Select Page

Old Lake George is on Faire

All of my favorite designs are available on Faire Wholesale. Return to the homepage to get an account.

Approaching the Tiled Backsplash Finish Line

by | Jul 18, 2016 | DIY | 4 comments

I ran my first half marathon (13.1 miles) over six years ago. Making it to the 12 mile marker at that first race and every race since then has been  the (literal) sign that I was almost done. All of my hard work had paid off and I could see the finish line.

The backsplash finish line is near. The last 1.1 miles is where we are right now with the backsplash. This past weekend we picked out the new switch plates and then sealed the tile and grout.

 

This step was the quickest and easiest. Using an old cotton washcloth, I put some of the sealer on the cloth and rubbed it onto each and every tile. That’s it. Done.

Now we wait for 24 hours to allow everything to completely dry. The switch plates have to be put back and it’s a wrap, hands in the air celebration as we cross the finish line.

I do want to share a few thoughts about this process. I tend to shy away from lists, but this is an instance where a list works well.  🙂

1)      LOVE the tile you pick. If you are not 100% in love with it, keep shopping.

2)      Take a hands on class.

3)      Have all of the proper tools. A good quality wet saw will be your best friend.

4)      Make sure the space you are tiling is clean and free of grease.

5)      Don’t put too much mortar or grout on your trowel. Having too much on the trowel means that you will drop more and have a bigger mess.

6)      This is a messy job. Be okay with that.

7)      You can tile a backsplash this size in a weekend. A very long weekend. Drying times stretch out the amount of time it takes, but they are necessary.

8)      Turn off the electricity. I learned this one the hard way. Twice.

9)      Have fun! Know that it will be great and you will love it even more knowing you did it!

10)    Do not buy expensive tile cleaner. Use a 1:4 ratio of vinegar and water to remove the haze from your         tiles.

Wednesday will be the big reveal!  Be prepared to be amazed.  🙂

Wendy