How To Install Wall Ceramic Tile Over Counter

Class up your kitchen by learning how to install wall ceramic tile over your counter. Installing ceramic wall tiles to kitchen countertops remains a popular choice for both do-it-yourself-ers and kitchen installation professionals. Ceramic kitchen countertops offer ease in cleaning, appeal and a wide range of colors, shapes and sizes to fit into decorating budgets and styles. Resurfacing existing kitchen countertops is an inexpensive way to improve the look and value in a kitchen.

1. Prepare the existing countertop. Remove old ceramic tile or countertop facing in disrepair. Ceramic wall tile can be installed over existing laminates or wood surfaces.
2. Measure the countertop from end to end and side to side to determine the amount of ceramic wall tile needed. Add 5% for waste and extra.
3. Stretch a chalk line from corner to corner in a diagonal line and snap the chalk line. Stretch the chalk line from another corner to corner and snap the chalk line. An "X" pattern will be left behind.
4. Apply a thin coat of thin set or ceramic tile adhesive to the back of the ceramic tile.
5. Place the first ceramic wall tile in the center of the countertop. The center is the point at which the two chalk lines cross.
6. Place a tile spacer next to the first ceramic tile. Use spacers to maintain a uniform distance between ceramic tiles.
7. Apply thin set to a ceramic tile and place it next to the first tile, put a spacer in place.
8. Continue placing ceramic tiles and spacers above, below and next to existing tiles.
9. Leave all tile cuts until all whole ceramic tiles are in place.
10. Use a wet saw to cut ceramic wall tiles and place them on the kitchen countertop once cuts have been made.
11. Allow the adhesive to dry.
12. Remove tile spacers.
13. Apply grout between ceramic tiles
14. Allow the grout to dry.
15. Apply grout sealer to the grout to prevent staining.

Set aside a few hours and gather the necessary supplies before beginning this home improvement project. Choose ceramic wall tiles based on personal preference. Do it yourself homeowners, regardless of skill level, achieve successful results with this relatively easy project.