How to Install Tile on a Kitchen Counter
When that kitchen counter starts losing its luster or visual appeal, consider replacing it with a durable ceramic tile. Deciding on what tile design to use on your kitchen counter may tend to be harder than the installation because tile designs are available in thousands of colors, shapes, sizes and grades. Take a trip to your local hardware store or shop online. Not only should you be able to find everything that you need yourself to do this project, but you also should be able to do the project yourself too. Finding a helper, of course, will cut your work time in half. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Drill
- Trowel
- Marker
- Jig saw
- Hammer
- Tile cutter
- Circular saw
- Rubber float
- Straight edge
- Vinyl spacers
- Thin-set mortar
- Cardboard box
- Masonry bit set
- Screwdriver set
- Cutting supports
- Galvanized nails
- 3/4 inch plywood
- Spiral cutting saw
- Adjustable wrench
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Instructions
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Remove Old Kitchen Counter
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1
Climb under the cabinet and shut off the water supply using the water shutoff valves. Disconnect the hot water supply lines, cold water supply lines, and the drainpipes from the sink using an adjustable wrench if needed.
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2
Locate the screws that hold the sink in place and remove them with a screwdriver. Lift the sink out from the top of the counter and set it aside. Measure the old countertop and transfer the measurements to a ¾-inch piece of plywood.
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3
Fasten a straight edge to the plywood, being sure to align it with the marks you made on the plywood in Step 2. Cut the plywood with a circular saw. Set the base panel (¾-inch plywood) on top of the cabinets and drill in some screws with a drill to hold it in place.
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4
Place the sink upside down on a piece of cardboard and trace around it to make a template. Center the template on the plywood base panel attached to the top of the cabinets and trace the template with a marker to outline the sink's opening.
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5
Attach cutting supports to the plywood base panel while you cut out the outline with a jigsaw. Take the same measurements you used to cut the plywood base panel and cut a piece of backer-board out that matches the countertop using a spiral saw with a masonry bit.
Install New Kitchen Counter
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6
Take a trowel and use the notched side to put fast-drying thin-set mortar on the plywood, making ¼-inch ridges. Install the backer-board on the thin-set mortar and secure with some galvanized nails and a hammer.
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7
Stagger the tiles on the edge of the kitchen counter so that you will only need to make a few cuts. Leave ¼-inch space between the tiles to use for the grout seam. Put tile mastic on the sides of the countertop and thin-set mortar on the top of the kitchen counter to prevent cracking of the tiles.
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8
Lay out the tiles on the edge, then lay out the whole field tiles with vinyl spacers so that the tiles create a uniform pattern. Measure the tiles, then score the tiles with the tile cutter. Apply pressure on the handle of the cutter to break the tiles.
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9
Put mortar on the backs of the tiles with the trowel and set them on the counter top. Use tile mastic on the back of the backsplash tiles before installing. Put grout on the tiles and use a rubber float to push the grout in all of the joints.
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10
Rake the float diagonally to remove excess grout. Clean the facing on the tiles using a wet sponge, being sure to rinse the sponge often. Dry and polish the new tiles with paper towels.
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References
- Photo Credit Modern elegant kitchen image by MAXFX from Fotolia.com
