How to put backsplash on
How to Install Backsplash the Easy Way
We show you the right materials and techniques to use to put up a tile backsplash in one afternoon.
By Tom Silva
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Project details
Skill
1 out of 5 Easy
Cost
$100
Estimated Time
2-3 hours
The easiest way to install a backsplash is to use tiling, two-sided adhesive mat, and pre-mixed grout. Using the adhesive mat helps you quickly and accurately put up your tiling. With tile, there are a range options from square tiles to subway tiles, in many different colors, so you can also create the exact look and feel you want in your kitchen. We recommend square tiling for beginners because it’ll be the easiest to cut and align together.
In the video, and the steps below, we walk you through how to decide how big your backsplash should be, selecting your tile, and how to install it from start to finish.
Backsplash Installation in 15 Steps:- Clean the wall thoroughly with the cleaner to remove any grease or other debris.
- Secure the drop cloth on the counter using the painter's tape, covering the entire work area.
- Mark the two sides of the wall using the painter's tape where the backsplash should start and stop.
- Measure the space you plan on tiling. Transfer the measurements to the tile adhesive mat and cut to size using scissors.
- Peel one half of the back off of the adhesive mat, and align the unexposed section to a straight surface like the existing countertop. Ensure the side with the thicker gap between glue dots is aligned to overlap the next sheet.
- Once the sheet is in the correct position, stick it to the wall. Then peel the bottom half and stick that to the wall.
- Repeat this process until the desired area is covered. Use the rubber float to push the adhesive mat to the wall for a permanent bond.
- Hold the tile up to the wall to determine where it will need to be cut to size.
- Use the utility knife to cut the mesh behind the tile.
- Peel the plastic coating off of the adhesive mat, and carefully place each tile section onto the adhesive.
- Once the tile is in the correct position, push it in place with a rubber float.
- Repeat this process until the wall is covered with the tile.
- Fill the gaps between the tile with the premixed grout and the rubber float. Apply it diagonally until all of the spaces between the tile have been filled with grout.
- Fill the bucket with water and using a clean sponge, wipe the excess grout off the tile, again diagonally. Be careful to only wipe the grout off the face of the tile, not the grout in between the tiles.
- After 24 hours, a haze may appear on the tile. To remove it, wipe the tile with a rag.
Shop Tile at Home Depot
Related
Installing Decorative Tiles
All About Ceramic Subway Tile
Tools:How to Tile a DIY Backsplash
Install a mosaic tile backsplash for a whole new look in just one weekend.
Every editorial product is independently selected, though we may be compensated or receive an affiliate commission if you buy something through our links. Ratings and prices are accurate and items are in stock as of time of publication.
Time
Multiple Days
Complexity
Intermediate
Cost
$101–250
Introduction
Tiling a backsplash above the counter is one of the easiest ways to upgrade an old, tired kitchen on a tight budget.
You can choose from the vast array of handsome ceramic tiles available, including the easy-to-install one we show here—mosaic tiles.Tools Required
- 4-in-1 screwdriver
- Bucket
- Caulk gun
- Drill/driver - cordless
- Grout float
- Level
- Non-contact voltage tester
- Notched trowel
- Rubber mallet
- Self-centering drill bit
- Tape measure
- Utility knife
Materials Required
- Caulk
- Grout
- Grout sealer
- Mastic
- Outlet extenders
- Stone tile sealer
- Tile
- Tile spacers
Planning, Materials and Tools
Nothing packs more style per square inch than mosaic tile for kitchen backsplash tile ideas. So if your kitchen’s got the blahs, give it a quick infusion of pizzazz with kitchen backsplash tile. Because the small tiles are mounted on 12 x 12-in. sheets, installation of a tiled backsplash is fast. You can install the tile on Saturday and then grout it on Sunday.
Family Handyman
Shopping for Mosaic Tile
Mosaic tiling sheets make it easy to achieve a great backsplash. Layout is a cinch—you can simply cut the mesh backing on the sheets to fit the tile along counters and cabinets. In fact, the hardest part of this or any other tiling backsplash project may be choosing the look—the tiles come in a variety of shapes and materials, and many sheets have glass or metallic tiles built in for accents.
To add to your options, strips of 4 x 12-in. tiles are available for borders. So you can match the existing look of your kitchen—or try something new!
