How to Grout Irregular Subway Tile Backsplash

Irregular Subway Tiles are a popular choice for tile kitchen backsplashes because they are relatively inexpensive and easy to cut and install. It is a popular look but it has also stood the test of time. Subway tiles have been used for centuries to tile kitchens, bathrooms, hospitals, subways, and restaurants. Today we use them mostly on kitchen backsplashes, but subway tiles are also popular in showers and tub areas. Most subway tiles are made out of ceramic, and they are come in various sizes. 3x6,4x8,2x10, and 3x12 are the most common sizes used today. Subway tiles can also be made out of porcelain, but they are almost always ceramic. Ceramic tiles are easier to install and grout, because they are lighter and have a more absorptive clay body with a glazed surface.
Grouting with a sanded grout like customs prism, laticrete permacolor, or mapei ultracolor with give the subway tiles a hand crafted look, where using a non-sanded grout like customs Polyblend non-sanded will give the tiles a more sterile, commercial look. A good sanded grout job can make an ok install look great!
For video on using sanded caulking at the countertop:
• How to Fix Cracked Gro...
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[@petersoa840]

Good video from an articulate, not-repetitive coach. I like his sincere, sympathetic style dealing with DIY-ers. He doesn’t ridicule us beginners and provides helpful tips. Enjoyed watching this and learned from it.

[@markdiloreto9042]

as a retired dentist, I can truly appreciate your work ethic, concise dialogue, and attention to detail in all aspects of your projects. You are a PROFESSIONAL, from your skills to your demeanor!

[@TileCoach]

Thanks 🙏🏼

[@spendover]

He’s not as good as you think

[@spendover]

Honestly what a mess, and you never put grout on a kitchen work top….it could scratch. I’ve never seen such an amateur in my life 🤦

[@mattyockey9195]

​@@spendover Old hater

[@tjdonald9084]

I always like taking brand new sponges and letting them soak in HOT water for about 15 mins. (If I have the time) This softens them up and helps grab more excess grout when wiping down. Great video O!! Love having you as a tile coach.

[@TKgolfsandlifts]

I really like prism grout, it’s my favorite that I’ve used so far in the short two years I’ve been installing/learning tile. I’m a young installer striving to master the trade. Im so glad I found your channel, your techniques are top notch!

[@ashleyaitken5248]

This was great, thank you! I was midway through grouting and things were taking a turn for the worse. I did some panic searching and stumbled upon your video. Turns out I was wiping with too much water and not waiting long enough between. You saved my backsplash!

[@michaelhartman851]

The microfiber cloth to clean also really helps to reduce the grout haze left from the sponge, especially with darker colored grouts.

[@johnromankiw4447]

Love the videos you do, and love your work ethic. I have family in your area that have asked about who to use for tile work and your shop is the one I recommend. Been in flooring since I was 12, now closing in on 40. I've done mostly carpet but I have done quite a bit of tile too. Keep up the amazing work, and god bless!

[@dhazlin]

A master at your craft and an exceptional teacher! We are so blessed you share 🙏 Thanks for all you do

[@ivandred3655]

I like you videos. I have started to do tile the last few years. Because of your videos I had the confidence To make my own shower pan using dry pack, done full walls of mosaics, back splashes etc. I really enjoy tile and your videos. Thanks!

[@randymintz1552]

Great job with explaining the steps. I’ve only done this a few times now, and learn something every time. Thanks!

[@robjennings39]

Really appreciate watching your videos! Been watching your videos for years now. The only drawback lol is I watch them multiple times because you’re just so damn good and make it look effortless lol. If I wanted to be like anyone in the trade, you would be it! Your demeanor, communication is second to no one! Thanks for all you do!

[@tonywaters1374]

I have done my own work, but i wish i knew you before, thanks for posting these videos, the info is valuable like on the job experience! Thank you!

[@mintelj]

I just finished up with my kitchen backsplash and as a diy selfer I don't think I would have attempted without the guidance and tips you provided. I stumbled across your videos doing some research and it prompted me to use the same tile and grout, which I think is beautiful. (saving a little extra for fill-ins later saved me!). THANK YOU TC!

[@weldinggirl]

No doubt thank god for this guy🙏🏼🫶🏼

[@michaelkistler6885]

Another great video and a thanks from Reno for the continued advice. I've used your video for a shower build and kitchen tile work.

[@devin2bievin]

Truth! There's nothing like the rough sanded grout splitting glazed ceramic. Great DIY tips: loose grout mix, waiting to detail edges and corners... Great setter tips: explaining benefits of larger joints, lighter grout, for customers end results satisfaction. You're right too, it isn't easy per se, but some requests make things more difficult than they should or need to be. I.E Irregular tile, tight joint, dark grout. Great video, thanks for taking the time to put it out. God bless

[@TileCoach]

Right on! Thanks 🙏

[@jimjensen1414]

THANKS, you are a GREAT teacher, I am re-doing a 1960-built Florida master bath !!!!

