How To Tile A Backsplash in Your Studio Shed and How To Cut Tiles

If you are installing a countertop in your studio shed and want to install a backsplash then keep reading and learn how it is done!

Installing a countertop backsplash is a great way to add depth to your studio shed kitchen or workbench. Tile is often the material of choice for backsplashes because of its beauty, durability and ease of installation.

For the remainder of this article we will refer to stone, ceramic, and granite as "tile".

This article teaches you how to install a kitchen tile backsplash but the same technique is used to install a bathroom tile backsplash or backyard shed kitchen backsplash.

brief how to

1. Measure How Much Tile Is Needed
2. Layout the tile spacing and vertical lines
3. Measure the square footage and add 10% for waste then buy the tile
4. Set the Tile
5. Install Grout
6. Install Sealer

tools and materials

• Tile
• Pencil
• Wall tile mastic
• 1/4" notched trowell
• Bucket for fresh water
• Tile nippers if you are installing around a odd shapped object
• Tile saw or cutter or both
• Rubber gloves
• Rubber mallet
• Square
• level, 8 inch
• Spacers
• Grout
• Rubber trowel for grouting
• Non sanded grout (it is common to use non sanded grout on walls)

step 1 Measure How Much Tile Is Needed

Using a pencil and level and tape measure mark on the wall where you want the tile to go. Usually it goes from the existing 4 inch backsplash or top of the shed work counter, kitchen or bath counter top up to the bottom of the shed storage cabinets or up a few tiles and then capped off with a decorative band. You will want to start with a full tile on top of the counter top or existing backsplash. The tile that is closest to the bottom of the cabinet will be cut, this tile is hardest to see because it is partially hidden by the upper cabinets.

Measure:

1. Measure out the length times the height in feet and that is your square footage.
2. Multiply this number by .10 which will give you 10% extra for waste. Add the sum to your first number.
3. The result is how much tile to buy. Don't forget to purchase any special pieces you have planned like bull nose or special designs.

step 2 Buy The Tile, Decide On The Tile Layout

Buy Your Tile: Once you have the amount of tile needed you are ready to purchase the tile and other materials to install the wall tile backsplash.

Decide On The Tile Layout: Because you are setting on top of the counter and only going up the wall a short distance, you will not need to draw vertical lines to follow when setting tile. But you may do it to mark the starting and ending point of the tile.

There are two ways to layout wall tiles horizontally:

• Center Outward: First if you are going to have a center piece such as a special tile design centered over a sink you will set this first enter and work toward the edges.
• Full Tile At An End: Second is to start with a full tile at the end of the shed work bench or counter farthest away from a corner and set full tiles as you work toward the corner. At the corner of the shed counter top you will cut the last tile.

step 3 Test Your Backsplash Layout

Test The Backsplash Tile Layout: In keeping with the old addage "measure twice, and cut once" it is a good idea to lay the tiles on the counter top with the same spacing you plan to have on the wall. This gives you an idea of how the finished layout will be. And it will help in setting the tile because you pick it up from the pattern on the counter and put it directly in its corresponding spot on the wall, this is especially helpful if you have a pattern or multi colored tile layout.

Step 4 Set The Tile

The first step in setting wall tile on your shed walls to create the tile backsplash is to apply mastic to the wall and then the back side of the tile.

Start 1/2" back from the starting line if you are starting at an end or start on your center line if you are centering it.

You will set the tile starting on the counter top or on top of the 4 inch backsplash. Set the tile directly on the existing counter top or backsplash. You do not need a grout joint here, the connection between the counter top and the tile will be finished with sanded and colored caulking.

Set the tiles all the way to the corner or end. The last tile will usually need to be cut. If you are using a bull nose you will need to figure in the spacing for that since they are usually a different size than the field tiles.

After the first course is done then continue up the wall to any outlets. If there are no outlets you can keep going up to your trim piece or If you are going to the bottom of the wall cabinets you will cut the last tiles on the top, this joint will also be finished with caulking.

step 5 Cut Tiles Around Outlets (See the end of this article for more tile cutting how to's)

To cut a tile around an outlet on the shed wall you will need to use a tile saw. Lay the tiles up to the outlet and then follow these steps:

Hold the tile to the side of the outlet and in line with the tile layout. Mark the horizontal cut location

Hold the tile to be cut in its position below the outlet. Mark the vertical cut location.

Make the cut using the appropriate cutting tool. If you have a "U" shaped cut around an outlet you will need to use a tile saw as shown in the picture.

• Hold the tile up off the cutting table with the bottom edge supported by the cutting table and the upper edge pointing at the center of the tile cutting blade.
• Cut the two side marks first
• Make cuts about 1 blade width apart down to the cut line, it will look like a hair comb
• Break the pieces off
• Smooth out the line with the edge of the tile saw

Test fit the wall tile to make sure enough tile is cut away to fit around the outlet. The edge of the tile should go to the outside edge of the wall outlet or switch box so that the set screw can still tighten the switch or outlet on and so the plate cover will fit over the tile to hide the cuts. Put wall tile mastic on the back of the tile and set the tile in place.

Cut and fit any trim pieces last. Do not put the outlets and switches on until after grouting.

