The Home Depot
How to Tile a Kitchen Countertop with Sink One
Ceramic tiles are an excellent choice for a countertop. In addition to its beauty, ceramic tile resist heat, moisture and stains. As with all the tiling projects, planning and surface preparation are the keys to success. In this demonstration, we will show you how to prepare the substrate, install backer board and tile a kitchen counter with a V clip edge.
Before you begin, protect the base cabinets from damage and falling mortar by covering them with plastic sheet in your contraction paper and also place a cloth on the floor.
Countertop tiles must be set on a surface that is leveled, solid, and can withstand moisture. If you are going to be tiling the front edge, the base also must be thick enough to accommodate the edging if chosen. The minimum requirement is three quarter inch of exterior grid plywood attached with 1 1/4 inch drywall screws. Shim the top as needed to get it leveled. If the counter you are tiling has an existing countertop surface, it is best to remove it and start with a new base and backer board.
Measure and cut the opening for the sink. If you are installing a new sink, it may come with a template. If you are reusing an old sink, measure the opening after you remove it. Make sure the placement of the sink leaves enough space so the faucet will clear the wall behind the counter. Also adjust the location if possible so that when you install the tile, the cut tiles on the left and right side of the sink are the same size for a balanced look.
After making the cut out, drill 3/8 inch starter hole inside the cut out near one of the corners and use a saver sew to remove the cut out.
To install the backer board, measure and mark the pieces based on the dimensions of the counter in the back splash. Make sure no joints cross the hole for the sink. To cut the backer boars, mark cut off lines on both sides of the panel with the filled tip pen or carbide scoring tool. Align a straight edge with the line on the side of the panel and pull the scoring tool along it several times. Make as many passes as you need to break through the surface. Do the same on the other side of the panel. With the backer board on a flat surface, press down one side of the cut line with your hand and knee. With the other hand, lift up just enough to snap the board along the scored edges. Some types of backer board may leave a sharp edge along the cut line so be careful when handling the cut board. Drive with the backer board sections on top of the plywood covering the entire surface. Make sure the edges of the backer board and plywood base are all perfectly flashed.
Leave 1/8 inch gaps between the adjacent panels using 16D spacer nails.
Also, leave a 1/8 inch gap at the back of the countertop for expansion.
Using the existing cut out as your guide, trace the perimeter of the sink hole on the underside of the backer board or if you are using a large sink like we are, cut the backer board pieces to fit around it.
Cut it out using a circular saw with a dry cutting diamond blade and finish the corners with the jigsaw. We are now ready to install the backer board.
Make sure Latex Modified Thin Set mortar as instructed in the techniques section, tiling one, two, three.
Using a 1/8 inch square notch trowel, apply an even layer of mortar to the plywood and calm into a straight, vertical ridge. Set the pieces of backer board in place on the mortar. Remember to leave 1/8 inch gaps at the joints. Use 16D space for nails but do not drive them into the plywood. Also, remember to leave 1/8 inch gap at the back of the countertop for expansion.
Attach the panels with backer board screws. Place them four inches on the center and ½ inch from the edge all the way around each panel. You may find it easier to start the screws if you tap them lightly with a hammer to start it, drive the screws until the heads are flashed with the surface.
To avoid breaking off a corner, keep the screws two inches from the corners of the board.
Place screws every six inches on both directions in the field of each board.
Spread mortar on the backer board strip for the back splash and set it in place leaving a 1/8 inch gap above the countertop. Attach it with screws.
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