Better Home and GardenA Home Improvement blog

There can never be as elegant and fancy looking as a tiled countertop. Tiling your countertop has never been easy if you will follow some simple steps stated below. However, before doing so, it is important to keep the area clean and free form dirt and oils. Place the tiles in areas where they will go. Make sure you have space for the grout lines and make sure you have aim a symmetrical look.

It is best also to place all cut edges at the back of your countertop because the backsplash tile can cover them. Use your wax pencil in marking the areas where your tiles will be cut. Using a tile cutter will help you do the scoring and snapping your tiles to have a perfect fit. If you are using a hard tile, using a wet saw, which could be rented in a good choice. On the other hand, if your tiles need some fine-tuning, using a tile nipper will help you out, as it can break off tiny pieces.

After you have prepared the surface and all the necessary materials for your tiling job, it is now time for you to do the first step.

If you are using edging tiles, mark a line along the edge of the countertop and place a guide strip along the line then temporarily attach it to the countertop with nails. This step will allow the tiles and grout to joint. Afterwards, layout the field tiles from the edge of the strip to the back of your countertop in order to align them using a straightedge.
Now, it is time for you to mix a sufficient amount of mortar for the job and allow it to rest for a while as specified by the manufacturer. Start working on the corner, apply enough amount of mortar to the backer board, and spread it over a recommended working area of 2 to 3 square feet.

Starting on the corner is advisable. Press your tile firmly into the mortar and wiggle it slightly while pressing down. Repeat the steps until you have filled the whole countertop. Use plastic spaces for your grouting job later. After you have installed all the tiles, time now to cut tiles to fill gaps if needed.

Now that you have your tiles set, you can now remove the edging strip guide and start putting the edging pieces. Doing the back buttering style can be the simplest way to add the edging pieces. Doing this is simple, for one will only have to smear some amount of mortar on the back of the edging tiles just like putting some butter unto your bread. After you have applied the mortar, time now to position the edging tiles, press down, and wiggle to set.

Leave your tiled countertop overnight. The following day, mix enough amount of grout to fill in the gaps following the manufacturer’s instruction. Apply the mixture using a gout float and remove any excess grout using a damp sponge once the grout is already firm and you are done.