How To Install Self Adhesive Tile Backsplash

My husband and I tiled our kitchen backsplash recently -- our starting time tiling job ever! Nosotros used Mussel Spring Adhesive Tile Mat instead of thin set up. With the mat, y'all grout inside 24 hours instead of waiting 24-72 hours equally yous would with thin set.

Originally posted in 2022. In 2022 I've added more photos and information since I've taken down the blog that I referred yous to for more than information in 2022.

The adhesive mat fabricated it fairly easy to position the tiles. Mussel Spring is sold at Lowe'due south, just Abode Depot has their ain brand of a similar product. I'thou non certain we could take washed this without the mat!

Mussel Bound is a Lowes product. See MusselBound.com for any questions y'all have nigh the production. Their site even has a video showing how to apply the tile mat.

The tile (Casablanca Orion porcelain tile) was purchased from Overstock.com, and was all the same available as of April 2022. For other sources, exercise a Google search for the specific name or search Arabesque Blue Tile to notice like tile.

We had to tear off the sometime backsplash first and prepare the walls. The sheet stone was damaged in a few places when we removed the old tiles, so it had to exist patched and dry a day before we could start tiling.

We used an aluminum border slice (schluter tile edging) every bit it would look good with our stainless steel appliances and with the silverish grout (grout info later in post)

FYI URL https://www.schluter.com/schluter-united states of america/en_US/Profiles/For-Walls/c/P-FW

Mussel Jump looks similar a large roll of newspaper towels. It consists of a double-sided sticky "paper" with a peel off paper on both sides.

Cutting the adhesive mat to whatever size you desire, remove the backing and stick it on the wall. Remove the front end "backing" when y'all take your tile set to employ.

And then position and press the tile onto the wall. Press lightly to begin with in case to demand to move it a scrap, so printing it firmly in place. Yous tin can grout immediately. Yous do not take to wait. When Craig finished a section, I came backside him with the pre-mixed grout (product info follows).

This photo shows how we finished the wall behind the stove and added the Schluter tile edging. We had to buy a wet saw to cutting the tiles. Craig was able to cut the tile to fit around the outlets and nether the window. We could not take washed that without a wet saw.

Nosotros used premixed, unsanded grout -- Design FX® grout in silver. It is stain proof, then no sealer is needed. It'southward difficult to encounter in the photo, but information technology has a chip of a sparkle to it. http://www.tecspecialty.com/products/grouts/advance-performance-grout/Design-FX-grout.html?lang=English#.WPfAmKK1u70

I think we purchased information technology at Lowe's equally well. As I mentioned in a higher place, I was able to come right behind my husband and grout right later on he finished a department of the wall. The products nosotros used did not require us to look until the next day to grout.

Before...

and After. We afterward painted the window facing (run into photo beneath). Craig also installed under-counter LED lights and replaced the florescent light over the sink with a LED.

This is a view up nether the upper cabinets showing one of the LED lights.

This is the view of the light to a higher place the sink. Originally there was a florescent lite above the sink but no under-cabinet lights. We bought three - 24" LED low profile light fixtures from a big box store -- one for over the sink and the other 2 for under the cabinets.

Craig ran power from the over-sink light to the other 2 lights and they are all on the 1 wall switch in that location by the sink. The LED lights won't burn out and don't generate any heat, and so are perfect for this location.

Higher up yous see the aluminum schluter tile edging we added at the terminate of the counter. We also used aluminum outlet covers to match the edging.

We repainted the cabinets a couple of weeks after and painted the window facing as well -- as many of you suggested. I even bought a bluish Kitchen Aid mixer. My little accent valance/drape is made from a vintage bluish and white table material.

Nosotros repainted the cabinets a couple of weeks later and painted the window facing every bit well -- equally many of you suggested. I even bought a blue Kitchen Aid mixer. My trivial emphasis valance/curtain is made from a vintage blue and white tabular array material.

We utilize gray comfort mats in front of the sink and stove and have stainless appliances, so the colors and finishes all look squeamish together. We go many compliments on information technology -- mainly because they can't believe we did information technology ourselves!