How to Install a Tin Back Splash
Pressed tin comes in panels which were once used to decorate ceilings, however they've become a favored way to spice up the kitchen as well. Tin backsplashes help create light in dimmer spaces, and add texture and resilience to the walls behind your stove or sink. They're easy to install, come in many designs and styles, and make for a project that can be completed in a single day, for not much investment. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Soap and water
- Medium-grit sandpaper
- Gloves
- Safety eyewear
- Tin snips
- Electric drill
- High grip adhesive (liquid nails)
- Foil tape
- Caulk
Instructions
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1
Clear the space of any hanging objects and take the covers off any electrical sockets or outlets. These will only get in your way.
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2
Give the wall a good wash with soap and water to remove any grease, and then rough it up with medium-grit sandpaper so the adhesive sticks properly.
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3
Measure your wall, taking note of where any outlets or switches are, as well as where the backsplash will meet the counter or cabinets. Use your tin snips to trim the tin panels to fit within those measurements. The edges should sit flush against the counters and cabinets.
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4
Start your outlet cuts by drilling starter holes at each corner and then use the tip of your snips to connect up the holes, using small cuts to keep the edge as clean as possible.
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5
Use a high grip adhesive to attach the tin to wall. Latex glue is preferable because you can wipe up any excess with a wet rag while you work. Lay the glue bead about an inch in from the edge of the panel and press the panel to the wall.
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6
Use foil tape to hold up any drooping edges until the glue dries. Apply it to any overlapping edges that need help sticking until the glue sets.
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Finish the project by spreading a line of caulk along the edge of the panel, where it meets the countertop, and reattaching outlet faces.
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Tips & Warnings
Even out uneven walls using plaster to fill in any bumps or waves, otherwise the tin will pick these up and come out wavy as well. Factory edges are always going to be smoother, so use them in the most conspicuous places, either against the edge of the wall, or sitting along the countertop. To bend your tin around an edge, use a flat surface like a counter, lay the tin panel out, and bend it over the counter edge.
Use gloves and safety glasses when cutting tin. Handle the tin carefully so as not to bend it. It bends easily and that will keep it from connecting properly to the wall.
