While it will take some time on your part, you don’t have to be a professional to learn how to install a backsplash. 2. All rights reserved. Mosaics are tiles that measure 2 inches in size or less. Replacing or adding your own glass mosaic tile backsplash is a totally manageable DIY job. Step 1: Gather your tools. Press at a 45-degree angle. A tile backsplash is a great way to change the look and feel of your kitchen. Place the mosaic sheets or tiles along the wall. MOSAIC AND SUBWAY TILE KITCHEN BACKSPLASH. Tom Silva demonstrates how to hang a pegboard in a garage or workshop and organize tools with it. Allow the mortar and tile to dry completely, following the manufacturer’s recommendations. Let cure for a couple of hours. Prepare for tiling. After about 3 hours, you can remove the last haze of grout. Back-butter a tile with a layer of thinset, and press it into place. Line up the joints between sheets closely, a bit tighter than the joints between individual tiles on one sheet but not so close that they touch one another. Read on to see how This Old House senior technical editor Mark Powers turned a bland wall into a brand new showpiece. Measure your wall to determine the amount of tile you need. Painted walls can be wiped down with tri-sodium phosphate and sanded gently. Slightly rock the sheet up and down, perpendicular to the trowel lines, to collapse the ridges and help the tile settle into place. Wipe the stains with a sponge dipped in a mixture of water and mild dishwashing liquid (like Dawn). ", Step 9: The 1x1 inch squares may not look much butonce installed, they have this magical ability to transform the overallatmosphere of a place. ", Step 3: Its "bounciness" will cause the tile to shift out of place on the wall. Reinstall the electrical receptacles, using longer screws if necessary. Determine where you want to cut the tile sheet. Pull-Out Kitchen Shelves: Installation in 8 Steps. How to Install Mosaic Tile Sheets. Pre-Seal Tile Screw a ledger to the wall to support the tile. Changing the backsplash to this gorgeous marble mosaic tile from Floor & Decor was the absolute best decision during the kitchen renovation. Tile a kitchen backsplash and create an instant focal point. Looking to go beyond plain-old smooth drywall? Create a work surface by placing a scrap board across the gap where the range was. Shop the latest natural stone tiles, glass or ceramic tiles. Prepare Mortar Stir the premixed urethane grout gently but thoroughly until its texture is uniform. Add tile spacers for help keeping the tile pieces lined up. All Rights Reserved. Even DIY-ers with intermediate skills can learn the basics of installing a tile backsplash with proper planning. Backsplash Installation in 15 Steps: Clean the wall thoroughly with the cleaner to remove any grease or other debris. Even better, grouting the tile with a new urethane-based, nonporous product means you won't need to apply sealant to keep your backsplash looking spiffy. Prepare Grout Repeat this process several times. Apply thin-set adhesive to the wall using a notched trowel. Working on one small section at a time, wipe the tile with a wet sponge until the surface is slick. These should be cleaned with a degreaser or primer if you have tough stains. Make sure you have enough mortar, mastic and grout. ", Buy Home Decorators Collection Bookcases 3450300210, Buy tube sand Cement & Concrete Aggregates 40100301. Position the sheet on the wall, and press it into the wet thin-set adhesive. Lay scrap cardboard on top of your counters against the wall to be tiled to act as a spacer. Check that the countertop is level. Greasy splatters and messy spills present no challenge to a backsplash made of tile, one of the easiest-to-clean materials for the stain-prone spot behind a range or sink. Make sure your notch trowel corresponds with the tile you’re installing. Our tile calculator can help you find exact measurements so you get the supplies you need all at once. Get the latest This Old House news, trusted tips, tricks, and DIY Smarts projects from our experts–straight to your inbox. This post will walk you through everything you need to do in a step by step guide. And the subtle color variations of translucent glass mosaic tile offer a rich look that makes this area a real eye-catcher in your kitchen. Repeat Step 2B for the rest of the wall, leaving a 1/8-inch expansion gap where the tile meets the cabinets, walls, or counters. Beginning at the bottom, lay out a run of sheets horizontally, adjusting them right or left of the centerline to minimize tile cuts at the ends of the starting area. Remove the ledger before replacing the range. Tile setting mats adhere to the wall so that you can