[@user-bx3in1nt1i]

Well done with your instructions! I followed closely as a first timer and the results were fantastic!

[@andrewcooke-hedin1903]

Very nice, patient, detailed explanation sir!

[@diegolara4202]

We got this same exact tile installed for our kitchen backsplash. We liked how it was a bit different than traditional subway tile.

[@Focused-ni9qh]

Thank you for taking time out to instruct us newbies! Fixing to get started bro!

[@rctilecarpentry2429]

Just did some of the same today I love Prism grout the best at the moment...!

[@matthewgonzalez5596]

Good work the lines between the tiles look great 👍

[@bswinters]

Thanks coach for giving me the confidence to do it.

[@kristianhansen2022]

Excellent video, easy-to-follow and didn't waste time

[@timrobinson4330]

Great demo man! Keep it up

[@TJMODLA]

I bought a buffer to clean a large area or glazed tile. I wipe three times with a sponge and water. But, the haze tends to persist. The buffer does a great job getting the last bit of haze off!

[@lizawills7777]

Big thanks!! Your videos got me through my first tile job. Wondering how to finish an outside corner? I have a 6" bump out on the right side where the back wall and side wall meets. Thank you.

[@LifeSurfingDude]

thank you, very nice, always reference your videos when doing my own work!

[@donaldthompson9507]

Love your videos and an honest tiler

[@TileCoach]

Thank you.

[@zachmiller4930]

Wow.....awesome tips!

[@dizzle2277]

Make it look so easy. The Bob Ross of tiling.

[@marchallaert7372]

Very helpful thank you!

[@Chris-BognorRegis]

Oh my goodness where have you been all my life. Don't mean to be banging my drum but when it comes to DIY my family say I am very talented, bless them. But when it comes to grouting I am hopeless. It always looks awful and I am never happy with it. Well we live on the coast in West Sussex England and we have recently had a large extension built which incorporates a utility room along with a large kitchen in the main extension. She who must be obeyed picked lovely red London brick tiles which filled me with dread as I cannot grout ordinary tiles let alone these ones. Cutting and fixing tiles is no problem but then i came to the grouting and left it for a good month. So as she has gone away for five days i thought I would give it a go and had a look at loads of grouting videos on KZbin. Having come across yours I dont know what it was but I really liked the way you educated us morons on how to do it properly, especially using the micro cloth at the end. So I decided to practice in the utility room first and I was blown away by the result. Today I have done the tiles in the kitchen and i could cry, the result is absolutely awesome and I put it all down to your tuition video. Your video makes it look so easy but in reality there is a lot of work involved and being 66 I did get a sweat on, but the end result is well worth it. Thankyou KZbin and thankyou for such an excellent video. I cannot tell you how happy I am. Regards Chris

[@barbaragoode1818]

I did my own project with tiles your tip ate great what the best way to clean spill and splatter?

[@jasonscreationsunlimited4161]

Thanks. I'm getting ready to grout the upper part of my shower

[@seydzhchernopiski3122]

Funny enough. I'm halfway through the tile install in my shower (doing vertical stack pattern, no staircase) and im using the exact same tile and grout. Darn gorgeous tile.

[@travisk5589]

Great video isaac

[@TileCoach]

Thanks Travis!

[@donovanwetherholt7995]

Great video thank you

[@rootjuur]

awesome, thanks!

[@Offcut55]

Thanks

[@jongray9342]

Great content

[@George-gb2zn]

I love it you install and grout at the same time . The mastic you’re applied who’s ever brand . Wont dry if you right away grout it would act just like the bucket you bought

[@ajimmya1763]

Yeah but maybe u should've used a self cleaning sponge 🤣🤣. Love the passion, u have definitely improved my knowledge on tiling , has pushed me to do better. Respect your skill

[@chadjohnson8622]

Earned my subscription

[@gvot1]

Great video. New sub. Would you use sanded grout on glass subway tiles also or will it scratch them?

[@levigorin7644]

Hey @Tilecoach, thank you for the video. It’s videos like these that have helped me do complete my projects. I wanted to understand more about the complications you mentioned concerning darker grouts. I’m working on my kitchen backsplash and have been going back and forth about what grout color to use. I installed the irregular tile called Cotton Blossom, maybe the same as in this video, and was originally going to use the platinum color, but recently switched because my wife preferred a darker color, so we picked Prism non-sanded pewter. I used 1/16” spacers all around. This is my first ever backsplash so what complications would I run into with the darker grout color?

