Posts

How to Install a Kitchen Backsplash?

/in /by


Adding a backsplash to your kitchen is a great way to create atmosphere with color and texture. Thankfully, the process of applying a backsplash is easy. Here is the best way to apply a backsplash to your kitchen, using both traditional tiles and a peel-and-stick method.


Firmly attach your tiles. Press them into the tile adhesive on the wall, using a level to make sure they are even. Push them a few times to make sure they are secured to the wall. If your tiles are not attached together in sections, use spacers to make sure they are all evenly spaced. Wiggle the tile a little bit against the wall to ensure suction with the adhesive.


Completely cover your wall. Attach all remaining tiles to your wall using this method, until you reach the edges. Before you stick your tiles to the edges of the wall, cut off any excess or oddly shaped corners to make sure the fit is perfect. Always cut out holes for outlets or odd edges prior to attaching the tile to the wall.


Any empty spaces can be filled with pieces of spare tile you cut to size with your tile cutter or utility knife. Apply grout. Use your (cleaned) trowel to spread grout evenly across the tiles. Don’t worry about covering the tiles, as that is what is supposed to happen. You will remove the unnecessary grout later.


Spread the grout at a 45 degree angle in a sweeping pattern. Allow a few minutes for the grout to set, and then use a damp sponge to clean off excess grout. All of the cracks between the tiles should be filled, while the remaining tiles should be cleaned of all unnecessary grout.

How Removing Grout Haze?

/in /by

Clean the haze with a damp tile sponge. Dip a large yellow tile sponge in a bucket of water and wring it out. Scrub the tile in a single direction, rather than moving back and forth or cleaning in a circular motion. Rinse and wring the sponge frequently, and change out the water in the bucket when it gets dirty. Use grout haze remover if water doesn’t work. Pick up grout haze remover from your local hardware store or wood tile supply store. Put the remover on a clean cloth or rag, and wipe the tiles with it.

Mop the floor with vinegar and water as an alternative to haze remover. Mix 1 cup (240 mL) of distilled vinegar with 1 quart (0.946 L) of warm water. Mop the floor with this solution. Use a scrub brush on stubborn areas. Don’t rinse the vinegar solution off the floor. Allow it to dry completely before sealing. Don’t use vinegar on marble, travertine, or granite.

Remove hardened grout from your wood marble tile with sugar. Stir white sugar in warm water in a ratio of 1 part sugar to 10 parts warm water. Sponge this mixture into the hardened grout. Leave it alone for an hour, then scrape the grout off your tile. Keep applying sugar water as needed while you scrape to keep the tile moist.

Adjust the ratio of sugar to warm water until you have an effective mixture. Alternatively, you can apply undiluted vinegar to hardened grout to make it easier to scrape the grout off of your wall tile. Once the grout is removed, rinse the entire area thoroughly with plain water to remove all of the vinegar.

Sand it lightly if all else fails. Use a dry scrubbing sponge or cheesecloth to rub down the tile. Rub the only tile until the haze is removed. After you lightly sand the grout off of the small tile with the cheesecloth or sponge, vacuum up all of the dust before sealing. Try this method on grout that has not set for long. Don’t wet the sponge or cheesecloth or the dust from the grout will stick to the floor again.

 

Avoid using commercial detergents. Though you may be tempted to spray a commercial cleaning product on the tile to remove grout haze, this could actually make the problem worse. Not only can it create additional haze, it may discolor the grout between the mould wall tiles.