How to Install Decorative Kitchen Tile Borders

Decorative kitchen border

Kitchen tile, whether used on the floor or on the kitchen backsplash, is a decorative and functional way to add style to a kitchen. A decorative tile border can further personalize the space, adding detail to the tile design.

Decorative tile borders can be used on the kitchen floor to set off an island or delineate an eating area, or they can be used to add interest to the backsplash. The key to a successful tile job with a decorative border is planning and a dry layout.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Pencil
• Straight edge
• Tile saw
• Piece of wood the same width as the decorative border
• Thinset
• Trowel
• Grout
• Grout float
• Damp sponge

Instructions

1. Measure the area of the kitchen where the border will be installed. If this is a backsplash, measure from the top of the counter to the underside of the cabinets for the height of the backsplash. If it is a floor, measure out the area where the border will be laid in conjunction with the field tiles. For example, if laying a border around an island, measure out as far as the border will be placed, such as one full tile out from the cabinet, or two full tiles out from the cabinet. Use the pencil to mark where the border will be laid.

2. Lay the tiles out without mortar in a dry layout to determine cuts, grout lines and border placement. Use an area of equal size to the area to be tiled if the project is a backsplash, or, if a floor, apply the dry layout directly on the area to be tiled. Lay the border and the field tiles out next to one another as they will look installed. Mark any tiles that need to be cut with the straight edge and pencil, cut them on the tile saw, and return them to the dry layout. Take note if the border tile is thinner than the field tile, so it would be prone to sink in and not lie flush with the other tiles; you can correct for this during installation.

3. Spread a thin layer of thinset over the area to be tiled, with the grooved edge of the trowel. Comb the thinset until the ridges are uniform in height, and begin installing the field tile by pressing the pieces into the thinset firmly and twisting them into place. Lay the tiles in the pattern determined by the dry layout. Use the piece of wood the same width as the border to leave a space where the border will go; lay the field tile around the border area first.

4. Install the border by placing a thin layer of thinset on the back of each border tile and pressing it into place. If the border is thinner than the field tile, trowel thinset into the space left for the border and also onto the back of the tile. This will thicken the adhesive bed and allow the border tile to lie flush with the field tile.

5. Allow the thinset to cure for 24 hours and then grout the entire installation at one time by packing the joints with grout, using a grout float. Wipe up the excess grout with a damp sponge, being careful not to over wet or "wash" the grout as this may lead to a reduction in color. Allow the grout to cure for an additional 24 hours.

References

• This Old House: How to Install a Tile Backsplash
• Ron Hazleton: How to Set a Ceramic Tile Floor in Your Bathroom