How to Ceramic Tile a Countertop
A ceramic tile countertop provides an upgrade for your kitchen or bathroom that is also easy to keep clean. Ceramic tiles come in a variety of sizes and colors. You can mix sizes and colors to form a variety of patterns. Some bathroom and kitchen tiles come with mesh on the back so you can easier work with smaller tiles. If you have some experience with do-it-yourself tile work, you can install a ceramic tile countertop. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- 3/4-inch plywood
- Carpenter's level
- Wood shims
- Wood screws
- Screwdriver or drill with driver bits
- Cardboard
- Scissors
- Utility knife
- Drill bits
- Jigsaw
- Cement backer board
- Scoring knife
- Spiral cutting saw
- Masonry bits
- Thinset mortar
- 1/4-inch notched trowel
- Galvanized nails
- Spacers
- Tile cutter
- Tile nippers
- Grout
- Grout float
- Sponge
- Soft cloth
- Paper towels
Instructions
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Measure the size of the countertop. Mark these dimensions onto a piece of 3/4-inch plywood. Use a circular saw to cut the plywood to size.
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Set the plywood on top of the base cabinets. Check for level using a carpenter's level. Add wood shims under the countertop as necessary to make it level. Secure the plywood to the base cabinets by drilling screws through the plywood and into the cabinets. Space the screws along the front and back of the cabinets as well as along the sides.
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3
Place a large piece of cardboard on a flat surface. Turn the sink upside down on the cardboard. Trace around the outside of the sink to get the pattern for the hole. Draw a second line ½ inch inside the first for the sink's cutting line. Some sinks come with a template that you may use instead. Cut around the edge of the template with scissors or a utility knife. Transfer the outline of the sink onto the plywood, centering it from front to back.
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Drill a hole inside each corner of the sink outline. Insert a jigsaw blade into one corner and cut along the line you drew all the way to the next corner. Repeat until you have the sink hole cut out. Have someone hold the board from underneath so it doesn't break as you make the final cut.
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Measure and cut cement backer board to fit the countertop. Use a scoring knife to score the backer board and then snap it in two. Use a spiral cutting saw with a masonry bit to cut the outline for the sink hole.
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Spread thinset mortar with a 1/4-inch notched trowel on top of the plywood. Set the backer board in place on top of the plywood. Nail galvanized nails into the backer board and plywood to secure the backer board. Use a nail set to ensure the nails are below the surface of the backer board.
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Dry set the tiles to determine the pattern you want to use. Put spacers in place to keep the rows straight. Allow space along the front edge for your edge tiles.
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Apply tile mastic along the vertical edge of the countertop with a 1/4-inch notched trowel. Apply a narrow band of thinset along the top edge. Set the edge tiles in place.
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Spread enough thinset on the backer board with the 1/4-inch notched trowel to set several tiles. Place the tiles in position along with their spacers. Continue spreading thinset and setting tiles until all that's left is the area around the sink and odd-sized tiles. Check that the surface remains level as you go by periodically placing the level on the set tiles. Press the tiles further into the thinset if they are too high or add more thinset if the tiles are too low.
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Measure the amount you need to cut away for partial tiles. Set each tile in a tile cutter. Run the cutting blade across the tile to score the tile, and then snap the tile in two. Repeat for each tile. Use tile nippers to cut off any irregular edges.
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Use the smooth side of the trowel to apply a layer of thinset to the cut tiles. Set all of the remaining tiles in place. Allow the thinset to dry at least three hours before proceeding.
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Push grout into the openings between tiles with a grout float. Wipe off excess grout with a clean sponge. Allow the grout several hours to dry. Polish the tiles with a soft cloth or paper towels.
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Tips & Warnings
Use mastic for any tiles that hang vertically and thinset for tiles that set horizontally.
Wear protective gloves as you work with the sharp edges of ceramic tiles.
References
- Photo Credit Thomas Northcut/Lifesize/Getty Images