[@paulstephens9274]

Hey coach great info thanks. 🎉Finished 2x4 tiled backsplash and ended up with fair amount of lippage. Didn’t really notice severity until installing under cab LED strip which highlighted lippage :(. I had used polyblend grout but Carley had enough for job so used sparingly and was quite liquidy when applying. . Was going to do a micro cement overlay creating Venetian textured look then faux paint or utilize 12x24 peel&stick vinyl tile over tiles then MicroCenter over it. Perhaps trying your approach using thicker grout allowing dry a bit before sponging should occur then have a look. And reposition under cab lights or go without? Any recommendations will be appreciated!

[@troylee3179]

I know this seems like a basic question but can you talk about How you decide where to position the first tile on a backsplash. I have an L. Shaped kitchen with a range hood that needs a medallion under the hood

[@Tubesofservice]

Thanks for a very well done video. Looks easy IF you start with a perfect wall and all the tiles line up perfectly. But for DIY folks--especially beginners--sometimes things aren't so perfect. Can you do a demo wall showing how to grout subway tiles that are not all flush to each other? Maybe the wall was not plumb, or the cement board was not even, or the mastic was not applied consistently. These are all challenges that occur in the real world of DIY.

[@manolocalifas6488]

Hey couch, to be clear, I saw you put grout on base then alloy with float, won’t that put grout in bottom, do we wipe it out after applying the grout so we can apply silicone latter at the base?

[@kellenwhite4590]

As always, love your videos man.

[@TileCoach]

I appreciate that!

[@suelutz574]

First, I love your videos!!! Years ago a fiend put a design on my backsplash with grout. I would like to replace it with subway tile. Currently, I have an uneven grouting where I’d like to put subway tile. Do I need to sand down the old grout prior to trying to install tile?

[@jordanputt4346]

Great content, what type of diamond blade would you recommend for a angle grinder? Continuous, segmented or turbo

[@rengamz]

very informative ... tnx

[@Alicia82872]

any videos showing back splash with a window in front of sink at countertop level with no casing?

[@manolocalifas6488]

Couch, how do you keep the grout out from the bottom to use silicone for expansion?

[@moderns30]

Just did my first tile job on my shower. Light grey 12x24 tiles. I probably could have done better with the spacing. In a few areas, I had some struggles with gap sizing. Since the tile is grey, would you go light grey on the grout to try to blend or still white?

[@PoisonJarl71501]

Would you prefer a presealed grout or seal it my hand?

[@cristinafratilescu9614]

nice job!!!!!!

[@Massimono]

Would white grout also be forgiving for imperfections when using the white subway tiles that have viens?

[@alittlenervous6739]

12:25 “How… *calculate for correct adjective* absorbative it is” 😎 NAILED IT

[@elvaamezcua8123]

Question. I have tile exactly like that in my kitchen but realize we forgot to add the tile edge. Is that fixable? Or do tiles need to be remove? I love how neat it makes it look and want to add it.

[@jimlin1922]

I like that glove you are using. Where can we buy it? Thanks so much for your video

[@TileCoach]

Thickster gloves

[@HOGSBREATH1978]

Great video. Makes it easier seeing it done for someone less experience. One though, unless I missed it but was the breaker turned off on the switch?

[@PapaVigo]

The Bob Ross of tile :)

[@TR4Ajim]

After the excess grout has been cleaned, and has set a bit, I take the rounded end of an old tooth brush to strike all the joints. It helps pack the joint, recesses it slightly, and gives a consistent depth and width.

[@clinttorres2508]

Cmon, u don't do that..no one does that and it's by far unnecessary n ridiculous

[@TR4Ajim]

@@clinttorres2508 hey clint, try decaf.

[@MistAtsiM]

Just wondering... Isn't the valley supposed to be sealed with sealant?

[@Obshowersyndicate]

What do you think of that prism grout? I never tried it i see a lot of bad reviews on the hd site

[@seanmellows1348]

Caulking against countertop is code in my region. Great little demo, I like that grout product, just got to respect it’s time limit. I would say: first wash, loosen all the grout from the entire surface of every tile and surrounding surface, being sure to knock down overfilled joints and at least touch all the grout joints. Second wash: fine-tune the tooling and tidy corners and outside edges. Third wash: remove haze and final inspect.

[@johnc1280]

Doing a subway tile, can I use just mastic on existing painted drywall??

[@kimmy7ify]

Do you grout the internal corners where the tiles butt up to each other? Or silicone them?

[@Dobbin1010]

You are catching just before trying this for the first time. The big box store sold me grout in a tub that I hear is very difficult to remove unless you do it while you go. Should I change to the mix type?

[@devin2bievin]

Suggestion from experience: Avoid the premix. Its very sensitive to any added moisture from your sponge and will run out of vertical joints leaving ugly pits in the joints.

