Tile Backsplash - Anyone DIY?

[tinker*dust]

I'd like tile my backsplash for a little DIY project. My kitchen isn't that big. I'm just afraid I will get myself into a project that will be more than I can handle.

Has anyone done it themselves?

 

[mrsv98]

I'd like tile my backsplash for a little DIY project. My kitchen isn't that big. I'm just afraid I will get myself into a project that will be more than I can handle.

Has anyone done it themselves?

Yes, and it isn't hard to do at all. When we moved in, the stove was a big unit with a built in microwave on top. We had to replace it since it had a gas leak but went with just a range. This left a rectangle over the stove of unfinished drywall so I decided to install a back splash.

I choose some pretty Italian tile for a center 4x2 pattern, plain white tile around that and then coordinating border tile.

My space wasn't exactly the right size for full white tiles so I split the difference in inches and then trimmed the plain tiles to fit symmetrically top and bottom.

I snapped chalk lines to make sure I had straight lines and used a level for each row. I didn't bother to put thin set directly on the wall since it was a small space, rather I back buttered each tile and then set it in place.

Once everything was set and the mortar dry, I used plain white grout and viola! It was an easy project and I am not super duper handy, just handy, and I didn't have trouble.

Go for it and have fun!

 

[dyna]

If my walls was smoother between upper an lower cabinets I would tile myself but my walls there are to rough.

 

[flamingglobessigmund]

Painting the backsplash to look like tile is another alternative. If you google it you'll find a blog with step by step directions & many pictured variations.

I'm planning to do this for the walls between my counters and upper cabinets instead of tiling. That way if I get tired of the design or colors, I just have to paint over.

 

[emilily88]

I see a lot of this type of project on Pinterest, so if you decide to go through with it, I would love to see some before & after pictures as well as how it went!

 

[D&DDisney]

We did it ourselves. Not hard, but very time-consuming and messy. Especially the grout and cutting of tiles around outlets, etc. It does look nice when it's finished.