How To Install Backsplash On Painted Wall

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Installing a tile backsplash in your kitchen offers numerous benefits over painted or newspaper drywall. Tiles can protect the wall they cover, can exist hands scrubbed of grease and grime, are much more durable than drywall, and make for a fantastic addition to your kitchen if they're installed correctly.^[one] Learning how to add a tile backsplash is well within the reach of anyone willing to put in a few days of DIY work.

1. 1

   Measure the space where you want to install your backsplash. Use a measuring tape and a pencil to marking out the area your backsplash will cover. The size of the area volition decide the number of tiles you'll need to buy, every bit well every bit the space y'all'll need to set up, then keep this information noted down when purchasing your equipment.^[ii]

   • Your backsplash should beginning slightly above the countertop in your kitchen. The top could either meet with the underside of your kitchen cabinets or could stop at any chosen place upwardly the wall.
   • If y'all don't know where you want your backsplash to stop, wait until you lot know the size of the tiles you want to employ. Make your backsplash a certain number of tiles high, rather than a predetermined height.
   • Measure the height and width of the backsplash and go along these noted downwardly. This will give y'all a guide for the number of tiles you need to cover the expanse, also equally a annotation of the total surface area yous need to tile if you multiply the two numbers together.

2. 2

   Buy tiles for your backsplash. Tile sellers and hardware stores will have a big selection of tiles for you to choose from. Find a wall tile which matches the desired look for your kitchen, and purchase plenty to comprehend the chosen area.^[3]

   • Talk to the tile salesperson or someone at your local hardware shop to piece of work out how many tiles you lot'll demand. Separate the area of your backsplash past the area of a single tile or tile canvass to go a rough idea of how many tiles yous'll need.
   • If y'all'll need to cut the tiles to fit into corners or underneath cabinets, it may aid to purchase more tiles than you demand to make upwardly for tiles that break while cutting.
   • Wall tiles tend to be thinner and more lightweight than floor tiles. Make sure you choose the right type of tile for your project.^[iv]
   • Slate tiles take a tendency to crumble when they are cut, so may exist more than difficult to work with if you've non used them before. Ceramic tiles, or other types of mosaic tiles, will be easier to work with and cut.

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3. three

   Sand the wall with 80-grit sandpaper. Sanding down the wall will remove any grease or grime that will stop the tiles from adhering properly, also as providing a coarse surface to help the mastic hold more tightly.^[five] Use a medium-grit sandpaper, effectually 80 or 120-dust, to sand down the entire surface yous desire to tile.^[vi]

   • If your surface has a lot of grease stains, information technology may help to make clean them up before sanding. Utilize a fabric dampened in a mixture of h2o and dishwashing liquid to wipe them away, giving the wall enough of time to dry before yous attempt to sand information technology downwardly.

4. four

   Wipe the wall down with a damp cloth or sponge. Dip a cloth or sponge in water and wring it out every bit much as you can. Wipe downward the surface of the wall to get rid of whatever stray dust or dirt leftover from sanding.^[7]

   • Make sure that the textile is only slightly damp, and that the wall is completely dry out before you brainstorm tiling it. H2o left on the wall may change the consistency of the mastic and finish your tiles from staying in identify.^[eight]

5. 5

   Mark a central line on the wall. Use a measuring record to find the midpoint of your backsplash and mark it with a pencil. With a bubble level, draw a vertical line from the base of your backsplash to the top of it. This will help continue your tiles centered and even as you lot work.^[nine]

   • In place of a pencil line, you could likewise use a laser level as a guide for your first tiles. This will exist much easier to run into but isn't necessary if you don't have one.
   • Marking a fundamental line will help ensure that the edges of your backsplash are fifty-fifty.

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1. ane

   Apply a layer of mastic to the wall. Use a ^three⁄₁₆ inch (0.48 cm) trowel to scoop some mastic agglutinative out and onto the wall. Holding the trowel at a 45-degree angle to the wall, begin spreading the mastic over the wall in large, sweeping strokes. Fill up in any bare spots with extra mastic so that the wall is evenly covered.^[10]

   • Mastic is a sparse agglutinative used for adhering tiles to a wall. Information technology should be available at your local hardware store or online.^[11]
   • Use a firm pressure when applying the mastic, and so that the trowel is pressed against the wall. You should be able to only see the wall between the thicker lines of mastic.
   • Mastic volition brainstorm to class a pare later around 10 minutes, which will terminate the tiles from adhering to information technology. Apply mastic in sections that are pocket-size enough for you to tile earlier it hardens.
   • Use a damp cloth to wipe away mastic on the trowel every bit it begins to harden.

2. 2

   Place the first tile. The first tile will make the base of operations for the rest of your backsplash, so it needs to exist placed perfectly. Utilise your pencil line and bubble level to line the tile up in the heart of the backsplash, earlier pushing it into the mastic. Make sure the tile is lined up properly and perfectly straight before moving on.^[12]

   • Virtually tiles will have congenital-in spacers to ensure you get out enough room between tiles. If your tiles do non accept built-in spacers, use external tile spacers or wedges to exit a gap between your countertop and the first tile.
   • If the tile slides around too much, it may exist a sign that you've used too much mastic. Remove the tile, scrape away the mastic, and try over again with a thinner layer.

3. 3

   Continue tiling the surface, working outwards from the first tile. With the first tile in place, brainstorm positioning and pressing tiles into place. Work outwards from the first tile, alternating sides as you go to keep the beginning tile centered and balanced. Repeat this process, moving upwardly the wall and applying mastic and tiles every bit y'all need them until the backsplash is tiled.^[13]

   • Once yous've applied the kickoff few tiles, accept a step back and evaluate the fashion it looks. Straighten up whatsoever crooked tiles, or conform any that aren't quite sitting in the correct place. You'll only accept a few minutes to practice then before the mastic hardens, so work quickly.
   • Use a grout float or some other flat surfaced tool to press the tiles into identify and make sure they are all level.