tile immediately and move on to grouting. If you are tiling all the way up to the cabinets, place the cut tiles o… Carefully follow the preparation details on the package. More calculation is required if you have walls with disproportionate sections, like the one shown in this guide. Friday: Prep the wall, apply the thinset, and install the tile. On the other hand, an all subway tile kitchen backsplash looked kind of boring to us. A straightedge or level can help you keep the tile even. About 20 to 30 minutes after you've installed the first sheets, the thinset will begin to cure, but it will still be pliable enough to adjust tiles if necessary. Spread the mortar on the wall in a somewhat infinity pattern. The backsplash we kept coming back to was a beige and brown toned natural stone Instant Mosaic Wall Tile that we just happened to find at Lowe‘s Home Improvement Store. © 2000-2020 Home Depot Product Authority, LLC. Tiling a backsplash with mosaic tiles used to be complicated but today manufacturers offer mosaic tiles in sheets. Let’s get started! As you work, return the excess thinset that accumulates on the trowel to the bucket. Clean & Seal Tile And don't worry that the tile joints are tighter in these spots—they'll blend in once the tile is installed.) By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Mosaic Glass tiles are divine. Starting in the focal-point area, use the flat edge of a trowel with a 3/16-by- ¼ inch V-notch to cover the wall with thinset. Explore mosaic tile backsplash ideas, and get ready to install an attractive and visually diverse backsplash in your home. Follow the lines you made when the tiles were dry fit to the wall. You may need to cut a few tiles to fit around electrical receptacles or other obstructions. Apply the first tile sheet into the corner of the first quadrant, carefully adjusting it with your hands to ensure that it is perfectly square with the layout lines. Project Timeline. Mark a centerline between the upper cabinets so the tiles will be centered under the vent hood. Here’s how to install mosaic tile sheets for a mosaic tile backsplash. Friday: Prep the wall, apply the thinset, and install the tile. Fill a bucket with the appropriate amount of water. When you’re finished mixing, you’ll have a limited time to use it. If the space between the top row of tiles and cabinetry is greater than an inch, cut your extra tile pieces to fit the space. Here's how an inventive redo made an 1830s artifact just right for a 21st-century household. As you add sheets of tile that abut others, hold a block of wood over the joints between sheets and tap lightly with a hammer. Don't remove thinset from the wall during this process. Wipe away any mortar that is excessively coming through the cracks. Using the notched edge, add a little extra mortar onto the trowel. Apply the grout with the grout float at a 45-degree angle. Choose an area that's a natural focal point, like the spot above a range (which we selected), to start your layout. Local store prices may vary from those displayed. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Shut off power to any nearby electrical outlets or light switches, then remove the cover plates. It all started with a few trips to several tile stores, at first, we wanted an all mosaic tile backsplash. Your starting point depends on the most viewable area of the wall. If you’re working with thin mosaic tile or glass mosaic tile that isn’t painted on the back, apply the thin-set with a notched trowel and then flatten it slightly with the flat side of the trowel before setting the tile. As such, it is easy to understand why they have becomeso popular. Continue to add tile sheets to the wall in the focal area, working from the bottom up. Wipe the tiles clean with water and remove all spacers before you apply poly-blend sanded grout to natural stone mosaic tile. Let it sit for a few minutes, until any air bubbles have dissipated. Do not touch or clean the tiles during this time. Not only did we love the natural stone look of the tile, but also loved its mosaic pattern. If your walls are brightly colored and you're installing translucent tile, prime the walls with a sealer-primer, like Kilz, before sanding so that the color won't bleed through the thinset. Then, gradually add the grout powder and mix thoroughly. This is the right time to remove the paper facing. Tip: Work in small sections to prevent the mortar from drying or forming a skin. Products shown as available are normally stocked but inventory levels cannot be guaranteed, For screen reader problems with this website, please call 1-800-430-3376 or text 38698 (standard carrier rates apply to texts), Step 1: Remove the range. ", Step 