[@TileCoach]

YES!!!! Change now

[@DelphineTheWorstBladeEver]

HOW DID YOU KNOW I NEEDED THIS?

[@TileCoach]

Google reads minds 😆

[@wolverinegnr]

Which grout float do you recommend? Thanks

[@MisterRz]

should you grout the floor with the same method?

[@kchilz32]

Would you recommend 1/16th or 1/8 grout line for a shower with 12x24 porcelain tiles? Thanks

[@motherearth1147]

1/8 is okay ✔️because of expansion and contraction in bathroom

[@michelleparson9105]

What sealant do you recommend?

[@Spardo]

In the very beginning to say that it will be between 1/16 and 1/8 inch due to the uneven edge. I have this tile in hand and I get what you mean in general, but did you use spacers? I’ve seen others say that they used 1/16 spacers to guide placement and that leads to the 1/16 to 1/18 variation. Please comment on the use of spacers. Thx!

[@lawrencel6703]

You know what's hard? Subway tile with beveled edges. That was my first grout job, it was so hard to reach in between the joints with the grout float - I literally did the job with my hands

[@TileCoach]

Yes, loose grout like i did then use the float at an angle to clean the bevel.

[@frankcatrini4816]

i think a main reason that bottom grout line cracks is because it isnt washed in good enough. when you just quickly wash that joint and a lot stays on the actual tile and cabinet it will crack, but if you really sponge it in and dont leave a bunch extra chances are it will be fine.

[@gaylejustice4323]

Help I Grouted my back splash and I cannot get all the grout off some of the tile. I guess it dried to guck.is there anyway to get it off

[@sal3579]

Did you use spacers?

[@LS-rf9co]

Why Prism grout and not the Mapei ultra color?

[@bob119911]

My non sanded polymer grout seems powdery as if it didn’t harden, where did I go wrong ?

[@KJ_nyc]

I'm confused. Would you grout before the mastic has dried? Did I miss something, or was the mastic dry on this section before you started to grout? I saw ribs of mastic left on the wall. Was that wet mastic, or dried adhesive ribs (that I assume would need to be chipped away before proceeding)? What am I missing here?

[@morrisjvan]

yeah, i would finish the drywall and tiling before i grouted it.

[@circularpizzabox2134]

Can you use simple green for clean up?

[@vanilla50]

No.

[@rumberajana]

Does white grout turn yellow?

[@dustingocus]

From being a professional painter for 15 years just getting into tile.. It's not what you can see that affects you. it's what you can't see. Check out what silicosis is it's really bad alot of industries are effected doesn't hit them untill in there 60s.... But all in all Thankyou for the tips and tricks

[@jaylevan3769]

I was told to use a 1/4 x 3/8 trowel for 3x12 "subway" tiles and it seems too deep. Might it be better to use 1/4x1/4?

[@billbarberconstructioninc.17]

This video made me think of Bob Ross's painting videos...

[@saulcortez944]

I reccomend using the gorilla grip grout float much more flexible better than the QEP stiff grout floats

[@anewlife5977]

Will it scratch the glossy tile

[@mattjudy6780]

Prism doesn't have as much sand as other sanded grouts and can be used on different sized joints compared to regular sanded grout. It will not scratch ceramic tile. If I'm using a natural stone, I clean the tile really well and then seal before and after grouting.

[@oddopops1327]

👍👍😉

[@hollandwilbanks11]

For the people on the east coast it's called molding the grout....

[@slaybeast]

Can you tell me what tiles those are and where I can get them?

[@marilynwong9784]

No, I can’t.

[@motherearth1147]

Subway tile, Lowe’s or Home Depot

[@racecarrr]

Is it generally okay to dump grouty water down a sink?

[@tspfull]

No!!!

[@phillipkirby502]

I would never smear so much grout over my tile. It maybe fast but I prefer to just smash grout into my lines. Maybe I'm wrong idk

[@PoisonJarl71501]

Also wrecks your wrist doing each grout line individually.

[@phillipkirby502]

I've been wrecking my wrist for years on end now... lol

[@stevencollins507]

@@phillipkirby502 use lube way easier

[@phillipkirby502]

@@stevencollins507 Doodly noted

[@peterjg001]

Why did you grout before finishing the tiling?

[@Kelly-li7ho]

I was wondering the same

[@jfrazier4764]

It's a demonstration wall.

[@morrisjvan]

He has'nt even finished the drywall!

[@anthonynapier4668]

👍 👍

[@hungrywolf4903]

** 12 x 36” tiles on floor, cement based adhesive, 3/8th notch trowel. Average temp 64 f, Ave humidity How long before you can walk on it?

[@marilynwong9784]

Typically, a month and a half.