- Whether you're tiling over an old countertop surface or a bare countertop frame, it's important to set a strong, immobile base for the tiles. Use 1/4-inch cement board, affixing it to the countertop with carpenter's glue. Screw the board down with drywall screws every foot or so throughout the surface. Use thinset mortar to fill the seams and corners between the boards, smoothing out the mortar with a putty knife and sanding it flat after it dries.
- If the counter is an island, lay out the tiles from the center so all the end cuts are the same. If the counter is against a wall, lay them out from the front to the back. Initially lay the tiles down without mortar to see where all your cuts are going to be, getting the proper 1/8th-inch space between them. If there are cuts that are overly small or look bad, adjust the layout to avoid them. Mark your final layout on the surface with a pencil. Figure out which edges of the tiles are going to be coming off the front or side edges of the countertop, and have your hardware store bevel those tiles in the front. Use a wet saw to make any necessary cuts.
- Once you're clear on your layout and have the tiles cut and beveled correctly, install them with thinset mortar. Spread the mortar onto the countertop surface with a notched trowel and press the tiles firmly into place according to your layout. Let the tiles set overnight. Mix your grout in a bucket with water and spread it along the tile lines with a rubber grout trowel, pressing it into the lines and squeezing it off the tile face. Wipe down the surface with a damp sponge to take up the excess grout. Make sure the grout in the lines comes all the way up to the tile face and level with it. Once the grout dries (about two days), seal the grout lines with a clear liquid grout sealer.
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -