Last weekend Eric and I installed a backsplash in our kitchen! This was our first time working with any sort of tile and I have to say, it wasn't too too difficult. We definitely made mistakes along the way.. but my rationale for installing a backsplash (even though we're moving) was that it would be easier to learn in a small space, with a less expensive tile, than in our new kitchen. Below are a few photos I took of the process... Ignore the crookedness, I haven't mastered interior photography yet!
The overall project cost us around $120 (it would have cost it quite a bit more, but luckily I have a friend who works at Rona, and I was able to score an employee discount on a lot of products).
From Rona, we purchased:
- 2 Boxes of tiles (it was JUST enough for the space)
- Tile Adhesive
- A Plastic Trowel (to apply the adhesive on the wall)
- A metal Spreader (to distribute the adhesive evenly on the wall)
- Tile Spacers
- Grout
- Grout sponge
- Painters tape (great for holding the tiles together on the mesh sheets when cutting the tile)
- 4 Nuts (we actually put nuts behind the outlet plate to get it to sit flush with the tile)
Not included in the above price was the wet saw we had to purchase to cut the marble. We thought about renting a wet saw, but since we are planning on doing tile work in our new house, we figured buying would be the best option, especially since we found a wet saw for only $70 at Canadian Tire (and it doesn't cost us anything because we happened to have money leftover on a gift card we got from wedding).
After cutting the bottom of each tile to sit flush with the countertop, we lay the first tile. I have to admit, we cut the tile quite crooked and it did not sit flush with the wall.. but with the magic of grout, you can't really tell how not straight it was. We managed to get around the electrical outlets simply by taking a pair of scissors and cutting the tiles from the mesh. I messed up this part a little, as there's currently a small gap around one of the outlets.. but we're hoping on one but us notices.
This is what the tiles looked like at the end of day one. We anxiously awaited the recommended 24 hours before applying the grout the next day.
Applying the grout was surprisingly quick and easy. One tip we got from a a friend was "when you think you've finished cleaning off the grout, clean it off 3 more times" and that we did. We probably cleaned the backsplash about 12 times after we applied the grout! Because of this, we had no problem with the backsplash looking hazy (apparently it's tough to get off if you let the grout dry too long). My only worry about the grout was that it looked quite dark when we applied it (as you can see in the picture), but I am happy to report, the grout dried white!
And voila! The kitchen is done. I'm hoping to pick up some little decor accessories to pretty up the kitchen, but I need to be careful not to crowd our limited counters pace with a bunch of stuff.
And that's it! Take care!
