special attention to areas that may not be completely flat. Wipe away any adhesive on the front of the tiles and check for areas where adhesive may be filling the grooves. In order to have enough room for your grout, wipe away any excess adhesive in the gaps.

STEP TEN

Apply grout. If you used spacers, remove them from your tile and wipe the backsplash with a damp sponge. Mix the grout in a bucket according to the manufacturer instructions, and apply diagonally against the grout lines with a rubber grout float. Wait ten minutes. Then, wipe the tile with a damp sponge. You may need to do this several times. Be sure to use clean water each time.

STEP ELEVEN

Clean and seal. A grey film called “grout haze” may form over the tile as it dries. To remove grout haze, simply wipe with a damp sponge after your grout has set. Let the grout set for a few days to ensure it’s completely dry before sealing. Once dry, use caulk to fill edges along the countertop. Then, apply grout sealer.

Once your sealer has dried, per manufacturer instructions, your project is complete. Revel in your beautiful new backsplash.

Looking for great tools to help get your project done?  Shop Stanley, Black & Decker and DeWALT for everything you need!

KitchensCountertopsVideos
Facebook0Tweet0Pin0LinkedIn0Email0

Related Posts

vanity, Bathroom interior in luxury house. Rich bathroom vanity cabinet with vessel sink and mirror. View of shower. Northwest, USAHow to Replace a Vanity | VideoTile backsplash in a kitchen5 Ideas for Updating Your Kitchen BacksplashHow To Tile Shower Walls | Videoceramic tile trendsCeramic Tile Style: 6 Top Trends for Kitchen & BathRepair Floor Tile, Install Floor TileHow to Repair Floor Tile | VideoFrustrated DIY'rDIY Projects You’ll Regret Tackling

Related Podcasts

Installing Wood-Grain Tile FloorsMy New Tile Floor Is Cracking: Should the Installer Fix It?The Money Pit Your Calls Our Answers Podcast LogoHow to Match an Old Tile ColorThe Money Pit Your Calls Our Answers Podcast LogoCracking Tile FloorsThe Money Pit Your Calls Our Answers Podcast LogoInstall Ceramic Tile on Floors and WallsThe Money Pit Your Calls Our Answers Podcast LogoTile Floors: Remove or Paint?

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Sidebar

About The Hosts

Tom Kraeutler & Leslie Segrete are seasoned home improvement experts and entertaining media personalities with decades of experience helping consumers create their best-ever home!

Tom & Leslie inform, educate and inspire listeners with countless expert tips & ideas to help you repair, improve and decorate your space.

Got your own DIY dilemma? Reach out to to the show anytime by posting your question here.

Favorite Posts

Installing a security camera

A Simple Guide To Security Camera Positioning Around Your House

HART Tools in workshop

Expecting a Tax Refund? Here’s 3 Projects You Can Totally Get Done for Less!

greenhouse

Grow Fresh Veggies Year-Round with a Backyard Greenhouse

Yaheetech 32in Outdoor Metal Wood Burning Firepit Square Table Lifestyle

12 Best Outdoor Fire Pits Under $100

Popular Podcasts

Lawn mower cutting grass

Episode #2090: Save Time Cutting Grass | Tips for Paint & Primer | Home Office Renos | Your Q & A

Realtor showing a home to a couple

Episode #2089: Buying a Rental Home | Tips for Terrazzo Floors | Garage Door Do-Overs | Your Q & A

Deer in the backyard

Episode #2088: Keeping Wildlife Out of Your Garden | Big Ideas for Small Baths | Stopping Closet Clutter | Your Q & A

Remodeled garage with floor and cabinets

Episode #2087: Easy Clean Garage Floors | Fun Closet Cleaning Hacks | Trends in Kitchen Design | Reupholstering Furniture

Newsletter

Get weekly updates with the latest tips and tricks to save money in your home.



  • Media Kit
  • Partners
  • Endorsement Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy and Cookie Solution
  • About
  • Affiliates
  • Cookie Policy (US)

Copyright © 2021 · The Money Pit · All Rights Reserved · Powered by Mai Theme

Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!