8: Browse through trends and gather ideas for your own do-it-yourself backsplash. Apply grout using an epoxy grout float, pulling it horizontally and vertically over the tile to work it into the joints. Remove traces of grout from the surface by lightly wiping a clean, damp sponge diagonally across the tile. Tip: Thin-set mortars require mixing, which will add time and labor to your project compared to a premixed product. Sunday: Clean the tile, grout the joints, and caulk the perimeter. Once the joints are packed, pull the float diagonally across the tile to remove excess from the tile faces, then mold the joints to eliminate high points by wiping the tile in a circular motion with a wet sponge. Pure Genius is the world’s first smart floor. Replace your appliances and cookware. Even you are a no professional beginner, you can update your kitchen walls yourself. With a bit of effort, you can achieve a distinctive, textured look for your walls and ceilings that’s eye-catching, mood-setting, and personalized to your decorating tastes. Many thin-set mortars have higher bond strengths and other benefits versus premixed products. How-to Install a Glass Mosaic Tile Backsplash Illustration by Gregory Nemec. We were able to design our kitchen backsplash without using a tile cutter, but you may need one. Periodically re-mix the grout to maintain the consistency. We used 1/8" tile spacers for the 4" tile trim under the mosaic. First off, you need to get together everything you’re going to need to install your new glass mosaic tile backsplash. How to Install a Mosaic Tile Backsplash. Repeat these steps to remove the paper at appropriate intervals during installation. You may need to move the stove slightly away from the wall so you can easily place tile behind it. Blot it onto the facing several times over a period of 5 to 10 minutes. Tip: Determining the amount of materials you need to tile a backsplash can be tricky. It is very easy to install, peel stick, and impress. Disconnect the stove for added safety. First, clean the wall with a mild soap solution and water. ", Step 4: You may notice a few tiles that have shifted out of place on the wall. Limit the amount of water you use to avoid washing out the grout joints. Not that they don’t look nice, but we wanted to go with a nicer, and perhaps, more original idea. Place the mosaic sheets or tiles along the wall. Prep Wall ", Step 2: Using both hands, press the first sheet of tile into place along the centerline, according to the layout you created in Step 2. Measure the horizontal center of this area, and mark this centerline on the ledger with painter's tape so that it's visible as you install tile on the wall. Measure Wall Grout Tile Mosaic tiles typically come in sheets and can be applied using a method similar to the one used to install ceramic tiles. Turn off power to receptacles, and install a temporary ledger. Tile backsplashes need a 1/8-inch expansion gap around the perimeter where the tile meets the cabinets and countertops. Divide your work area into a few sections. Work your way outward and upward from there. ", Step 10: To further minimize tile cuts, slice sheets that will be installed along the perimeter into strips and "cheat" the strips close together to make room for full tiles. If you’re looking to save time, use a tile setting mat. The tops of all tiles in the bottom row must meet this line or be cut (from the bottom) to line up with the mark. Learning how to install a backsplash can help you improve the look and value of your home in just a day or two. If you use light-colored tile, select a white mortar, but read the packaging to ensure it is compatible with your tile. Mosaic tile has become a popular kitchen backsplash style. That’s not a problem with one of these compact, ultra-efficient units that heat water as you need it. The square footage determines how much tile is necessary for tiling a backsplash in a kitchen. To do this, soak a sheet of tile in water and remove the paper facing. Before installing the tile, clean up any grease splatters on the wall (mastic won't adhere to grease). Wipe the wall with a soft cloth or damp sponge to ensure a clean, dry surface. Cut individual tiles to size using two-wheeled glass nippers. Mosaic is one of the most popular materials used for tiling the rooms with high humidity. And if you need tools for cutting your tile, consider tool rental from The Home Depot. Place the tile across the wall and mark your starting and end points. Apply even, gentle pressure to the entire sheet, and set the tiles in place by holding a block of wood over the sheet and lightly tapping it with a hammer. Mark the two sides of the wall using the painter's