DIY Kitchen Backsplash

We got most of our kitchen renovation done last summer and it involved a handful of DIYs. I will focus on the backsplash project in this post and do the full tour once we finish the last bit this summer!

Note: Make sure to wear appropriate masks and work outside if possible when working with materials that generate silica dust, including spackling paste, tile, mortar, and grout.

Preparation

Our kitchen has a gallery layout with the range and sink on opposite walls. First, we patched up uneven areas on using spackling paste and lightly sanded once dry. We cleaned the other areas with mild soap and water to make sure the tiles would stick well. We then removed the outlet covers and covered the countertop with newspaper and painter’s tape.

We picked out marble tiles with lovely white and gray variations to go with our gray cabinets and terrazzo quartz countertops. The initial plan was to score and snap the tiles as you would with ceramic tiles, but we learned that marble has to be cut with a diamond blade wet saw. We went with this one, which isn’t the fanciest but definitely got the job done. Shout out to my husband for cutting the tiles, drizzle or shine!

The Fun Part: Tiling

Beginning from the bottom, I applied the adhesive using a trowel and spread it with the edge of the trowel at an angle to create an even surface. I would recommend googling videos to see this process in action. I then placed the tiles one row at a time, using spacers in between.

The toughest part was keeping the area behind the range level since the bottom tiles had nothing to stand on. I did end up pushing some tiles around to make sure they didn’t sag.

Things seemed to go smoothly with the sink wall until we had a change of heart. Initially, we were going to wrap the backsplash around to the side like the previous owners had done. By the next morning we realized how ridiculous it looked and took the tiles down. Luckily, the adhesive was still wet enough to rub off. I used the remaining tiles to make the backsplash higher on the main wall.

Sealing

After waiting 24 to 72 hours for the adhesive to dry, I applied a generous amount of the impregnator sealer with a large sponge. You will definitely want to open all of your windows. Per instructions, I waited 3 to 5 minutes before wiping away the excess with a paper towel. I repeated this process 3 times since marble is very porous, then waited 6 to 12 hours before grouting.

Grouting

I mixed water and grout and stirred according to the instructions. Once the mixture was ready, I used a float to fill in the gaps between the tiles. I used a damp sponge to gently rub off the excess within the first 30 minutes. I went back 3 hours later with a cheese cloth to remove the haze on the tiles. This process was surprisingly tedious. Next time, I would get a smaller float and try to get as much grout off as possible within the first 30 minutes.

One mistake was sealing the grout on the stove wall. It slightly yellowed the bright white color so I chose not to seal it on the sink wall. Once that was done, we replaced the outlet covers and used wall plate spacers to accommodate the new depth.

Caulking

Lastly, I caulked the edges touching the walls, countertops, cabinets, and windows for a finished look. Using painter’s tape is the way to go – smoothing out the caulk with your finger is so satisfying!