How to tile a kitchen splashback
Save on your kitchen reno by tackling the tiling yourself and give your walls the wow factor with a patterned splashback, like Clare’s
1 Cover your work surface with a dust sheet. Use sandpaper to remove any lumps or bumps from the wall surface, then use sugar soap to ensure your wall is clean before you begin. Allow the wall to dry thoroughly.
Measure the width of the area to be tiled and then mark the centre point on the wall. Mark another centre point at the top of your tiled area where you want the tiles to stop. Draw a vertical line between the two points. This is your centre line.
Starting at the bottom centre of the area to be tiled, use a notched trowel to apply a generous, even layer of tile adhesive where the first horizontal row of tiles will be placed. Use the trowel to create vertical or horizontal lines on the wall. Work in small sections at a time as the adhesive will set quickly.
With the adhesive on the wall, place some tile spacers along the worktop so there’s a small gap between the work surface and the first row of tiles. Place your first tile on the wall. Working from the middle to the sides, apply the next tiles in the row. Make sure you place tile spacers along the edge of each tile for uniform gaps.
If there’s not enough room at the end of the row for a full tile, you’ll need to cut the tile. To do this, measure how much you need to cut away (remember to allow for the size of the tile spacer) and mark the tile with a pencil. Use a tile cutter to score a line along the tile. Apply gentle pressure to break the tile along this line. Check your tiles are straight using a spirit level.
Repeat these steps until you’ve tiled the whole splashback area. Wipe away any glue residue as you go using a clean sponge. Make sure you use tile spacers around each tile.
Allow the tile adhesive to dry overnight before you grout the tiles. When choosing grout, consider if a waterproof or anti-mould grout is needed, such as when tiling around a sink. Mix the grout in a bucket according to the instructions. Only mix a little at a time and aim for a thick consistency. Using a grout float, apply the grout to the gaps in the tiles by holding the grout float at a 45° angle. Wipe away any excess grout about 10 minutes after application, using a clean, damp (not wet) sponge. Allow the grout to dry.
Apply sealant along the edges of your splashback area to make it watertight. Alternatively, you can apply a tile trim. Finally, caulk the horizontal gap between the work surface and the first row of tiles. When the caulk is dry, use a cloth to wipe away any smears.