One of the easiest and most effective ways of adding beauty to your kitchen is by tiling the backsplash. A backsplash is often ignored by most homeowners thinking that its only purpose is to serve as a protection against splash and splatter from water or cooking oil and that it’s supposed to look dirty all the time. However, if you want to add value to one of the most important areas of your home, which is the kitchen, it would make sense to add attractive tile pieces to your backsplash. Tiles are a common material used for backsplashes simply because they are nice-looking and are easy to clean. Here are the steps to installing eye-catching tiles to a backsplash:


Step 1. Check the surface of the wall where you wish to install the backsplash. Using a level, see to it that the surface is level, both vertically and horizontally. If there are any low areas, fill them with drywall or any surfacing compound and allow to dry before proceeding.

Step 2. Draw your guidelines on the surface using a pencil. Find the center of the area where you are going to work first and plot the pattern for the tiles. As much as possible, adjust the spaces so that there will be very little or no wasted tiles at all.

Step 3. Using a mastic trowel, apply mastic on the surface of the wall. See to it that the adhesive is evenly distributed before you set in the tiles. If the mastic is too thick or too thin, it might affect the strength of the bond, so make sure you apply just the right amount. To find out if you’ve applied just the right amount, press one tile into the wall with mastic. The mastic is just the right amount if it spreads evenly on the surface. If the mastic is too thick, remove the excess.

Step 4. Begin setting the tiles in place one by one. Make sure that you do not push the tiles into the mastic too hard or the adhesive would spill out from the edges. Sine there’s a tendency for the tiles to move while the adhesive has not dried yet, place some spacers between tiles to hold them in place. When you’re done laying all the tiles, leave them overnight to allow the mastic to dry completely.

Step 5. You can mix the grout and apply it to the backsplash after 24 hours when the adhesive has completely dried. Remove the spacers and apply grout into the tiles and the joints. Leave for 15 minutes to dry.

Step 6. The grout should be completely dry after 15 minutes, so by this time, you can remove the excess grout using a damp sponge. See to it that you rinse the sponge with water from time to time. When all the excess grout has been removed, apply sealer and fill the joints with caulk. Leave the sealer to dry and after that, your job is done.