Let the tiles set over night so the thinset mastic hardens.

step 6 Grout The Tile on Your Shed Walls

Grouting is very simple. The technique described here is a professional quick way to grout tile. Start by cleaning any mastic spots or smears on the tile, especially on the edges where the grout will be. If any mastic is showing thru the grout you will not be able to remove it later without scratching or chipping the grout. A utility knife works well to scrape mastic off the tile. Wipe the tile down to remove any dust or other foreign particles from the tile before grouting.

mix and spread: Mix the grout according to the instructions on the bag. Spread the grout over the joints using the rubber trowel. Trowel across the joints at a 45 degree angle to the joint, this help insure that the joint will be filled completely and reduce the chance of leaving voids. Don't be too worried about the look of the joint at this point, the next step with the sponge will fine tune the joint appearance. Just get the joints filled with the trowel during this step.

sponge: This is the part where you make it look good. Dip the sponge in the bucket of water, ring it out and wipe it across the grout joint one time. Flip it over and wipe the joint again if necessary or wipe another joint. DO NOT SCRUB BACK AND FORTH. Put the sponge back into the water and rinse it out. Repeat. Clean the water often.

tip: It is important that you do not "scrub" the grout joints to get them to look the way you want. Scrubbing does three things; first it removes the sand from the grout. Second it removes color from the grout, third it gets the tile dirty and causes more work in cleanup.

step 7 Seal The Grout (and tile)

Let the grout sit overnight and then wipe the tile down with a damp sponge. Let it dry and apply a grout sealer to seal the grout and tile. If you applied ceramic tile you will not neet to seal the tile, just the grout joints. If you are using a stone tile you will want to seal the whole tile. Sealing keeps the tile from soaking up staining liquids.

Stand back and admire your work.

How To Cut Tile

Cutting Ceramic and Travertine Stone Tiles

When tiling a floor or wall it is almost always necessary to cut some of the tiles to fit along the walls, countertops or cabinet corners. Cutting ceramic tile is very easy with the right tools. This article teaches you how to cut ceramic tile and stone using a tile wet saw and how to cut tile using a manual tile cutter.

Tile Wet Saw: Used to cut ceramic tiles, including thicker ceramic tiles that cannot be cut with a manual tile cutter and stone tiles. It can notch tiles to create round cuts and square notches. (like around a toilet water supply line.)

Manual Tile Cutter: Used to cut thinner ceramic tiles, around 1/4" thick. It can only make full cuts all the way across a tile. The manual tile cutter does not work to cut stone products.

Tile saws, manual tile cutters and other tile cutting tools can be rented from a rental store or purchased from a home improvement store.

tools and materials

• Tile Wet Saw
• Manual Tile Cutter
• Tile Nippers
• Pencil

step 1 Cutting Ceramic Tile And Stone With A Wet Saw

The wet saw uses a spinning diamond blade and water to keep the tile cool while cutting. The spinning blade and water mixed with tile dust can be messy so you should set it up in an area that you don't mind getting wet and dirty.

1. Fill the water pan under the saw with water so that the little water pump is covered with water.
2. Mark the tile on one edge where the cut will start.
3. Put the tile on the tray and align the tile with the saw blade.
4. Turn the saw on and make sure the water is flowing onto the blade before beginning the tile cut. Without water the blade will overheat and wear out very fast.
5. Slide the tile on the tray into the blade or move the saw blade into the tile, depending on the model of tile saw you have.
6. Cut slow enough so the water can keep the cut wet and the saw motor does not have excessive strain on it.

step 2 Cutting Ceramic Tile With A Manual Tile Cutter

A manual tile cutter works by scoring the surface and then breaking the tile along the score mark. The manual tile cutter can only be used to cut full straight cuts from one end of a tile to the other, it can't cut circles, notch or cut a corner into a ceramic tile. It also has a hard time cutting off pieces of tile less than 1/2" wide.

1. Mark the tile on one edge where the cut will start.
2. Place the tile under the rail or rails and align the cut mark with the blade on the cutter.
3. Raise or lower the handle, depending on the model/make of the tile cutter, and put the blade next to the edge and on the cut mark.
4. Press down on the handle and then drag the blade across the surface of the tile so that the tile is scored from edge to edge along the cut line. (don't move the tile yet)
5. Lift the handle so the foot under the handle can sit flat on top of the tile.
6. Press down on the handle and the foot will push down on both sides of the tile and brake it into two pieces.

step 3 Cutting Notches With A Wet Saw

Tile saws are often used to cut notches or radius cuts in ceramic tile and stone. This is more dangerous than cutting flat straight cuts so be careful.

1. Mark the notch to be cut out with a full line along the whole edge of the cut out.
2. Use the wet saw to cut many cuts, about a blade width apart, into the tile until you get to the mark. Tile setters often hold the edge of the tile up so the blade cuts squarely into the tile.
3. Use the tile nippers to break off the tile strips that are remaining. (a lot of them usually break off during the cutting process.)
4. A more advanced option is to use the blade to file off the small teeth that are remaining.

step 4 How To Use Tile Nippers

Tile nippers work by "nibbling" off the edge of a tile. Tile nippers literally bite the edge of the tile and chip off the tile edge. They are very effective to remove small pieces of tile to fine tune a cut or to create an odd angle. Practice on a scrap piece of tile before nipping your finished tile.

1. The first rule when using tile nippers is to remove small pieces of tile with each bite. Trying to remove a large piece of tile with tile nippers usually results in breaking the tile.
2. Place the jaws of the tile nippers with one blade above and one below the edge of the tile where the cut is to be.
3. Squeeze the handle which will apply pressure on the tile face.
4. The tile piece will break off under the pressure of the tile nippers blades.
5. Keep going until you have your shape cut out of the tile.

 

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