Family Handyman
Project step-by-step (8)
Clean the Wall
Before installing the tile, clean up any grease splatters on the wall (mastic won’t adhere to grease).
- Wipe the stains with a sponge dipped in a mixture of water and mild dishwashing liquid (like Dawn).
- If you have a lot of stains or they won’t come off, wipe on a paint deglosser with a lint-free cloth or abrasive pad so the mastic will adhere.
- Mask off the countertops and any upper cabinets that will have tile installed along the side.
- Leave a 1/4-in. gap between the wall and the tape for the tile.
- Cover the countertops with newspaper or a drop cloth.
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Do It Right, Do It Yourself!
Originally Published: November 15, 2018
Similar Projects
Do-it-yourself installation of a wall panel (apron) in the kitchen
The walls are protected from splashes, steam, fats and other contaminants that are formed during the cooking process, provide kitchen wall panels (apron or screen). Usually they are mounted together with the assembly of the entire headset, but they can also be installed separately when the old ones have fallen into disrepair or there is a desire to update the interior.
For details on how to choose a wall panel for the kitchen, read the article of the same name.
In this publication, we will tell you how to install a kitchen apron made of plastic, MDF (wood fiber board) and glass yourself, but we will not touch on models made of natural or artificial stone. Installation of stone panels technically differs insignificantly. But the material is heavy and requires the skills of repair work for cutting. If you plan to install them, contact the experts.
Despite the fact that laminated MDF is also covered with plastic and is called plastic, we distinguish between these two types of screen. Their installation is not essential, but it still differs.
How to prepare a wall for installing a kitchen backsplash
If you have just made repairs or the walls in the apartment are upholstered with drywall or tiles, you can proceed with the installation of the screen. But if there are irregularities, they must be eliminated.
The appearance of the wall panel depends on the quality of the walls. MDF and plastic bend easily, so they can go in waves. If the fiberboard is not centered tightly against the wall, it can buckle and form a bubble. All this will spoil the impression of the interior.
There are 2 ways to prepare a wall for screen installation:
-
Putty the surface. Aligning it to the millimeter is not required, but significant differences must be eliminated.
-
Assemble the crate as a base for the panels. To do this, you need wooden bars 10 * 40 cm or 20 * 40 cm. First, you make a frame out of them around the perimeter of the area where the apron will be located. Fix them to the wall with screws. Next, at a distance of no more than 50 cm, install guides. They will act as the basis for the panels so that the structure does not sag over time. If you plan to install roof rails, bars are also installed at their attachment points.
The kitchen is considered a room with high humidity.
Although plastic panels are resistant to liquid, we recommend that you treat the wooden beams with an antiseptic. It is better to do this a day before installation, so that the product has time to absorb and the wood is completely dry.
As a cladding, you can use plastic or metal guides. But they cost more. We talked about wooden material as the most affordable and inexpensive.
How to install a plastic wall panel: techniques and instructions
Installation of a plastic kitchen apron takes one day. This requires the following tools :
-
Roulette for measuring the size of the apron. Wall panels are produced in different heights and widths. If you have a linear headset, and the selected model is the same size as the area on which it will be fixed, you do not have to cut anything. However, this is more the exception than the rule. Usually you have to fit the screen to individual sizes and cut it if you have an L- or U-shaped headset.
In addition, you need to make holes for the outlet. When you cut the slot, do not forget to remove the front of the outlet.
-
A hacksaw with fine teeth or a jigsaw. The second option is preferable, as you can make a cut faster and more accurately. But if you have never worked with a tool, limit yourself to a hacksaw.
-
Silicone sealant and a gun for it to seal the joints if the panel is not monolithic. Do not neglect this recommendation, hoping to closely dock the lamellas. All the same, micro-slits will remain, into which grease and dirt will accumulate over time. On colored or light samples, this will become noticeable and will be reflected in the interior of the room. Silicone is not visible, and it will also provide additional tightness against wet and steam fumes.
The list of tools is supplemented depending on which installation method you prefer.
There are 3 technologies for installing a kitchen apron:
-
Installation on liquid nails.
This is the fastest and easiest way, which is possible if you have a perfectly flat wall. Apply the composition to the lamella along the perimeter, then in a zigzag pattern over the entire surface. Press it firmly against the wall. Look in the instructions for how long it takes to fully set. During this period, try not to touch the apron. The technology has one drawback - it is impossible to dismantle the lamellas without damaging them.
