Years ago, I redid my kitchen by replacing my cabinets, counters and painted my kitchen red! Even back then I really wanted a backsplash. Nervous and intimated I decided to create a Simple Farmhouse Kitchen Backsplash on a Budget.
Simple Farmhouse Kitchen Backsplash on a Budget Video
Supply List to Create a Simple Farmhouse Kitchen Backsplash on a Budget
- Tile of Choice (I am using white subway tile)
- Mortar or Simple Mat (I am using Simple Mat, because I have no clue what I am doing)
- Grout In Desire Color Choice
- Grout float to fill in any grout joints.
- Trowel with a rubber-surface to grout and to secure tile to wall.
- Sponge to remove residue of the grout.
- Rags
- Level to ensure everything is straight.
- Painter’s tape
- Disposable tarps
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Box Cutter
- Tile Saw to make any type of cut.
- Snap Tile Cutter to cut straight cuts easily!
- Caulk to match Tile and Counter
Steps on Simple Farmhouse Kitchen Backsplash on a Budget
1.) Prep your walls by patching holes and sanding. Removing old tile or wiping surface of all debris. Remove light switch plates and outlet covers. Sand the wall for any imperfections and remember to wipe away any dry wall dust.
2.) Once walls are prepped, decided the pattern and layout. Prepare your mortar or use Simple Mat. I am laying my Simple Mat all over the areas that I will be tiling my farmhouse kitchen backsplash. Use a box cutter to cut the Simple Mat, I tried scissors, and it was horrible as they keep sticking as I was cutting. Do not take off top paper until ready to tile.
3.) Once your walls are prep with Simple Mat or mortar it is ready start adding and cutting tile and placing. Start from the bottom and work your way up the wall. Use spacers for my tile even from the counter to the first tile row. The spacers throughout the installation will guarantee the length and width between each tile.
4.) Install any tile edge at that point. Measure, cut and install the strip before any tiling. The tile edge will attach to mortar or Simple Mat.
5.) Measure and use tile saw or tile cutter for any cut that need to be made. Use level, ruler and pencil to mark cuts. Read directions on using tile saw and tile cutter; do not forget to use safety gear.
Installing Simple Farmhouse Kitchen Backsplash on a Budget Around Fixtures
6.) Make sure you power is turned off from the breaker panel. Unfasten the screws holding the switch or outlet plates and pull it away from the wall. When tilling and grouting add box extenders because of the extra thickness of the tile and will need longer screws.
7.) I would recommend waiting twenty-four hours for everything to set when using mortar. With the Simple Mat there is no wait time for creating a Simple Farmhouse Kitchen Backsplash on a Budget. Now it is time to grout. This step can get messy tape up and tarp floors and counters.
Grab a bucket full of warm water, along with sponges, grout, your rags and your float.
Open your grout and use float to add a scoop of some grout. Place it on your tile wall and move your float upward at a 45-degree angle. Work in small sections and take a damp sponge to wipe away access grout.
Wiping grout away from tile is essential before it dries to give a professional look. If grout dries it will be extremely difficult to remove, wipe away before any grout before it dries. Repeat steps until your Simple Farmhouse Kitchen Backsplash on a Budget is complete.
8.) Once grout is complete wait twenty-four hours remove all spacers. Caulk any seams including counter to tile space.
Marking and Cutting Kitchen Backsplash Tile on a Budget
If you are using a snap tile cutter or wet saw can be determine how many cuts you need to make. Take note, a snap tile cutter only makes straight cuts, and a wet saw is messy.
Use a pencil and ruler to measure and mark straight cuts. If cutting around a pipe or outlet place tile up against pipe and mark the edge and so forth around the pipe or outlet. Make a template on cardboard if you have several cuts that are the same.
How to Cut Kitchen Backsplash Tile on a Budget
Using a wet saw is nice because it pretty much cuts through all tile textures. You will need to practice on a wet saw before making your cuts such as straight, L, notched and square. A wet saw can be messy, planned to cover everything.
A tile snap cutter is great because it is easy and provided little mess however it only makes straight cuts.
How to Grout a Simple Farmhouse Kitchen Backsplash
First, I like to use my float before grouting to push the tiles against the wall to secure it. Just press firmly with your clean float.
To set your tile to the wall you must grout it. Before applying any grout properly cover all surfaces you do not want grout on because it is hard to remove.
Mix and prepare grout according to package directions. Using a float add a generous amount of grout; smear and push into the spaces between the tiles do this in a ninety-degree angle moving upward
Wipe the tiles with the wet, clean sponge. If there is a haze wipe away with a damp rag.
*** Pro Tip mist the grout with a water spray bottle for three days to help cure it and maximized strength.
Finally, apply a grout sealer to ground to prevent staining in future.
Beginner Tips on Installing a Backsplash
1.) This Simple Farmhouse Kitchen Backsplash on a Budget is not a beginner project unless your space is small and not huge as mine was. Try starting in a small area when learning to install tile.
2.) Simple Mat from Home Depot was awful to work with. My subway tiles did not stick and keep falling. In future I am going to use quick set.
3.) Plan plenty of time. I just did not have two back-to-back days to work. Laying Simple Mat, cutting tile and grouting should happen within in twenty-four to thirty-six hours.
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