4. 4

   Use a score-and-snap tile cutter to trim the tiles for corners. If your tiles don't fit perfectly into the space you're tiling, you'll need to trim some tiles around the edges. Hold your tile in place and mark the point you lot'll demand to cutting. Firmly score the tile forth that point with a score-and-snap cutter, before bending information technology to snap it to the right size.^[14]

   • It may assist to sand down the side of the tile you lot take cut slightly, to remove any sharp edges before you put it into place.
   • Put the cut side away from the tiles y'all have already placed so that the pattern of the edges remains the same across the unabridged backsplash.

5. 5

   Leave the tiles to set up overnight. ^[15] While the mastic will brainstorm to harden after roughly 10 minutes, it volition have much longer for it to gear up up entirely. Leave your tiles overnight, or ideally for a total 24 hours, to allow the mastic to harden and keep your tiles in place.^[16]

   • Your tiles won't exist protected during this fourth dimension. If your backsplash covers the expanse above your stove, you may demand to avoid using it until the tiles take gear up into place.

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1. 1

   Smear tiling grout diagonally over the tiles. Utilise a grout float to scoop up some tile grout and begin smearing information technology over the tiles. Move the float diagonally, and then as to push the grout into all of the spaces between your tiles. Work across the unabridged backsplash until all of the gaps betwixt tiles are filled with grout.^[17]

   • Don't worry nigh grout that covers or muddies the await of your tiles. Grout on the tiles will easily wash away, where the grout between should set in identify.
   • Grout should exist bachelor from your local hardware shop, either premixed or as a pulverization. Follow the instructions on the powdered grout to hydrate information technology, generally by pouring it into a make clean saucepan and calculation h2o until it reaches the consistency of mashed potatoes or peanut butter.
   • Grout floats are tools designed specifically for spreading grout and should be available from your local hardware store.

2. 2

   Wipe away the excess grout subsequently 10 minutes. Once you've applied grout all over the backsplash, allow information technology to dry for ten minutes in order to begin solidifying. Slightly dampen a sponge and wring out as much water as you lot tin. Working in diagonal strokes, wipe away the grout sitting on the face up of the tiles. Make clean the sponge regularly as you lot become to prevent grout from spreading over the tiles.^[xviii]

   • Try and avert pulling the grout out of the space betwixt tiles as yous work. Yous simply need to wipe abroad the grout from the confront of your tiles before it completely solidifies.

3. 3

   Let the grout dry for a further 45 minutes. As with the mastic, the grout will need more time to fix up and solidify completely. Leave information technology for 45 minutes to an hour to completely ready, fugitive touching the tiles or grout while it dries.^[19]

   • If y'all notice any clumps of grout that have built upward in the corners or along the edges of your backsplash, remove them at this point. If they don't wipe away with a sponge, use a utility pocketknife to scrape them up and discard of them.

4. 4

   Line the edges of your backsplash with caulk. Caulk is a sealant that will help stop water or moisture from getting behind your tiles and damaging the mastic. Apply a caulk gun or caulk pen to trace around all edges of your backsplash, sealing the tiles completely. Run a wet finger over the caulk to polish it, before leaving it to dry.^[xx]

   • Use a caulk that matches with the color of the grout to prevent it from standing out.

5. five

   Give the tiles enough of time dry out, ideally overnight. In one case your tiling is finished and sealed, leave information technology for a further 24 hours to ensure that the mastic, grout, and caulk, are all given plenty of time to dry before yous collaborate with them.^[21] This will ensure that your tiling sets and that it will terminal for years to come.^[22]

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• Question

  Should I apply mastic or thinset for wall tile?

  

  Art Fricke
  Habitation Renovation & Repair Specialist

  Art Fricke is a habitation renovation and repair specialist and the owner of Art Tile & Renovation based in Austin, Texas. With over x years of experience, he specializes in bathroom and kitchen renovations. Art focuses on a single contractor approach to customized renovation piece of work, and performs projects such as installing custom tile showers, fixing tiled shower leaks, replacing cracked tiles, and installing floor and wall tile.

  

  Habitation Renovation & Repair Specialist

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• Tile cutters and wet tile saws tin be rented at many abode improvement stores at a daily charge per unit. If you anticipate future tiling projects, however, information technology may exist more than economical to buy 1 yourself.

• You lot tin can too employ quick set up mortar instead of tile mastic. The installation process will be the same using either product.

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Things You lot'll Need

• Tiles
• Tape measure
• Flat head screwdriver
• Fibroid-dust sanding sponge
• Textile
• Water
• Tile mastic or quick set mortar
• V-notched trowel
• Tile spacers
• Tile cutter or wet saw
• Pencil
• Grout
• Grout float
• Sponge
• Caulk

Virtually This Article

Article Summary 10

To tile a backsplash, showtime by sanding the wall and wiping information technology with a clammy cloth to remove any grease or grime. Once the wall has dried, use a bubble level and measuring record to draw a vertical line in the centre of the wall to help keep your tiles even. When you're set to outset tiling, employ a layer of mastic to the wall with a trowel. And then, place the first tile in the eye of the wall, and so that the vertical line you drew runs right downwardly the eye. Once you've placed the beginning tile, work outwards, alternating tiles to the left and right of the outset to keep it centered and balanced. When yous get to the edges, use a score-and-snap tile cutter to trim the tiles to the correct size. For more tips, including how to terminate your backsplash with tiling grout and caulk, read on!

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Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Tile-a-Backsplash

Posted by: perazarettest.blogspot.com

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