Tiling a Kitchen Island
By: Amanda Campbell
Updated: August 13, 2010
This is a great project if you have a large kitchen that has a good size island workplace in the center. Cover the top of your plain white island with a decorative tile that will help give the kitchen some color and some style.
1. Do a dry fit with your tile. Put your first piece flush with the edges.
* This will help you create the pattern you want.
* and show you if the tiles will fit.
2. If you have an overhang (like we did on our show), you can solve this problem by bringing out the rounded corners with some lumber to make it square.
* Or you could cut the tile
3. Because we had a 2" overhang, we took two 1x2s and cut them to fit and attached one on each side. (This squares up the corners, plus gives us an inch and a half on each side so we’ll have a good grout line).
4. Make sure your extension is flush with the countertops.
5. You can use 2 1/2" screws to attach the pieces.
6. Use a sander or sandpaper to roughen the laminate surface.
7. Now you can lay the tile.
8. Use a notched trowel to spread the mastic on.
9. Leave a small space between the tiles for the grout line.
10. If you have a border, do another dry fit.
11. Remember to leave a small space for the grout line.
12. Apply mastic, and lay the tile down.
13. Now you can apply the end piece.
14. Leave enough space for the grout line.
15. You can fill the corners with corner pieces that come with the tile kit.
16. Wait at least 48 hours for the mastic to dry.
17. Use a float to apply the grout.
18. After the grout dries (takes a few minutes), take a damp sponge and wipe the excess off.
19. Use a bucket of water.
20. You just need a damp sponge; don't soak it.
1. Do a dry fit with your tile. Put your first piece flush with the edges.
* This will help you create the pattern you want.
* and show you if the tiles will fit.
2. If you have an overhang (like we did on our show), you can solve this problem by bringing out the rounded corners with some lumber to make it square.
* Or you could cut the tile
3. Because we had a 2" overhang, we took two 1x2s and cut them to fit and attached one on each side. (This squares up the corners, plus gives us an inch and a half on each side so we’ll have a good grout line).
4. Make sure your extension is flush with the countertops.
5. You can use 2 1/2" screws to attach the pieces.
6. Use a sander or sandpaper to roughen the laminate surface.
7. Now you can lay the tile.
8. Use a notched trowel to spread the mastic on.
9. Leave a small space between the tiles for the grout line.
10. If you have a border, do another dry fit.
11. Remember to leave a small space for the grout line.
12. Apply mastic, and lay the tile down.
13. Now you can apply the end piece.
14. Leave enough space for the grout line.
15. You can fill the corners with corner pieces that come with the tile kit.
16. Wait at least 48 hours for the mastic to dry.
17. Use a float to apply the grout.
18. After the grout dries (takes a few minutes), take a damp sponge and wipe the excess off.
19. Use a bucket of water.
20. You just need a damp sponge; don't soak it.