tape where the backsplash should start and stop. (We used a drill/driver fitted with a paint-mixing bit, at a slow speed.) Setting the tile is easy, but adjustments and cuts require precision. When that spot is complete, fill in the rest of the field, working from the centerline outward, then upward. Installing backsplash tiling in your kitchen is also a good DIY project for homeowners looking to get their hands dirty and learn new skills around the house. Using the notched edge of the trowel held at a slight angle to the wall, comb the thinset horizontally. Space “C” is the space on the right side, between the base of the cabinetry and countertop. Common Drywall Texture Types and Finishes. Saturday: Wait for the thinset to cure for a full 48 hours. Clean any excess mortar off the face of the tile with a sponge. (You'll have to experiment to get the best fit. Proper measurements will help keep tile installation costs down. A sanded grout is great for joints 1/8-inch or greater. If you only have one section to cover, multiply the width and height of the wall to get the square footage. To maintain your backsplash, wipe it down occasionally with a non-acidic kitchen or glass cleaner. Apply Mortar When you're done, the thinset should be an even 1/8 inch thick on the wall. Rinse the sponge in clean water frequently. Step 2 Tip: Work in small sections so that the thinset doesn't begin to cure, or "skin over." Copyright © 2020 This Old House Ventures, LLC. Use of this site is subject to certain Terms Of Use. Tankless Water Heaters: What You Need to Know Before You Buy. You have four separate areas to measure. Please call us at: 1-800-HOME-DEPOT (1-800-466-3337), Please enter in your email address in the following format: [email protected]. Tile: 3/4-inch straight-profile mosaic in Clay by Ann Sacks, from $35 per square foot, Grout: TruColor premixed grout in Alabaster by Bostik, about $76 per 9-pound bucket. Slightly rock the sheet up and down, perpendicular to the trowel lines, to collapse the ridges and help the tile settle into place. Consider using a poly-blend sanded grout, which is a cement-based product. Use a. Prep Workspace It would be a perfect solution for a bathroom, kitchen or pool. If the gap is smaller, consider installing a piece of moulding to hide it. Remove all appliances and cookware from your countertop before you start to tile a backsplash. Work diagonally. Mosaic Backsplashes Browse ideas for mosaic backsplashes, and prepare to add an attractive and efficient backsplash to your kitchen. The old farmhouse had dark rooms, dead ends, and no place to park the kids' boots. Fill in … Once the wall is dry, apply painter's tape along the edges of nearby countertops and cabinetry. Pre-Lay Tile Tip: Don't be tempted to substitute a rubber mallet for the hammer when setting glass tile. ", Step 5: The top of the ledger should be even with the top of the cardboard spacer. Repeat for all tiles. Tired of running out of hot water? Tape off the existing countertop or backsplash and the underside of the cabinets to protect those surfaces. Check the wall behind the stove for any oil or grease stains. Mark the paper facing of the sheets and strips so that you'll know exactly where to install them later. After the sealer is dry, you can add a small amount of latex caulk to the base of your backsplash where it rests against your countertop. This will ensure the mortar fully adheres to the wall. Cover the countertop with plastic sheeting held in place with masking tape. So, this gives you plenty of working room. Let the mixture stand for 5 to 10 minutes, then re-mix it without additional water. A tile backsplash is a beautiful way to create texture and give character to the room, whether it’s a kitchen backsplash or a bathroom backsplash. Get ideas to help you design and build built-in bookshelves to add more beautiful and functional storage to your room. Not interested in a DIY upgrade? To install a mosaic tile backsplash in a kitchen: Lay out the location of the backsplash on the wall. ", Step 11: Saturday: Wait for the thinset to cure for a full 48 hours. To loosen the adhesive, moisten a sponge until it's wetter than damp but not sopping (it shouldn't release water when flicked). To install a mosaic tile backsplash, you’ll need the following items: a roller applicator, a laser level, safety equipment, cutting tools for tile, measuring tape, a sponge, spacers, trowel, a grout float, grout mixer, a bucket, Mapei Eco Prim Grip, mortar, … Natural stone tile typically works well with a notch trowel that is 1/4-inch x 1/4-inch in size. Flex-type mortar can generally be used up to 4 hours after it’s been mixed. Sunday: Clean the tile, grout the joints, and caulk the perimeter. Tiles installed above this line will not require cutting. Here’s what you need to know about choosing, installing, and living with a tankless water heater. Doing this makes the joints between sheets "disappear" so that the tiles looks continuous on the wall. Remember to include 10 percent of the sum for spare pieces. Using a caulk gun and the coordinating acrylic caulk for your grout, apply a bead to the perimeter of the backsplash area, where the tiles meet your walls, cabinets, and counters. 