How To Give Your Kitchen The Look Of Granite For Less (Tile Your Countertops With Granite Tile)
Recently in one store we saw granite slabs for sale for about $40 per square foot and in the same store we saw granite tile for less than $9 per square foot. Done right, granite tile countertops are just as stylish as granite slabs. If you want to upgrade your kitchen countertops and give your entire kitchen a nicer, more elegant look, granite tiles are the affordable way to go. So here is a tutorial for you. We hope this inspires you to make your kitchen classier.
Tools needed:
tile saw
circular saw
puzzle
hammer
Level
notched trowel
Rubber Padded Grout Float
Materials needed:
stain proof grout
tile adhesive
3/4″ plywood
Granite tiles (we recommend 12 x 12)
Matching granite mosaic nose
Sponge
Measuring tape
1/16″ tile spacers
1/4″ cement backer board
screws
First, measure your old countertops and record all measurements. You will need to purchase enough plywood and cement board to cover the same amount of countertop. Most countertops are 25 inches deep, this should be the perfect depth for two 12 x 12 tiles plus a nose.
Once you have all of your materials, remove your old countertops and then measure your plywood to cover each section of the countertop. Cut the plywood to the correct measurements with your circular saw. For now, don’t worry about space for your sink, just lay the plywood right where the sink will go. Drill holes and screw plywood into cabinets, one counter section at a time.
After all of the plywood is secured, you’ll need to take careful measurements of your sink, mark your measurements exactly where it will go, and then cut out the entire sink with your jigsaw. Make sure sink hole is centered on base cabinet.
Next comes the cement board. Cement board can be cut to size with a good razor blade and then snapped off, just like you would drywall. I usually put a cement board on each side of the hole for the sink and then put strips on the front and back of the hole. Cut your cement board to match your plywood and screw it into the plywood. If your cement board is cut to fit, all you will need to put on is the tile adhesive. However, if there are gaps in the cement board, you can use mesh tape to cover the gaps.
Now you’ll want to start laying out your tiles to find out exactly how they will fit together. Being natural stone, not all tiles are the same. I like to match the darker tiles to the darker noses, lay everything out and make sure it fits together. Next, determine which tiles you will need to cut and where, mark them clearly. Cut those tiles.
Now it’s time to start laying the tiles with tile adhesive. I recommend doing this one section of the counter at a time. Take your tile adhesive and start applying with your trowel on the cement board. Lay the tile on the back, right next to the wall first. Place the one in front of that one, closer to the next edge. This should leave enough room for the nose on the edge where you can glue it. Be sure to spread an even layer of adhesive on the counter, working a few feet at a time. Lay your first tile and the next tile. Place a tile spacer between them at two different points to make sure there is an even gap between them. Some tiles may be thinner than others. This is where your level comes in. Place your level on both tiles. If it is not level, put more adhesive under the bottom until it is level.
Lay down a full section of the counter, laying down adhesive as you go and laying the tile on top. Move on to the next section of the counter, laying down those tiles with adhesive as well. Make your way around each section of the counter. By the time you have finished the last section, the first section should be dry. This means it’s time to start going over everything with grout.
Use a rubber-cushioned grout trowel to place grout between all cracks. Spread it out there nicely, then wipe off any excess with a sponge. Allow the grout to dry. Do this around all sections of the countertop.
Once your counters are grouted, it’s time to grab the backsplash. Find out the design you would like to use. It is perfectly acceptable to use the exact same granite tile and lay it across the back, making any necessary cutouts for electrical outlets etc. However, some people may like to use glass mosaic tile mixed with the granite, or make different patterns on the backsplash. This is completely up to you.
When applying the backsplash, no backing is needed. Tile adhesive can be placed directly on the wall and lay the tile on the adhesive. As with countertops, once the adhesive is dry, proceed to grouting, wiping off any excess with a sponge.
Once you’ve finished the entire backsplash, your finishing touches will be the sink and faucet. Go ahead and install the sink and faucet and voila!
