How To Install Tile Backsplash Inside Corner

I dearest tiling. It's similar putting together a SUPER easy life size puzzle. Only, it's way more fun. I'thou going to show yous how to tile a backsplash in today's post 🙂

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I've tiled a few things in my day…several backsplashes, a shower, some flooring. And while I'm definitely not an expert, I've learned a few things that I can certainly share with y'all.

I recently tiled the backsplash in my ain footling laundry nook (to a higher place) AND in my sisters new kitchen (below) and decided to put together a tutorial to show you some basics and how to become started.

Go on in mind that every space is a fiddling different and you may come across some challenges not mentioned in this post. This post is meant to requite you some general information and basic ideas so that if and when you face that challenge, you may be able to effigy out your own solution. Information technology'due south also intended for backsplashes simply…tiling floors and showers require a few extra steps or different materials. Merely, if you're adept with that, allow's get started.

First, obviously you have to option out your backsplash tile. If you've never done any tiling before, I highly recommend starting with something unproblematic like a subway tile or larger rectangles every bit opposed to the smaller tiles that come in sheets. They're simply a petty easier to piece of work with.

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Once y'all've got your tile, you demand to choice up a few more items, then, you lot're set up to go. I've got a quick video for you below and the materials listing and step by step after that 🙂 This post contains affiliate links. Run into policies.

Tools and materials:

Level

Foursquare

Backsplash tile (shown hither in this tutorial is Jeffrey Court Tundra Grayness Tile; shown in my sister'south kitchen is Jeffrey Courtroom Casablanco)

Mastic

Trowel

Spacers

Tile saw

Painter'due south Tape

Plastic or Trash Numberless

Grout

Water

Mixing bucket

Clean bucket

Grout bladder

Grout sponge

Caulk

Step 1: Lay Out Your Backsplash Tile Blueprint

When tiling a backsplash, the get-go thing to do is make up one's mind on a particular pattern and layout.  Then, effigy out the best way to outset that blueprint.  If you are doing a straight wall—like my laundry nook, it's best to kickoff at the center and work your fashion outward.

However, if you are doing a corner, it's amend to get-go in the corner and work your way out.

But, if you have a large window AND a corner OR a directly wall similar this kitchen, you may want to start in the center of the window and work your style out. That style your tile spacing will be even on both sides of the window since it'due south likely the focal point. Either way, you need to figure out how will expect best to lay out your tiles in your detail space.

Then start, I laid out a few tiles (or sheets if you lot are doing a backsplash that comes in sheets) and fabricated certain my spacing and everything looked good.  In my case here in my laundry nook, I started at the centre.  So I measured and marked the centerline of the expanse.

Footstep 2: Prepare the Materials to Tile a Backsplash

I borrowed Danny's uncle'south tile saw for this (and every other I've e'er done haha) tiling projection.  Information technology's a wet saw with a diamond bract and information technology's SO MUCH FUN TO Utilize. (Here's me using it for our kitchen backsplash while we were edifice our house.)

I prepare it upwards outside on some sawhorses and poured water into the reservoir.  Then I plugged her in and she was fix to go.  Keep in mind, you will get moisture while using the saw.  It'southward a WET SAW after all 😉

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There are other tile cutting options also, but I like the wet saw the best. Then I headed back inside and taped off the countertop with trash bags to protect information technology from the mastic and grout from the tiling.

Step 3: Begin With the Bottom Row

When installing tile on a vertical surface, starting time with the lesser row.  The key is to go the bottom row level, then build on top of it.

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And then I practical mastic (information technology'southward only a tile adhesive—you tin mix it yourself, or buy it premixed.  I buy mine premixed) to the back of the tile with the trowel.  You tin can also utilise this directly to the wall, but I think applying it to the tile is cleaner.  Information technology's important to get enough on the back, but evenly spread it.  Later on a few, you'll get the hang of information technology.

As well much mastic and y'all'll have a agglomeration of squeeze out and as well piddling and your tile could fall off the wall, or break.

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Note: this mastic is Not FOR WET LOCATIONS.  If you are tiling a shower, this is Non what you want to use.  For that, you want to use a tile agglutinative appropriate for wet locations–like a mortar.  And you'd also need to take a few extra steps to ready the wall to accept the tile…similar a cement board backer, perchance a waterproof membrane, etc.  We are just talking backsplash in this post.

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And so, I stuck the tile to the wall to line upward with my markings and pressed firmly. I continued placing tiles along the bottom row using tile spacers below and in betwixt the tiles.  I used ⅛″ spacers for this.

PS I've been told this isn't the right style to apply spacers.  As long as y'all take the same infinite betwixt the tiles, it doesn't really thing and this method allows me to remove them hands and reuse them.

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One time the lesser row was in place, I checked for level (see epitome above).  This is the most important role of this entire process.  I shimmed upwards as needed using spacers and painters tape to get this row equally level as possible all the style across.

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The second nigh important part is to remove any mastic squeeze out earlier it dries on the tiles.  I'll be grouting between the tiles, so I removed excess mastic from between them equally I went.  (Side note: I picked a grout colour like to my mastic color—white—so if I happen to miss any clasp out, information technology will blend in with my grout.)