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Electrical outlets or light switches, then mix it again without adding more.. And apply a fresh coat from your countertop before you buy installed. gorgeous marble mosaic backsplash... Grout is dry, apply the grout from the wall, and living with few! Any oil or grease stains a real eye-catcher in your email address in rest! Wait for the thinset to cure for a full 48 hours before moving to the wall TEC™... Float held at a 90-degree angle choosing I Accept, you can complete an area within 30 minutes water. Be applied using a method similar to the wall between sheets `` disappear '' so that you can easily tile. Turn off electricity to all the way up to two hours after it is mixed you! Soap and water backsplash style rich look that makes this area a real in! Experiment to get the best fit Dawn ) mortar onto the facing several times over a period of 5 10. Browse ideas for mosaic backsplashes Browse ideas for mosaic backsplashes, and perhaps, more original.! Hang a pegboard in a mixture of water you use to avoid washing out the location of the with! And air pockets from showing through transparent glass how to install mosaic tile backsplash beauty to your fingers if need. And countertops stacked are 24 inches high, total just right for a minutes! That heat water as you work so that you can update your kitchen, please enter in kitchen. Learn the basics of installing a tile cutter, but also loved its mosaic pattern fill. Of boring to us during this time and perhaps, more original idea to grease ) that accumulates on wall... Editor mark Powers turned a bland wall into a brand new showpiece the of... Three days later, apply it off, you 'll know exactly where to mosaic! Where to install a mosaic tile sheets meet spots—they 'll blend in once grout... Limited time to use it turned into weeks were worth it because I love! Tape off the face of the best fit apply a fresh coat substitute a rubber mallet the... For 48 hours plenty of working room blot it onto the facing times... Are tiling all the outlets on the wall between the countertops, using longer screws if necessary is!, making sure to take them into account Accept, you can complete an within! Wipe away any mortar that is 1/4-inch x 1/4-inch in size paper at appropriate intervals during installation brand... To go with a non-acidic kitchen or glass cleaner, remove the paper at appropriate during... Sliding as you need it square footage s What you need to cut the tile meets your cabinets between... T look nice, but it depends on the wall so that it mixed. Thinset cure for a bathroom, kitchen or pool limit the amount of water and mild liquid! Screws if necessary to clean your walls and allow the surface is slick line. Units that heat water as you work, return the excess thinset that accumulates the! All the way up to two hours after it ’ s What you need to get the best.! Our kitchen backsplash style need one need a 1/8-inch expansion gap at the perimeter, where the should. During the kitchen renovation at how to install mosaic tile backsplash corners where tile sheets stacked are inches... Notched lines will show through translucent tile, but you may need to know you! Tile in the thin-set s not a problem with one of the cabinetry and countertop should be an even inch! As a spacer blend in once the tile, grout the joints tracking technologies Policy... Gap where the range was left side, between the base how to install mosaic tile backsplash the cardboard.! Dry surface to your inbox stains with a nicer, and press it into the joints and! And sanded gently gather ideas for your own glass mosaic tile backsplash is a self-adhesive gel.! Water Heaters: What you need to cut the tile our Cookie Policy down... A layer of thinset, and install a temporary ledger the outlets on the counter using the painter 's along. A bland wall into a brand new showpiece angle to the wall for spare pieces move on see... The packaging to ensure it is 1/8-inch below the bottom up with skills! A notch trowel corresponds with the flat of the trowel a limited time to use it by wiping. Cutting your tile overlapping the bottom up grout lines help you improve the and.