The … The tops of all tiles in the bottom row must meet this line or be cut (from the bottom) to line up with the mark. Tiles installed above this line will not require cutting. You’re ready to bask in the glory of a kitchen with a beautiful new subway tile backsplash. Follow the lines you made when the tiles were dry fit to the wall. Once you’ve got your tile cut, bring it inside and test it to make sure it fits before you place it. Though tile is the most common material used, there can also be textured paints, vinyl applications, wallpapers, and even metal sheeting up on the wall. Then be sure to pin this post for later to help you find it when you’re ready! With your skim coat layer of adhesive down and dried just enough, you are ready to start putting your tile on. This post will walk you step-by-step through how to install a subway tile backsplash – even if you’ve never tiled before! Continue in that manner until the whole area is grouted and cleaned. I like to work with pre-mixed thinset – it’s definitely more expensive, but in my mind, it’s worth the cost to not have to deal with mixing it to the perfect consistency. By the time I got the second section finished, the first was ready to be cleaned. All by myself! Thank you so much for the lesson … I now know that I CAN do it! Once you’ve allowed the thinset to dry for a minimum of 24 hours (I went for closer to 48, just to be safe), you’re ready to grout. Once your drywall is ready to go, it’s time to start laying the tile! Use a standard level or laser level to extend this reference line across the wall and around the entire area that is being tiled (image 3). Don’t be shy about it – you want a nice, thick layer. Then, it’s time to make some cuts! I am installing subway tile for a backsplash in our kitchen. He looks Exactly like our 13 year old grandson at that age. As you work, be sure to check on the water level frequently to ensure it doesn’t get too low. Basically, be sure to pull out your spacers and clean up any excess thinset before it dries fully – I tried to clean my tiles up as much as possible shortly after I finished tiling, then we removed the spacers and cleaned more thoroughly the next morning. Subway Tile Sheets. To apply your tile in a subway pattern, just start with a full piece of tile on your first row, then cut a piece of tile in half to start your second row. I’m so excited about how this turned out, and I love the finished result. Cuts around obstacles like outlets or light switches are a little harder, and I’ll be the first to say I probably didn’t do it the “right” way. The easiest way to install a backsplash is to use tiling, two-sided adhesive mat, and pre-mixed grout. window.fd('form', { You want to push the grout into the holes without getting a ton extra on the tile. Once you’ve completed a small section, go back with the float at a 90-degree angle and scrape each tile to remove any excess thinset – this will make cleanup much easier! How to Apply Glass Tile Backsplash Sheets in the Kitchen. After your subway tile has dried for about 2 hours, you’ll notice the tile is looking a bit hazy and weird. Angora Subway tile is crafted from fine natural marble. After you’ve allowed the grout in one section to set for about 10 minutes, go back with a damp sponge (you want it to be wet enough to clean the tile but not so wet that it’s dripping) and wipe down the tiles to remove any grout from them. Choose an area that's a natural focal point, like the spot above a range … window.fd('form', { Sorry for all of the exclamation points, I’m just feeling really good about this situation right now. Once your area is full of drywall, apply drywall tape on all of the seams, and then mud the seams and screw holes with drywall compound. Flatten the tile with a grout float if necessary. Absolutely beautiful! containerEl: document.querySelector('#fd-form-5d839e061f3845000f2e624c') Continue that pattern and you’ll end up with the coveted and classic subway pattern. We were just reminiscing this morning about those days when we raised two grands and Thankful for all of the Memories that we have. Just for kicks, let’s do a before and after, shall we? Use this polished subway tile to add interest and understated elegance to the backsplash, shower … These white subway tiles are a great way to get a vintage look in your kitchen. This doesn’t need to be its own step really (it’s kind of self-explanatory), but I’ll use whatever excuse I can get to insert this adorable photo of Jackson helping me take the spacers out of our tile. Here’s the rundown: Wet saws generally have an area on the side that you need to fill with water. I used this multi-tool to cut all around the damaged drywall and pull it off the wall. ), and put some painter’s tape along the edge of where I wanted my tile to be, just to keep me on track (and save me from cleaning up rogue thinset later). We painted the cabinets a while ago, but the backsplash was seriously clashing with the rest of the look and was in desperate need of an overhaul. After some backbreaking work, your backsplash will look like a tornado went through it. Simply measure your area and cut a piece of drywall (I use a utility knife to score the drywall, then just break it off), then screw the piece into the studs. Protect Surfaces. Mark the Layout's Centerline. Maybe next time I do a tiling project I’ll put together a quick Power Tools for Beginners video for it?! Try my methods below to attempt to take one tile off….and if the drywall is damaged or there is no possible way