Installing Elongated Picket Tile Backsplash | Columbia MO | Part 2

[@friendlyneighborhoodtileguy]

How would you plan this installation?

[@MGeeDesigns]

What a great tip for the cutting at the corner!

[@friendlyneighborhoodtileguy]

Thank you. It works great. Thanks for the comment, I really appreciate it.

[@SrinivasVaranasi-ug2xs]

Hello, Thank you very much for the lnformative video. I am planning to install similar tiles for my kitchen backsplash. I have two follow up questions: 1) How do you ensure all the tiles are level, i.e., one tile not projecting out more than the adjacent ones? and 2) how did you ensure the space is even in the angled edges of the tiles?

[@friendlyneighborhoodtileguy]

First, you must start with a flat substrate. If the wall you’re tiling over isn’t flat (use a long straight edge to check) you must fix that first. The second question is your eyes will tell you if something is off. Just take your time, it’s not a race.

[@b.j.3729]

How do you make the small square cuts around the power outlets?

[@friendlyneighborhoodtileguy]

We use either a grinder or wet saw depending on the material being installed.

[@saugatools402]

How did you determine how many tiles you needed vertically?

[@friendlyneighborhoodtileguy]

We dry stacked our layout on the countertop, then measured in several places to make sure the layout would work everywhere.

[@kaitlynriffel9461]

Do you lay the first (bottom) row of tile directly on the counter top or is there a 1/8-1/4” spaced placed under the tiles?

[@friendlyneighborhoodtileguy]

We space the first row up 1/8” so that we can 100% silicone that joint the same color as the grout. Great question, thank you very much for asking.

[@danielatovar9646]

What’s the size spacing between each tile? 1/16”?

[@friendlyneighborhoodtileguy]

I believe it’s 1/8”. Red spacers are 1/8”, blue are 1/16”.

[@danielatovar9646]

@@friendlyneighborhoodtileguy thank you so much for replying! Love how this tile looks 👌🏻

[@friendlyneighborhoodtileguy]

Thank you for watching and commenting. Are you installing something similar yourself or hiring someone to do it for you?

[@danielatovar9646]

@@friendlyneighborhoodtileguy We’re having a longer tile horizontally installed but they’ve installed some already and there’s some tiles that do have grout space and some don’t.

[@friendlyneighborhoodtileguy]

Hmmm, if the tiles are butted together (unless they’re self spacing) that’s a concern. Tiles will expand and contract, grout acts as a filler to side in that movement. If tiles rub against each other directly they will chip. Minimum grout joint per industry standard is 1/16”.

[@lw8588]

Hi! Don’t we have to fill out the holes with drywall compound and tapes between the cabinets and the new drywall?!

[@friendlyneighborhoodtileguy]

Don’t use joint compound unless you paint it. Thinset doesn’t stick to joint compound. An alkali resistant tape is good to use on all joints. We cut the top row of tile close to the bottom of the cabinet and grout it. Color matched silicone can also be used on the bottom of the cabinet as well. Definitely use color matched silicone at the countertop. Not cheap siliconized latex, only 100% silicone.

[@lw8588]

@@friendlyneighborhoodtileguy Thank you for the tip!!! There are big gaps between the bottom of the cabinets and the new drywall that we installed and I was not sure what to do with it...So I tried to cut another drywall to make the gaps smaller smh.. It's very frustrating! but Thank you so much for your comments !!! Much appreciated :)

[@friendlyneighborhoodtileguy]

Happy to help, have a great Thanksgiving!!

[@ashtondaviston5051]

How long did it take

[@friendlyneighborhoodtileguy]

Looks like it took about 14 minutes. Actually I believe we were there 3 different days setting and installing this backsplash. I appreciate the question, thank you.

[@wallywallywa]

What did you use to cut the tiles?

[@friendlyneighborhoodtileguy]

We used a Sigma snap cutter for the straight cuts and an angle grinder for outlet and bevel cuts. I can’t remember if we needed the wet saw for this project or not. That’s a great question thanks for asking me about our method.

[@wallywallywa]

@@friendlyneighborhoodtileguy Thank you! We're thinking about installing a longer version of this tile in our bathtub surround. I love how your finished product turned out. Looks so great!

[@friendlyneighborhoodtileguy]

Thank you, good luck with your project.