How To Install Subway Tile Backsplash Like a PRO | DIY | Studio Ploy

Hello everyone! Happy Wednesday! I hope everyone is having a great day. Today I'm going to be working on a kitchen backsplash. This is going to be the last part of the series of videos for the one-bedroom unit that I did just recently. This is the before look of the kitchen. The backsplash is just painted in white so we are going to cover this with subway tiles to upgrade the look and to make it more classy. For the tools and materials we are going to use the following steel trowels, plastic mixing container, two-in-one tile grout and adhesive, two millimeter tile spacer, sandpaper and plastic masking film, masking and fiberglass mesh tape, three by five inch beveled subway tiles in white, tile edge trim, and angle grinder. Before we start the installation, we have to do the proper markings on how far we will cover with subway tiles. I used a level bar here to make the lines accurate since this would affect the outcome once tiles are installed. I then put masking tape outside of the area of coverage. To protect the existing countertop and cupboards, we covered it with plastic masking film since this is almost the only thing we will be doing as a working platform. So, next step is to sand the wall so the adhesive sticks better. Then I taped the whole backsplash area with fiberglass mesh tape for that additional adhesive reinforcement. Usually, this is used for backer pours that are made of drywall. This next procedure is very important. I learned this while watching tile installers since most of the ceramic or porcelain tiles have pours. Take a look at it. If we're going to install it without soaking, the adhesive will dry quickly and will leave no room for adjustments. For the adhesive, since we're going to be using a relatively small tile, I prefer using this 2-in-1 grout and adhesive for mosaic tiles. Before the installation, I initially measured and checked the dimensions kung sana aabot yung tile na hindi magiging awkward yung cuts. By the way, we are going to do a half bond brick type installation of pattern for this backsplash. I started applying adhesive using the notched trowel or yung may bungi-bungi, pero I went on using the pointed trowel as I find it easier and comfortable for me. I started installing two tiles away from the corner kasi hindi naka-level yung wall. Pag yun ang sinunod ko, tuluy-tuluy na wala sa hulog ang installation natin. Kung tile na napili natin, medyo naka-concave yung likot na part, kaya I have to fill it with adhesive aside from what's being applied on the wall para hindi mag-create ng halo that will result na mabilis syang matanggal. Pag sa floor tiles, tinatawag syang parang kapak. I also have to check the tiles once in a while with leveling rod to make sure napantay pagkaka-install natin. If you notice, mas naging comfortable akong gamitin yung pointed trowel compared to the notched trowel kasi since hindi naman tayo professional installer talaga. Mabagal tayo mag-install, kaya natutuyo ka agad yung adhesive. So I prefer using this pointed one. So kung ano ang mas comfortable sa inyo, yun yung gamitin nyo as long as tama pa rin yung end result natin. For the tile spacer, I have to cut yung isang part to make it three-wing lang because of the pattern that we chose alternating para mag-fit sya. So aside sa pagbabad natin ng tiles, make sure that before installation, pasain yung part na paglalagyan ng tiles. This is still in connection with why we need to soak the tiles prior to installation. So another reason why we soak the tiles and parating natin pinapasa is to make sure that the pores of the tiles are fully absorbed water so as not to cause hollowing, shedding, or even cracks. Hallowing yun yung kapak kasi pag halimbawa hindi na-flowy yung mixture natin so hindi na sya masyadong mag-perform doon sa likod so magkakaroon sya ng void or hollow. So we do the whole procedure of covering the whole backsplash area na minakahan natin until halos mapuno natin sya, leaving the edges kasi doon magpuputol na tayo. Our next step is to put tile edge trim para properly ma-terminate natin yung tile part sa painted na part. Many overlook this part pero this is as important actually as this will softens the transition where your tile ends and this will make the installation look more high-end and professional ito. Simple lang din naman to install, yung gagamitin din nating adhesive is yung adhesive din sa tiles and iipitin natin sya ng tiles para magiging malinis din yung pinagputulan nila. Using angle grinder, I then cut the tile for all the parts na hindi na buo ang mailanagay. I prefer this over typical tile cutter as I find it easier and flexible. If you notice, originally hindi natin sinama sa taped area yung sa part na pag-installan ng range hood pero since I find it awkward na iwan sya and we still have a lot of excess tiles kasi wala naman tayo masyadong nabasag kaya I decided to cover it na din. Using the same tile adhesive, we then proceed grouting and yung pinutol kong chinelas na applicator na tutunan ko din ito sa mga tile installers since wala akong mabiling applicator sa mga hardwares. We then apply grouts in between tiles or joints and the edges. To make it more effective, force the grout into the joints and make sure na walang malalagpasan na portion. For the final step, I waited until the grout has set or maybe around 1 to 3 hours then clean any remaining excess grouts or haze with a clean damp sponge. I hope you guys enjoyed this simple tutorial. If you have any questions or comments, make sure to drop me a line in the comment section below. By the way, I'm pushing to regularly upload videos every two weeks so I'll see you after two weeks. Maraming maraming salamag po sa panunood.