How to Install a Subway Tile Backsplash

in this video I'll show you the entire process of installing a subway tile backsplash will cover all of the tools and supplies you may need as well as detailed instructions for each part of the job and to see other DIY videos for around the home don't forget to subscribe to my channel and comment below if you have any questions and thanks for watching [Music] [Music] to find out how much tile you'll need measure each wall that you're going to tile and get the total linear feet and you'll get the square footage by multiplying the total width by the height and then add about ten percent for waste I'm using the basic three by five white ceramic subway tile that you can find at Lowe's or Home Depot and there are about fifteen cents apiece and eight tiles makes one square foot this tile is super easy to cut and install and has built-in spacers and I'm using a matching bull nose piece for the ends this tile has very small grout lines so you'll need an unsanded grout and I always use this pre-mixed tile adhesive for backslashes I'm using a 3/16 square notch trowel but a v-notch can work too because the square notch and this size are a little harder to find at Lowe's and Home Depot but I'll put a link in the description with every tool and product that I use in this video when you tile around an outlet you need to slip on a box extender to keep the live wire safely inside the box turn the power off to the outlet and check to make sure it's off the tile will fit behind the ear tabs of the outlet the extender slides over the outlet and into the box make a line flush with the upper cabinet and mark the center then mark the center of the bull nose tile to keep the bull nose pieces symmetrical I use a full piece in the center mark the bottom piece upside down so your cut will be facing down I'm using a wet sole but a cheaper snap tile cutter will work also this is one of the easiest tiles to cut and I'm also cutting a few tiles in half to start the subway pattern painters tape can be added to help keep the wall clean work in small areas so that your adhesive doesn't dry out now to keep the adhesive lines horizontal and smooth so the air can escape from behind the tile when you press on it this prevents air pockets that keep the tile from contacting the adhesive now this is very important when you're working with floor tile but not so much when you're working with the backsplash this tile is very light and it's not going to have any problem sticking and staying on the wall so don't stress it doesn't have to be perfect to just do your best when you have long open runs you can lay pretty fast so you'll be able to do larger sections at a time mark the tile even with the outlet box making sure you don't cover the screw hole where the outlet attaches [Music] Center cuts are a little more challenging but they're not too bad I mark the cut with a washable marker I'll show you two different ways to make a center cut out with the first method I cut the top line first with the grinder if the sides were already cut with a cutout this deep the grinder would break it in half every time then I cut the sides with the Wetzel the second method I use the wets all only make several cuts to delight gently break the pieces off and then clean up your cut with a saw [Music] [Music] [Music] to finish this gap between the window and the cabinet I'll add a bull nose piece so there's a nice finished edge there are different ways to tile across the gap like you'll find behind a range this is how I do it I take two scrap pieces of wood and I cut one to fit between the two countertops then I screw a longer board slightly offset to allow the tile to sit on to the lower board now I find this much easier than trying to keep the tiles on a line or screwing a board to the wall in areas where it's difficult to apply the adhesive to the wall without making a mess you can apply the adhesive directly to the back of the tile now this method is a lot slower but it's easier and it's a lot less messy mix the grout following the directions on the back a lot of brands are different but start with small amounts if you mix it all at once it will dry out in the bucket before you get to use it using a grout float fill all of the grout lines working from the top down and then remove the excess grout after about 10 or 15 minutes use a damp sponge to lightly wipe the remaining excess kraut without pressing too hard now keep the sponge flat so that it doesn't remove any of the grout from the grout lines this isn't a final clean and it doesn't have to be perfect when the grout is completely dry wipe the remaining grout haze with a clean dry cloth you can use painters tape to make a perfect caulk line use a matching grout caulk and caulk along the countertop and between the tile and the upper cabinets some grouts require a sealant so if yours does you can buy a wipe on or an aerosol grout sealer you just spray it on and wipe off the excess it's very simple to use don't forget to hit the like button if this video helped you subscribe to my channel and find other DIY videos for your home and thanks for watching

Channel: SgtDonovan

Views: 81,264

Rating: 4.9502153 out of 5

Keywords: backsplash, kitchen backsplash, tile backsplash, subway tile, subway tile backsplash, install backsplash, how to install subway tile backsplash, backsplash installation, back splash, backsplash tips, how to cut tile, sgtdonovan, kitchen back splash, beginners, tile for beginners, backsplash for beginners, backsplash tile installation, backsplash ideas, subway tile backsplash installation, cheap backsplash, cheap backsplash ideas, how to install subway tile

Id: SN1jyBs0GiQ

Length: 11min 34sec (694 seconds)

Published: Wed Feb 05 2020