How to install ceramic tile countertops
Ceramic tile counter tops are a great upgrade to any kitchen. Few home improvement projects have greater visual impact on the interior of your house than ceramic counter top installation. The look is beautiful and tile counter tops are very practical. You can spend a bunch of money to have ceramic tile installed or you can do it yourself. In this article read about the steps to install tile counter tops.
First choose the tile for the ceramic tile counter tops. This isn’t so easy, since there are so many choices of ceramic tile for kitchen counter top or bathroom counters. You must choose between sizes, colors, textures, grades, finishes. Prices vary quite a lot, but many tiles are available in 2007 for about $2 per 12 inch square tile.
Know that cheap tiles often vary in size quite a bit. That variation makes installation more difficult. Decide how you will trim the tile too. If the edges will be exposed, choose tile with a finished glazed edge. Many floor tiles have glazed edges and look great and work well as counter top tiles.
Part of the art to installing ceramic tile counter tops is deciding how to arrange the tile. Where do you start? Where do you make the cuts? Which layout looks best? Once you have your tiles and your base is installed, try laying some tiles, without adhesive, on the counter and see how things look. Try different arrangements to see what looks best to you. Spend some time moving the dry tile around and save yourself a lot of grief later.
If you’re remodeling, the sink must come up and possibly your range top. Maybe these can just be propped up without removing them. Electrical outlets will be obstacles. Be sure the power is off before working around outlets.
A base for the tile is important. Ceramic tile counter top can be installed over many materials. Formica is a good base. Just check with your dealer to choose the adhesive suited for your surface. The best base might be Hardi-Backer cement board. With cement board you can pick ready mixed latex glue as an adhesive for ceramic tile counter tops.
When you’re ready to lay ceramic tile, it’s like laying a floor. Spread the adhesive over an area with your tile trowel. Spread the adhesive with the notched side of your trowel to get the right amount of adhesive. The right amount is enough to stick the tile, but not so much that it oozes up out of the joints. The size of the trowel notches and the angle of the trowel determines how much adhesive is applied.
Lay your tile following the plan you made with the dry tile. Use spacers to get the gaps between tiles consistent. Cut tile at edges and around any obstacles.
You will cut using a cutter board or a wet saw to make most of the cuts. Finish trimming with tile nippers.
Install any edge trim before grouting. An excellent trim is a stained hardwood piece nailed to the edge of the cabinet to cover the ends of the tile.
After the tile adhesive is set, prepare to grout. Choose a sanded grout if the joints are 1/8 inch or larger. Another alternative is epoxy grout which is excellent for kitchens. Epoxy grout doesn’t stain and is completely waterproof.
There you have the basic steps to completely update to ceramic tile counter tops. You’ll have a beautiful, practical surface that will last for generations with minimum maintenance!
Have other questions? For access to some great resources and to learn a lot more about ceramic tile counter tops visit
InstallingCeramicTile.Net!
Article by Al Bullington
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