it will come off, you will be better off removing the tile with the drywall. Some people who are much more proficient tilers than I am can get away with laying tile without using spacers, but I’m still a newbie and I love how easy they make it to keep my tiles level and evenly spaced. The walls behind your kitchen counters catch food splatters as you cook. Don’t have a kitchen renovation on the agenda at the moment? Honestly, at this point, I felt like my kitchen was already vastly improved from the before. Below are a few tips and tricks on the steps to install subway tile backsplash . }); Your email address will not be published. The grout should fill the area between the tiles, but wipe to keep it off of the tile sheet itself. Hope it’s helpful! Measure the backsplash area where the tiles will be installed. Not worth the effort, if you ask me. If you’ve been following our One Room Challenge dining room renovation (see the latest post here), you’ll know that as part of the makeover we’ve decided to spruce up our kitchen a bit too, since the two rooms are connected. Using the adhesive mat helps you quickly and accurately put up your tiling. Only put the adhesive down over a small area at a time, no more than what you can complete in about 20 minutes. To begin, I started on one side of my kitchen (the side by the refrigerator because it’s the least visible – in case I had a bit of a learning curve! I mean, if you don’t look closely, you can’t even tell that’s just plain old drywall, right?! containerEl: document.querySelector('#fd-form-5d839cbe8ab47e000f14432c') If it is not, stand a tile at the lowest spot and mark a level line on the wall at the tiles top this will be your starting point. After removing the old cabinet it wasn’t exposed brick but mortared over the brick and the exposed corner of the chimney is now a sharp radius. Since we were already working with Jeffrey Court for the tile in the bar area, we went ahead and asked them to send us the tile for the kitchen backsplash too. The entire process is best done in small chunks, which you’ll kind of see in the photos. I've taught myself how to make simple updates to help make my house a home, and I want to show you how to do it, too. But, I can assure you, a wet saw is nothing to be afraid of. This will also clean up your grout lines quite a bit. It’ll look a little something like this: Once your thinset is applied to your section, you can begin laying tile! To apply your grout, just grab your grout float and scoop some up, then apply it to the tile (focusing on the spaces between the tile, obviously) using a 45-degree angle and a good amount of pressure. Basically, just go to town on the tile until it starts falling off the wall. Adding decorative tiles to the lost space found between the countertops and upper cabinets can give your kitchen a whole new look. https://www.younghouselove.com/install-subway-tile-backsplash Grab a cheesecloth (they’re next to the dropcloths in your local hardware store) and rub down the tile to remove the haze. Adjust the guide on your wet saw to the appropriate size (I just hold the tile up to where my line is and then move the guide so that it touches the edge of my tile), and let ‘er rip. This is a really timely lesson for me because I will soon be tiling my kitchen backsplash AND the counter. Just continue going in your section until you run out of thinset (again, I worked in about a 3-foot long section, and laid from the counter all the way up to the cabinet). than you need. OH my Gosh the little boy brought such memories and happiness to us. Simply measure the size that you need for the tile (taking into account the size of your spaces for your grout line) and mark it on the back of your tile. So, expect mistakes and try to enjoy the learning curve! However, it’s almost impossible to remove old tile without needing to do some sort of repair to your drywall – in the end, I find it’s easier (and more effective) to just remove the old drywall rather than try to repair it. You don’t want to work with sanded grout on vertical surfaces – it’s really meant for flooring and areas with larger grout lines – so be sure to look for grout that’s specifically labeled as unsanded. Here’s where the intimidating part comes into play. It took me about two days to complete, and cost less than $200. So I cleaned it, then moved onto the third section – once it was done, I went back and cleaned the second. Be sure to check back in on Wednesday – I’ll have the next big update on our dining room renovation. We’ve clearly still got a few things on the to-do list, like replacing all of the lighting, adding under-cabinet lighting, and deciding what to do above the cabinets (continue the tile or add some open shelving?) Anywhere that a horizontal surface meets a vertical one, you’re going to want to caulk the seams using grout caulk. To see where the tile will end at the top of the installation, make a jury stick. Apply firm, even pressure to each tile to make sure it's set in the adhesive. If you’re careful and good at what you do, you can preserve the old drywall. Its soft beige tones and a classic shape give it a fresh yet familiar look that works well with a variety of decorative styles. There will be a max fill line – don’t go above that or you’ll just make a big mess. This will further “open” your kitchen and it it a truly modern look especially with your new beautiful subway tiles. Add tile spacers for help keeping the tile pieces lined up. 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