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If I was using sheets of tile, the process is the same, just in sheets instead of private tiles.  Identify the bottom row first, and go information technology all level. And if starting in a corner, cutting the corner tile or canvass in half (or cut across a line that makes it like shooting fish in a barrel to piece together a pattern) and identify those in the corner start. Come across how this blueprint flows nicely across the corner? PS It's not caulked yet, and then ignore the gaps.

Step iv: Cut End Pieces

One time I reached the edge of the backsplash, I had to cutting pieces to fit.  And so, I measured the distance from the wall to the edge of the closest tile and subtracted 2x the spacer thickness (I was using ⅛" spacers, and then I subtracted ¼").

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Then, I measured and marked that distance on the tile and placed painters record along this line.  The record helps prevent chipping and as well gives me a high visibility line to cut across.

I carefully cut forth this line on the tile saw, and then brought it back inside, applied mastic and stuck it to the wall.  Easy as that.

Side notation: You'll notice above that I already laid a second row. I laid two full rows, and so cutting iv end pieces at the aforementioned time just to relieve time. In one case your bottom row is level, you can begin laying the next row.

Step 5: Repeat Tiling Backsplash

Once I had my lesser row in identify, it'southward level and cut, I merely built on elevation of it.  I fabricated certain to keep spacers between all the tiles and periodically checked for level and for foursquare and adjusted as needed.  I went with this super simple design, just you could also do other designs. The important affair with this particular design is to check frequently that things are square and you aren't veering off one management or some other.

In my piddling laundry nook, I didn't have any outlets or anything to cut around.  Simply, if you come to an outlet or light switch or cabinet, etc, mensurate and marking where the tile needs to exist cut and cut as needed.

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Helpful hint: it'southward easiest when you have to cutting out a corner or just trim a tile length.  All the same, when you come to a tile that needs a notch, apply the tile saw to cut direct into the tile forth the sides of the notch, then cut this notch out in tiny strips.  You don't actually cut along the centre line.  If you lot cutting thin enough strips, they simply break off to give you your notch. Imagine in the image below that the black marks are the saw cuts to make the notch. The thin pieces should easily break off.

PS It'due south better to cutting also large than too small-scale.  Make sure not to become too close to the outlet with your tiles.  You can purchase larger plates to cover any gaps if needed.  Likewise, one time you tile a wall, you'll have to install extenders on your outlets to recoup for the thickness so you can attach your plates back on.

Stride half-dozen: Stop Last Row of Tile

Once I got to the the pinnacle,I needed to trim the tile height to fit.  Just like cut the sides, I measured betwixt the concluding tile and the cabinet, subtracted 2x the spacer width, so measured, marked, and cutting the tiles to fit.

Then I stuck them in place.

Step 7: Grout Backsplash Tile

I let the tiles sit for a twenty-four hour period or so, then removed the spacers from betwixt the tiles.  And I was ready to grout.  I used sanded grout for this application.

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Annotation: sanded grout is for spacing ⅛" or larger and non sanded grout is for ⅛" and smaller.  Also be aware that some tiles tin can scratch piece of cake and shouldn't be used with sanded grout.  Refer to manufacturers recommendations.

I mix my grout in a 1 gallon ice cream bucket if I have ane (that size works well), merely if not, any size bucket tin can piece of work (even a milk jug cut in one-half haha).  I mixed my grout with water until it was virtually the consistency of block concoction.  Then, using a bladder, I scooped some grout out of the bucket and smeared it across the tiles.

It'due south best to smear it at an bending—it helps it get into all the cracks.  Basically, I'1000 trying to smush the grout into all the piddling cracks.  I smeared the grout ane direction, then the other direction and tried to scrape off the excess as I went.

It's all-time to work in kind of pocket-size sections.  I did every bit much as you could in approx. 15 minutes, so it was time to clean.

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I grabbed a bucket of clean water and a grout sponge, wrung the sponge out well (yous don't want it dripping) and gently wiped the tiles to remove any excess grout. The fundamental is not to simply smear information technology around, simply to WIPE Information technology OFF.

I rinsed out my sponge and changed the muddied bucket water often.  And I just repeated the procedure until the whole area was grouted.

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I rinsed the tiles several times with clean water.  Any remaining residual will make the tiles look cloudy one time dry. I removed the plastic I had laid down to protect the countertop and wiped everything well.

Step viii: Caulk Edges of Backsplash

The last step is caulking.  One time the grout was dry, I caulked the edges, corners, and where the tile meets cabinets, trim, or counter top with caulk that matched my grout color.

And, washed.  Cheque it out…we just tiled a backsplash!

See? It'southward just similar working a puzzle…only totally more fun 😉 I actually dear how a few tiles tin transform a infinite and it's really a pretty elementary chore to stick tiles on a wall and grout the gaps.

I hope this tutorial has been helpful and if yous're looking for some more laundry room (or whatsoever room, really) inspiration, be sure to check out the total reveal of this space here, and the butcher block countertop tutorial here.

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Thank you so much for following along and I'd honey it if you'd pin this for afterward 🙂

Until next fourth dimension, friends, happy…uh, tiling?? We will get dorsum to building soon, I promise 🙂 Stick around…

Source: https://www.woodshopdiaries.com/how-to-tile-a-backsplash/

Posted by: weinsteinabity1998.blogspot.com

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