Installing Ceramic Tile Countertops
Ceramic tiles aren't just for floors, although they do make beautiful floors. Instead of having an entire slab cut to the shape of your countertop, you can achieve a beautiful look with individual tiles; the process is not that different from laying tile flooring.
First you need to install the plywood and backer board. Cut plywood that is ½ an inch thick to the exact size of your countertop. The plywood edges should be flush with the edges of the cabinet frames. Use an electric drill and a screwdriver bit to secure the plywood to the cabinet frames with wood screws. Push the heads below the plywood surface and make sure all the screws go directly into the frames. You'll then need to add the backer board. You can use a skill saw with an abrasive blade to cut the pieces of backer board so that they fit right on top of the plywood. Use a notched trowel to evenly spread a thin layer of thinset on top of the plywood and place the board on top. You can further secure it with countersink screws every eight to ten inches.
Always dry fit the ceramic tiles before laying them down with adhesive. Start with the outside edge and work your way to the wall's edge. Don't forget to factor in a bit of space for the grout -it'll look best with very thin grout lines. Mark the plywood to make the job easier. Mark the tiles that need to be cut which can be done easily with a wet saw. The tiles that need to fit around the sink will be the trickiest to set.
Now you're ready to spread the thinset to the backer board using the notched trowel at a 45 degree angle. Follow the directions carefully when mixing the thinset because each brand is different. Take extra care to spread it evenly so your ceramic tiles will lay flat. The layer should be slightly thicker than that used between the plywood and backer board. Set the tiles and wiggle them into place. Regularly use a level to ensure the tiles are even and use spacers to create even grout lines.
Once the thinset has dried, it's time to grout. Depending on the look you want, you can choose a color very similar to that of the ceramic tiles to give the illusion that it is one slab, or show a drastic difference between the two. Save enough ceramic tile so you can apply them to the edge of the counter.
First you need to install the plywood and backer board. Cut plywood that is ½ an inch thick to the exact size of your countertop. The plywood edges should be flush with the edges of the cabinet frames. Use an electric drill and a screwdriver bit to secure the plywood to the cabinet frames with wood screws. Push the heads below the plywood surface and make sure all the screws go directly into the frames. You'll then need to add the backer board. You can use a skill saw with an abrasive blade to cut the pieces of backer board so that they fit right on top of the plywood. Use a notched trowel to evenly spread a thin layer of thinset on top of the plywood and place the board on top. You can further secure it with countersink screws every eight to ten inches.
Always dry fit the ceramic tiles before laying them down with adhesive. Start with the outside edge and work your way to the wall's edge. Don't forget to factor in a bit of space for the grout -it'll look best with very thin grout lines. Mark the plywood to make the job easier. Mark the tiles that need to be cut which can be done easily with a wet saw. The tiles that need to fit around the sink will be the trickiest to set.
Now you're ready to spread the thinset to the backer board using the notched trowel at a 45 degree angle. Follow the directions carefully when mixing the thinset because each brand is different. Take extra care to spread it evenly so your ceramic tiles will lay flat. The layer should be slightly thicker than that used between the plywood and backer board. Set the tiles and wiggle them into place. Regularly use a level to ensure the tiles are even and use spacers to create even grout lines.
Once the thinset has dried, it's time to grout. Depending on the look you want, you can choose a color very similar to that of the ceramic tiles to give the illusion that it is one slab, or show a drastic difference between the two. Save enough ceramic tile so you can apply them to the edge of the counter.
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