Tile Back-splash

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rbrandenburg

Member
Joined
Feb 23, 2014
Posts
7
Location
Kettering, Ohio
So we have finished remodeling the kitchen area of our 28' TT. Basically, we changed the counter layout from an angled sink to a squared off L-shaped counter which increased the counter space by 75%. The existing walls have a wall-paper trim at the counter level which got torn when removing the old counter.

Instead of replacing the wall-paper trim, the wife wants to investigate adding a tile backslash. Anyone know if this is feasible? Will tile mastic stick to the walls? Will the grout crack? Is there any special grout for this application?

Thanks for any ideas...

Randy
 

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I just added some glass tile. The adhesive is premixed and so is the grout. One customer I had got some smart tiles from H. D. Looks like the real deal, cuts with scissors.
 
I am awaiting the  online special order for  the  Home Depot Smart Tiles.  I will report my findings when package arrives.  I did get the utility knife in mail today.  "They " say you cut tiles with this knife, no grout.

 
those smart tiles are a way lot easier to install then the glass blocks I used. You can cut around the rounded corners of window frames.
 
I just completed a project with glass mosaic tile. I used a powdered (add water) thinset for glass tile and a powdered (add water) sandless grout. I used edging (can't think of proper term or brand name) made for tile that I got at the big box store.  Included a couple pictures of the results.
 

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Betty Brewer said:
I am awaiting the  online special order for  the  Home Depot Smart Tiles.  I will report my findings when package arrives.  I did get the utility knife in mail today.  "They " say you cut tiles with this knife, no grout.

The package arrived today and it was in a manilla envelope.  I had read the reviews on this Smart Tile so I  was forewarned on how flimsy it would look.  It is like a very heavy duty contact paper.  I  measured twice or  3 times  and taped up a few squares to see if I really liked the color or not. I decided I liked it and was so excited to start  my project that I just dove into it.  First  I removed all  the clutter from my bathroom  counter top.  No easy task as most items are glued sown with earthquake  putty.  Then I cleaned the bathroom counter, sink, wall and decided to oil the wood.  This is what took the longest, the clean up  before you start stuff.  It needed a good cleaning anyway.

I had wall on both sides of my project  that gave me nice edges and did not leave any unfinished looking edges.  This stuff is  SO EASY to work with.  It is flexible enough for measuring.  Cuts well with box cutter type knife and straight edge or you can just trim with scissors.  The  backing peels off very easily and if you  goof up you can gently pull it back to straighten  the  thing out.  Photos show before sink and plain backsplash, the  10 inch square  size it comes in, my  progress along the way, the  finished tiles  and the bathroom recluttered, (We do use  the  place) and another before  photo.
 

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Very inspiring and lovely. You did a great job.  Thanks for sharing.  Do you know if this is a suitable product do use as stove surround backsplash?  Heat resistant?
 
djr311 said:
Very inspiring and lovely. You did a great job.  Thanks for sharing.  Do you know if this is a suitable product do use as stove surround backsplash?  Heat resistant?

The packaging came with a warning as to how far it needed to be from heat.  I do not think it is  a good stove backsplash for that reason.  I will dig up the packaging and get  exact  wording to you and get back to you.k  I  removed one tile using heat from a hair dryer cause that loosened the glue.  Heat from stove top  likely would not be good.
 
djr311 said:
.  Do you know if this is a suitable product do use as stove surround backsplash?  Heat resistant?

The  package says, CAUTION For  gas ranges without a back control panel or metal plate, you must preserve a safety zone  ( without Smart Tiles) of 15 inches on back wall to prevent direct exposure to open flames. and then it shows photos .  I learned a lot by watching the videos  and reading reviews on their web site.    www.thesmarttiles.com
 
Thank you for taking the time and trouble to post the response.  I can use this in our bathroom but definitely do not have that much space to play with around the stove top.  Thank you for saving me some time, trouble and money.  Yours is still an inspiration for bath area.  Older TT so always looking for ways to put lipstick on the pig.  Your before and after pics are great!  Did you use the museum putty to attach your items to bathroom counter top and does it work satisfactorily and keep items from moving in transit?
 
djr311 said:
  Older TT so always looking for ways to put lipstick on the pig.  Your before and after pics are great!  Did you use the museum putty to attach your items to bathroom counter top and does it work satisfactorily and keep items from moving in transit?

Yes I use the  Museum Putty to hold items in place and YES it works very well.  You roll it up like a fat string about the diameter of a straw and adhere it to bottom edge  of item , then press down on your clean dry surface and voila your item stays in place. I get it at Michaels or Home Depot.  My photo shows some stuff under baskets which is not the  putty.  When  I removed the putty from baskets to clean underneath, it  left a residue that  I did not want to get on counter so what you see are folded  paper towels  temporary until I can get new putty installed.  If you do the putty right, none of it will show from  outside of item.  And yes I understand lipstick on a pig!  Those tiles really dressed up the place and they look even better in person. Looks like glass tile but  it is a heavy  plastic kind of stuff that wipes down very well!  Good  luck.
 
For that project in the bathroom, did you have to use a backing board or prepare the wall in any way to accept that tile?  Thx
 
cgmartin said:
For that project in the bathroom, did you have to use a backing board or prepare the wall in any way to accept that tile?  Thx

Nope, the directions said to wash the  wall well and to be sure it was dry.  I applied it right over the existing "wallpaper" that was on the wall when it was built.  The  tile sticks on like contact paper.  But it is thick and  pretty substantial.  It would go around  curved surfaces as well and it  trims well with an exacto knife or  scissors. The tiles over lap leaving an "grout" line so  it is  very forgiving on a fit and not noticeable seams at all.  I am very  picky and I liked it a  lot.  I did read reviews on their website for  tips on installation which was helpful as it  come with almost no instructions on package.
 
Liked what Betty did so much I went to Homodepoto and looked at the smart tiles...just when I thought I wasn't putting any more money in the RV Betty comes up with this...Thanks Betty ;) ;)
 
catblaster said:
Liked what Betty did so much I went to Homodepoto and looked at the smart tiles...just when I thought I wasn't putting any more money in the RV Betty comes up with this...Thanks Betty ;) ;)

Oh Will, you are quite welcome.  I should thank who ever first posted about the Smart tiles, cost me  $  too.  BUT my little project was done with one package of times ( 6 squares) and cost just under $55.  Where did you find a Home Depot who carried them in stock?  I looked at several and they did not carry them, in fact  employees never heard of them.  I was afraid to buy something I had never seen but they wanted $10 for a sample plus $8 shipping.  So I just went ahead and  ordered the pack of 6 tiles from Home Depot's online store.  The utility knife was a good  purchase too.  It helps to have the right tools!  ( I learned that from dear Hubby) So to do  a large area could add up but not nearly as much as time or trouble than tile with  tile cuts, grout, mess. 
 
Hi Betty, I went to the home depot website and it showed a limited number of styles in stock at the stores with the rest available only on line. I wanted the Bellagio but it claims to be available only online but they had it in stock at the store. As soon as DW approves I will start another although simple project.

Planning on putting it around the stove also but since the back is protected with the cover I made a stainless steel plate to lean against the right side closest to the stove.....should work out.

What I like most besides it being an easy install is the light weight. Thanks again Betty
 
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