Things You'll Need:
- tape measure, skill saw, tile saw, hammer, level,
- 3/4" OSB, grout, tile adhesive, tiles, padded grout float,
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Step 1
Just like with any home building project a good material list can go a long way, taking the time to hand draw a blueprint and write out your material list can save you a lot of time, you don't want to be running to your local lumber store to get your project started and or finished. If your starting by building new 25-1/2" deep is the standard depth for countertops and works with most appliances.
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Step 2
Check your cabinets to make sure they are level, If needed use wood shims to level them off. Next you will have to cut two peaces of 3/4" OSB as templates for the new countertops running one set of 3/4" OSB at a time making the hole out line of the needed countertop, then over lap the seems where two peaces meet with the next set of 3/4" OSB, last cut out needed holes.
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Step 3
After your out line / template is ready, next we will start with the edge tiles first, it is best to cut any inside and outside angles and set them edge tiles then fill in the centers. After the edge tiles are set and adhesive is dry, run more adhesive about 12" out or just enough for one or two rolls of tile what ever is less. Using spacers to set a motor line into the tile is a good idea if this your first tile running tile because it will give you a lot more room for mistakes that you can hide with motor. When you are running the tile don't adjust them to much after setting them on the adhesive just try to keep the tops level with each other and running as straight as you can. When running a roll the runs into a sink hole layout the tiles first, then precut any tiles set them in place to double check them before running the adhesive and tiles. The last roll should be the roll a long the walls if it not a island countertop your tiling, any tiles running a long the walls need a 1/8" gap between the tile and walls.
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Step 4
The tile backsplash is a common way to finish the wall around a countertop. You can choose to only go up one row of tile on a backsplash, or carry it up pretty far on a wall. On non-tile countertops, like in a kitchen, a lot of people will put tile from the countertop all the way up to the cabinets. Get the needed tiles set for the backsplash.
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Step 5
Last is the grout, the color of grout you choose can greatly affect the look of your tile. Mix the grout according to the directions, use a padded grout float to spread the grout over a workable section of tile. Grout all the joints except those that you need to allow for expansion joints. These would be along fixtures and or joints in corners in between walls, seal them with caulk later after motor. Once the joints are packed with grout, scrap the excess grout off the surface of the tile with the grout float. Clean up the excess grout with a damp sponge and a couple buckets of clean water. Wipe as much of the grout as you can off the surface of the tiles using circular strokes. Keep rinsing the tile area till the tiles are clean.
Once the tile surface is clean, make another pass parallel to the grout lines. This is to shape the grout lines in the joints. You want to smooth them down a little below the surface of the tile.
