Tile Work

Whether you will be using ceramic, porcelain, or stone tile your preparation for a DIY installation will be more or less the same.  In each case, one of the primary, and most important steps is to build a sufficient substrate to act as a clean surface for you to work with.  In doing so, you will have to prepare your materials to work around whatever obstructions you are dealing with, and then proceed step by step to be successful

All the parts you need should be available at your local tile store, but be prepared to have certain items special ordered as needed.  V-caps and outside corner pieces for your front edges should be easy to find, as are bullnose tiles for the front row which will create a nice, finished look.  These curved tiles can also be used to border a stove or serve as a clean looking backsplash behind your counter.  One consideration however, if you are intending to use granite tile, is that you will need to contour the edges yourself or have a stone cutter perform the task.  These are issues that you should address prior to setting up for your installation.

To Prepare the Substrate

Most countertops will require you to build up a new substrate to act as your work surface.  It will have to be solid, level, and able to withstand moisture.  In addition, the front must have the proper thickness so that the edging you will install will have enough surface to adhere to.  Sometimes, an existing laminate surface can work for this, but if you are unsure of its soundness, play it safe by laying down your own substrate.

As a first surface, a pro will usually simply lay down a bed of mortar as it is easy to create a flat, smooth surface to work on.  But for a DIY homeowner, plywood and cement backer board is a much easier method to pull off.  When purchasing, make sure that your plywood is not warped in any way, as can happen in any lumber yard.

Once you have your plywood ready and stacked, first cut your pieces so that they overhang the cabinet base below by about an inch.  On the front edge, you will want to use the factory cut side of the plywood to ensure that the edges are straight and square.  Then attach the plywood to the base with rust resistant screws at a bout 6 inch spacing.  Make sure the surface remains straight and level as you go by shimming and adjusting to any changes in the surface as you apply your fasteners.

Then you will have to cut out the hole for your sink.  Usually there is a template included from your sink manufacturer that allows you to easily trace the shape of the cutout onto your plywood.  Once cut, move on to the backerboard and cut that to size as well.  You can do this by scoring the board several times along your cut line with a carbide blade, then snapping it.  When all your pieces are to size, arrange them in a dry run to ensure they all fit properly.

Now you can prepare your thinset adhesive.  Using a notched trowel, spread enough to place one piece of cement board at a time.  Simply lay the board in the thinset and then drive in 1 1/4” backerboard screws to secure the piece.  After that, you can now apply your fiberglass tape over the backerboard joints and also the front edge of the substrate where the plywood and the cement board meet.

Follow these easy steps and you are ready to start laying out and cutting your tile to size, a task that will usually require a wet saw to do correctly.  If you don’t own one, they can be rented in your local home store for as long as you will need. 

Check out more about our Los Angeles tile installations on our blog, which includes some recent jobs we have recently completed in Santa Monica and Westwood.

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