Tiles are the most common countertop material. Many homes have tile counters today. They are relatively easy to clean and can add some color in the kitchen. Here are some common problems homeowners encounter when they install tiles on their kitchen counters.
- Tiles just come out of the machine in large pieces. This can make installing them a little more difficult. First if you don’t use the correct size grout you’ll run out a lot sooner than with other countertop materials, so mix the powder with water in the right proportion and add a little at a time. It just spreads better this way. The grains will be less than you’ll notice.
- Most of tile counters are designed to beeper than full depth. This is OK except when you back out the countertop right away. This could cause damage to the countertop if it wasn’t secured while installed. Check the section where the back should be mounted and check to that there aren’t any gaps that will do damage. Once the counter is up you can work on the sides to make them an even depth. If your countertop isn’t created so the tiles are up all the way you may have something to do for removing the excess and gradient sand the entire area and then re-install any hardware.
- One of the reasons that the tiles can be hard to put on is because the glue used in the adhesives the smaller tiles have a tendency to shrink as they are laid therefore waiting does build up. The adhesive that is used in the typical countertop is water based and is what is used for the backsplash when it is water resistant. Make sure you use exactly the same product to work with.
- The biggest issue with tiles is how to cut them. You should do a dry run before attempting to cut tiles because sometimes they can be pretty fragile and if you break it you will have to start over. You’ll need a tile cutter which is a small hand powered piece of tool that you put on your circular saw. Try not to wear the whole piece because the cutting discs are hard and brittle and also can cause a lot of damage to your hands. The first thing you’ll need a straight edge on your surface.
You’ll want to align the tile cutter to the straight edge and then it is your turn to hold the cutter so it cuts as perfectly as possible. The angle of the cutter is only about 45 degrees and you’ll notice when you place the tile on top and align it you’re hooked a lot of times. It will be very easy to cut the tile to size if you have a good cutter, and there are lots of different ones out there to choose from.
Tiles can look great as long as you watch for any problems. Draw up your plan ahead of time on how you are going to lay the tiles on the countertop so you have a guide to placing it. When laying the tiles make sure you have a couple of feet flat on the ground to set the tile. The tile and grout are not that thick so with a few extra square feet you will be able to put it all together and have tiles on the countertop in no time.
The biggest thing will be buying the right grout for the tile surfaces. After you purchase the tiles hopefully you uninstall anything and clean all of the surfaces that need to be pressure washed, this includes the underside of the tile, underneath the appliance island, the vanity, and the upper cavity of the countertop. If you’re using the same tiles on all of the floors space out the tiles so you’re ready to go anywhere.