-
The use of self-tapping screws. If you leveled the wall with cladding, the panel will have to be fixed with self-tapping screws. The attachment points are masked with decorative plugs. Some masters use this method to install the screen on a regular wall, without a frame.
If your walls are sheathed with drywall, be sure to use dowels.
-
Fixation by skirting and top drawers. If you install the entire kitchen set, it is enough to press the apron from below and from above.
To do this, it should be 1-1.5 cm above the bottom line of the hanging boxes. They will press the panel on top. From below, it will be pressed down by a plinth, which hides the junction of the countertop and the wall. If the kitchen is large, the craftsmen recommend additionally fixing the screen with liquid nails. But it is enough to miss its central part without capturing the perimeter.
You can install an apron at any stage of a kitchen renovation. The set and wall panel are independent interior details. But if you mount the screen before the rest of the furniture, accurately measure the height of the floor boxes, taking into account the countertop.
The specifics of fixing the MDF apron in the kitchen
The installation technologies for plastic and MDF panels are the same. But the fiberboard has a peculiarity - its non-laminated parts deform and swell under the influence of water. When fitting the apron to the size of the room, it will have to be cut in any case.
To protect the joints from water, corner, end and butt aluminum strips are used. They reliably protect the lamellas from moisture.
If the design of the kitchen does not involve wall cabinets, the end strips are fixed not only on the sides, but also on the upper cut.
How to install glass wall panel
The advantages of a glass apron are that it is already made in accordance with individual sizes and samples will be brought ready for installation. It is impossible to cut the product at home, so manufacturers agree in advance on the places for sockets and roof rails.
The process of installing a glass apron is simple. It is placed on the countertop, pressed tightly from the bottom with a furniture plinth, and from above - by hanging cabinets. If there are no drawers on the wall or you need to cover a part of the module or refrigerator located close to the stove with a panel, use silicone glue. It securely fixes the structure.
You can install the kitchen panel not only on the wall, but also protect appliances or the walls of cabinets adjacent to the countertop from contamination. This greatly facilitates cleaning and gives the kitchen a neat look. And with our recommendations, you will cope with this task quickly and efficiently, without resorting to the help of specialists.
How to attach a kitchen backsplash to a wall
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07/11/2018
Fastening a kitchen apron - it would seem, what could be easier? However, there are at least 3 ways to install it. And each has its pros and cons. Read the details below and choose which of the installation options is right for you.
Glue on
The first and easiest way to attach an apron is to glue it on. We recommend using this option when the repair is not yet completed.
So the furniture will not interfere with the installation of the panel and you will not spoil the fresh wall covering.
Work steps
- Level and prime the walls to which the splashback will be installed.
- Make a markup: use a level to determine the smooth lines of the edges of the panel.
- Adjust the apron to size - if necessary, cut off the excess. Remember that its edges should protrude 2-4 cm beyond the markings and hide behind the furniture.
- Apply glue or liquid nails to the panel, and then press the product to the wall surface.
- Fix the edges with self-tapping screws, and hide the open cuts under the skirting boards.
- Conceal the joints with planks of a suitable color.
| Advantages of the method
| Cons of Method
|
What You Need
Primer
Level
Liquid Nails
Glue
Self Tapping
Using self-tapping screws, you do not risk ruining the drawing or pattern with glue.
Work steps
- Make holes in the wall for the screws.
- Secure the apron with these.
- Hide fasteners under end caps or skirting boards.
| Advantages of the method
| Disadvantages of the method
|
What you need
Drill
Self-tapping screws
Plinth
Fixings
On the crate
A kitchen apron fixed on a properly installed crate will last a long time, it is not threatened with cracks and swelling.
Work steps
- Prepare the materials - strips and profiles. They can be made of metal or wood.
- Mount the battens using a spirit level, perpendicular to the skirting boards. Leave the distance between the elements of the crate no more than 50 centimeters.
- Attach the boarding to the wall using staples or screws.
- Attach the apron to the batten with self-tapping screws or glue. If you chose the latter, then make sure the slats are smooth and well finished.
- Close the edges and cuts with decorative strips.
| Advantages of the method
|
