Things You'll Need:
- Ceramic tile
- Adhesive
- Putty knife
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Step 1
Level the counter. Actually, having the countertop be flat is more important than it being level, but you want to have the height of the countertop not vary more than 1/8th of an inch for every ten feet of countertop area. You can check this using a level, which can be purchased from many hardware stores. Dips or bumps should be filled in with concrete leveler.
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Step 2
Measure the area to be tiled. This is easiest if your kitchen counter is rectangular in shape. In this case, just measure the length and width of the area and multiply those two numbers to get your square footage estimate.
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Step 3
Purchase your tile. You will want enough to cover your estimate of the square feet needed, as well as an extra 10%. This will help you in case tiles break or need to be cut.
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Step 4
Lay the tile out. Lay your tiles down without adhesive to help you plan out where they need to go and how many cut tiles you will need.
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Step 5
Mix your adhesive. Most people use thin-set adhesive, so mix up enough to cover one session worth of tiling (you don't want to make too much and have it harden). Then, spread it in a thin layer over the area you're planning to tile.
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Step 6
Lay down your tile. Lay the whole tiles first, laying them one at a time and doing them in rows. Use the edge of one tile to help you space out the tiles (so that each tile has a small amount of space between its neighbors). After you have laid out your whole tiles, cut and lay down the cut tiles. For each tile, tap it into place using a rubber mallet.
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Step 7
Let it dry. Let your kitchen counter cure for 24 hours (at least) before using.
