He looks Exactly like our 13 year old grandson at that age. I like to work with pre-mixed thinset – it’s definitely more expensive, but in my mind, it’s worth the cost to not have to deal with mixing it to the perfect consistency. Then, it’s time to make some cuts! You want to push the grout into the holes without getting a ton extra on the tile. But, I can assure you, a wet saw is nothing to be afraid of. After you’ve allowed the grout in one section to set for about 10 minutes, go back with a damp sponge (you want it to be wet enough to clean the tile but not so wet that it’s dripping) and wipe down the tiles to remove any grout from them. I am installing subway tile for a backsplash in our kitchen. Next, we prepped our wall surface using mortar/mastic/mud and a notched trowel. These white subway tiles are a great way to get a vintage look in your kitchen. I found that when I had a grout line that was looking a little splotchy or weird, if I just ran my finger along the line it smoothed out nicely and suddenly looked way better. Like I mentioned before, I like to just replace my drywall rather than repair it. After removing the old cabinet it wasn’t exposed brick but mortared over the brick and the exposed corner of the chimney is now a sharp radius. Mixing thinset is not fun. Below are a few tips and tricks on the steps to install subway tile backsplash . You can find a good tutorial about how to use a wet tile saw HERE. Use this polished subway tile to add interest and understated elegance to the backsplash, shower … Once the top of your bottom course of tile is level, things get much easier. Don’t be shy about it – you want a nice, thick layer. What a challenge you took on and the result was well worth it. Protect Surfaces. Simply measure your area and cut a piece of drywall (I use a utility knife to score the drywall, then just break it off), then screw the piece into the studs. We were just reminiscing this morning about those days when we raised two grands and Thankful for all of the Memories that we have. This is a really timely lesson for me because I will soon be tiling my kitchen backsplash AND the counter. Loved your post. Large subway tiles installed vertically create the illusion of taller walls and … Repeat steps 3-5 until your entire backsplash is tiled. window.fd('form', { You’ll need to cut the bottom row of tile to offset the unevenness. Be sure to check back in on Wednesday – I’ll have the next big update on our dining room renovation. 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. By the time I got the second section finished, the first was ready to be cleaned. I'm Amanda, and I live in the suburbs of Austin, Texas with my husband and two sons. Absolutely beautiful! Its soft beige tones and a classic shape give it a fresh yet familiar look that works well with a variety of decorative styles. After some backbreaking work, your backsplash will look like a tornado went through it. Once you’ve completed a small section, go back with the float at a 90-degree angle and scrape each tile to remove any excess thinset – this will make cleanup much easier! Mark off an area of the same size and … Do you have a kitchen in need of a new backsplash? Your email address will not be published. but man, I feel good about this change! If you’re careful and good at what you do, you can preserve the old drywall. Maybe next time I do a tiling project I’ll put together a quick Power Tools for Beginners video for it?! If you’re demolishing old tile, you’ll also need: Obviously, the first step is to remove your old tile and prep your drywall for fresh tile. I’m so excited about how this turned out, and I love the finished result. Trust me. If you’ve been following our One Room Challenge dining room renovation (see the latest post here), you’ll know that as part of the makeover we’ve decided to spruce up our kitchen a bit too, since the two rooms are connected. Use a tape measure and measure the width and length of the space you want to cover with subway tiles. Draw a center line. Typically, you need to allow the drywall compound to dry for 24 hours before applying a second coat. Basically, be sure to pull out your spacers and clean up any excess thinset before it dries fully – I tried to clean my tiles up as much as possible shortly after I finished tiling, then we removed the spacers and cleaned more thoroughly the next morning. The … than you need. Once your area is full of drywall, apply drywall tape on all of the seams, and then mud the seams and screw holes with drywall compound. Click here to read my full disclosure policy. Apply Thinset. We painted the cabinets a while ago, but the backsplash was seriously clashing with the rest of the look and was in desperate need of an overhaul. So I cleaned it, then moved onto the third section – once it was done, I went back and cleaned the second. Allow the thin-set adhesive to dry overnight. https://www.younghouselove.com/install-subway-tile-backsplash If tiles fall off the sheet, simply press them into the adhesive; the beveled tile edge provides the spacing needed. I mean, if you don’t look closely, you can’t even tell that’s just plain old drywall, right?! I didn’t do this for all of the lines, just the ones that looked like they needed a little extra help. Take your grout, and spread it over the surface of the tiles with a trowel, wiping off the tiles using a damp sponge. Thank you so much for the lesson … I now know that I CAN do it! This doesn’t need to be its own step really (it’s kind of self-explanatory), but I’ll use whatever excuse I can get to insert this adorable photo of Jackson helping me take the spacers out of our tile. That’s really just the bottom line. It isn’t pretty if you look at it without the outlet cover, but thankfully it’ll be covered up so no one has to know. Apply it directly to the wall with the smooth edge of the trowel at a 45-ish degree angle. Just continue going in your section until you run out of thinset (again, I worked in about a 3-foot long section, and laid from the counter all the way up to the cabinet). If you are tiling all the way up to the cabinets, place the cut tiles o… As I’ve shared snippets on Instagram, I’ve had a lot of questions about how to tile a kitchen backsplash and many requests to share my process – so, today is the big, bulky, beefy post all about how to install a subway tile backsplash in your kitchen. Here’s how I installed this subway tile backsplash using matte white 3″ by 6″ tiles and ready mixed adhesive and grout. Dampen the surface of the tile with water on a sponge before applying grout. Mark the Layout's Centerline. }); I can’t find the name of it, but it is a light gray grout! Adjust the guide on your wet saw to the appropriate size (I just hold the tile up to where my line is and then move the guide so that it touches the edge of my tile), and let ‘er rip. After three years living in our house, we finally decided it was time to install a subway tile kitchen backsplash! Use a hammer to break up the old tile. You don’t want to work with sanded grout on vertical surfaces – it’s really meant for flooring and areas with larger grout lines – so be sure to look for grout that’s specifically labeled as unsanded. Luckily our tile mats were the exact height we needed, so we only needed to worry about cutting around power outlets. OH my Gosh the little boy brought such memories and happiness to us. Cut the tile to size using a special tile saw that available for rent at tool centers. Continue that pattern and you’ll end up with the coveted and classic subway pattern. The grout should fill the area between the tiles, but wipe to keep it off of the tile sheet itself. For the pieces like the one on top of the outlet above, you can just make two cuts in the tile with your wet saw – it’s much quicker and easier than the ones that need to be notched out. Once your drywall is ready to go, it’s time to start laying the tile! Five months pregnant! I found that the best strategy for me was to hit a tile until all of the pieces started to loosen up, then I used the back of my hammer (or my pry bar) to peel the tile off. 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