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Installing a Tile Back Splash In Your Kitchen : How To Do It Easy And Fast

Installing tile backsplash is no rocket science. Now, how often have you heard that? But is adding a kitchen tile backsplash in an attempt to revamp the kitchen’s ominous interiors really a cakewalk? It’s not just the kitchen, but the scores of ideas for that perfect bathroom tile design or decorative patterns for flooring the living room that have the uncanny ability to drive any nifty homeowner up the wall.

I don’t really mean to deflate your optimism with my candor, but the fact remains that installing a tile backsplash in the kitchen cannot be undertaken with certain pre-conceived, often myopic notions. To put it mildly, there are infinite options to injecting copious amounts of color and charisma to your plain white backsplash, and they are certain to challenge your open fealty towards tiles- ceramic tiles, glass tiles, Olean tiles, vinyl tiles, and more.

If you want your kitchen to radiate warmth and elegance, your stone-hearted opinion about natural stone must be discarded. Marble, granite, travertine, slate and more have the intrinsic potential to enliven cold, claustrophobic spaces. Metal tiles- like stainless steel and tin, are almost certain to add a remarkable sheen to your kitchen remodeling project. Their dalliance with the majestic wood furniture only inspires tremendous admiration and envy. It’s hard to miss the unmistakable ooh la la effect with colored glass.

You can hardly afford to turn a blind eye to the massive discounts on terracotta and porcelain tiles. Wall-papering, faux painting and peel and stick decorative laminate offer elegance on a platter, without the use of grout or a tile saw for cutting tiles. Worrying about tiles with special trims is now a thing of the past.

Tiles - Hard to Torpedo Their Aura

You’re on the verge of giving up your yearning for installing a tile backsplash, when incredible photos of tile backsplashes cause more than a gearshift inside you. The simply stunning gold marble mosaic brick patterned tile looks irresistible, just like the glazed, hand-painted murals that are a veritable mosaic of Italian and Mexican art. The drama and magnetism of these tiles is just not limited to the backsplash in the kitchen, but extends to dozens of outdoor applications like the garden, swimming pool and deck.

Up The Glam Quotient With Tiles

A casual, fleeting look at the kitchen tile backsplash picture gallery is more than adequate to keep you engrossed for hours. The range, simply put, is gargantuan. Tumbled marble tiles and marble mosaic tiles have this subterranean enigmatic appeal. A metallic mosaic tile backsplash is sure to wrap your kitchen in a cloak of exotic mystery, just like natural stone design tiles.

The array of decorative tile inserts and accent tiles for the kitchen are more than just the perfect adjunct to the décor. If you’re looking for style without burning a hole in your pocket, check out the discount glass tile backsplash.

Ceramic Tiles- Beauty With Value for Life

The tile vs. granite or tile vs. glass debate continues to be a constant presence in our consciousness. But despite this intense competition, ceramic tiles have managed to hold their own. There are a plethora of factors responsible for their burgeoning popularity. Ceramic tiles are extremely durable, almost completely water-proof and blend with effortless ease with cooktops and counters made from natural stone, like granite and travertine. So you can remain utterly tone deaf to all misgivings relating to how a tile backsplash meets with a granite countertop.

For homeowners that cannot look beyond black and white kitchen ceramic tiles, here’s something to cheer about. From fiery red kitchen tiles, luminous blue kitchen tiles to tiles in vivacious green and gorgeous golden, these new-age marvels are the stuff that Technicolor dreams are made of. These colors maintain a detached character- towards heat, moisture, hot liquids and water.

Designs Etched Forever

For die-hard eye candy addicts, decorative, custom-made hand painted ceramic tiles come as a surprise. The varied shapes, glazed earthy tones, unique designs and fabulous finishes make these tiles a collector’s item.

Think a tile backsplash with a horse theme lacks the spunk? Then try out the fish kitchen backsplash; it certainly is a different kettle of fish. A fossil tile backsplash or even something with pre-historic manifestations is sure to bring back memories of the Stone-age. For the new generation of homeowners, there are some very unusual futuristic designs as well. Whether wildlife, fruits, flowers, landscapes or wine art, there’s a design for every taste.

Ceramic murals, art tiles, tile paintings- such tremendous diversity is unified by some sparkling finishes- glossy, matte and satin. Art deco and art nouveau tiles have a soulful appeal that transcends barriers.

Self adhesive kitchen and bath tiles put an end to all those niggling doubts regarding how to install a tile backsplash. So there’s no adhesive, no grout, no sealing and messy residue to deal with. Will these tiles sound the death-knell for backsplash tile panels and sheets?

The Pre-installation Drill

Installing a tile backsplash is a breeze, as long as you follow these simple but significant steps:

Spare a thought for the kind of backsplash that you would like to create, unless you would like to incur the not-so-cheap tile backsplash installation costs on a regular basis. Make sure the backsplash design lasts a lifetime.
Choose the backsplash tile that would be in sync with the color of the walls, kitchen fixtures, cabinets and cupboards, floor and countertops.
The presence of lighting under the cabinets cannot be discounted. In that case, the backsplash tiles must radiate subdued tones.
Avoid a clash of the titans; make sure dark-toned cabinets are complimented by tiles in lighter hues.
Make sure all the essential tools and supplies are in place prior to installing a backsplash tile. These include the tiles, caulk, trowel, wet saw, spacers, grout, bucket, gloves, sponge and adhesive. But this laundry list of things is incomplete without oodles of perseverance and dexterity on the part of the homeowner.

Your Moment of Truth Has Arrived

With all the essential ingredients for installing the perfect backsplash tile in order, its now time to set the ball rolling. Here’s how:

Prepare the background: The surface of the backsplash must be clean, dry and super-smooth. Make sure all those uneven areas are taken care of, including the countertop. Turn-off all electrical outlets before commencing work.

Precise measurements: Measure the tiles accurately, preferably using a pencil. Cutting tiles also needs to be undertaken with precision. Use a tile cutter to make straight or diagonal cuts. A nipper would be more appropriate for tiles with curved cuts. Dry fitting tiles before the cutting process is of paramount importance.

Caulk the joints: In case of a granite countertop, you’ll need to caulk the joint where the backsplash wall and countertop meet. Once it’s dry, follow up by sealing the granite. In case of some space between the tile and granite, the gap must be caulked in the same color as the grout. Also, ensure that the caulk is suited for ceramic tiles.

Setting tiles: This process begins with selecting the right adhesive for the tiles. Read the instructions given on the adhesive package and follow them religiously. Mix only limited quantity of adhesive; something that can be consumed within about 30 minutes. Spread about quarter of an inch on the wall. With a twisting motion, set the tiles one at a time. As they set, place spacers in between them. The excess adhesive can be removed with the help of a knife.

Grouting: Once the tiles are set, the grouting procedure begins. Needless to add, make sure you follow the instructions mentioned on the package. The grout mixture must be used up in a span of 30 minutes. Begin by removing the spacers between the tiles. Then, spread the grout over the tile surface, making sure that it seeps into the joints. Waste no time in mopping up the excess grout from the surface. In about 15 minute’s time, the grout would’ve set slightly. This is the time to use a damp sponge to clean the surface and smoothen out the joints. Once the grout hardens, use a cloth to remove the thin film on the surface.

Sealing: Your tile supplier is the best judge of the kind of sealer to be applied on the backsplash tile.

Installing a tile backsplash can be accomplished easily with patience and imagination. There are several online forums that help tide over those minor hiccups, whether dealing with Formica edge on the walls or window moldings near the backsplash area. So the next time somebody tells you that installing tile backsplash is a piece of cake, you have every reason to believe them.