A tile backsplash is one of the quickest easiest ways to improve your kitchen without spending an arm and a leg to get it done. There are certain pointers and techniques that I've learned over 30+ years of tile installation that will make the job more manageable.
The first consideration is the tile you pick out; it makes all the difference in the world. Remember a kitchen backsplash is a "right in your face" kind of tile installation . You will see it many times each day and it's the first thing seen by anyone who ever goes into your kitchen, Make sure you pick out a tile that compliments your décor. If you plan on doing the [DIY] tile yourself it's probably a good idea to keep it simple.
There are some extraordinary glass tiles available at Home Depot or Lowes for great prices or online. Be aware If you shop at a tile store the designers there tend to market/push more intricate tiles and more complicated iinstallation designs. As you add to the intricacy of the design then you also add to the complication of the installation. Subway tile is about the easiest installation out there and some pencil strips of color all along on top of a row of tile is a nice simple custom installation yet still uncomplicated. 4 inch by 4 inch tile in squares with some deco tiles added in also is a non complicated colorful installation. Each of these tile installations require no spacers because they are self spacing tile and use unsanded grout. Glass mosaic tile has some complications in cutting the material and it would be advantageous to pick out a glass tile that will require at least cutting as possible. 1/2 inch squares or 1 inch squares usually fall close enough to corners and under cabinets that little cutting is necessary . When installing a backsplash I would recommend using Thinset concrete and not a adhesive because of clean up and grouting issues. Just remember thin set is concrete and ALWAYS wash it off your tile before it dries or tomorrow you will need a chisel.
There is a secret I am about to share with you now about glass tile installation that makes all the difference in the world because of the nature of the material. Some glass tile is transparent and you can see right through it. Other types of glass tile are very, very thin and it is impossible to thinset the tile to the wall without getting thinset in all the joints of the
and hampering grout coverage.
The info I am about to give you I have NEVER shared publicly before and Is a method I figured out on my own some years ago. When installing glass tile I always use unsanded grout and I get a shade darker grout than what I want as a finished color. NOW here it is:
Using white thinset mix the grout color into your thinset and color your thinset to your grout color the ratio would be about 2 parts thinset to 1 part grout .
You could also do this with acrylic paint coloring your thinset to the desired grout color. Then your transparent tile shows behind the tile and any thinset bleeding through the joints with thin tile will cover with grout. I've been installing glass tile in this manner for many years and have had great success as you can see below .
 |
| Marble Mosaic Picture Framed Backsplash |
|
 |
6”by 6” Tile Picture Frame | Hand Cut 3” dots
|
|
 |
Pencil Trim Marble Picture Around Marble Mosaic
|
 |
Glass Subway Tile with Diamond Design
|
|
 |
Flower Marble Backsplash Behind Stove
|
|
 |
Glass and Marble Tile Backsplash
|
|
 |
4 by 4 Tile with Glass Tile Mosaic Tile
|
|
|
Custom Glass Tile Countertops with Colored Thinset
 |
Rainbow Glass Mosaic Tile
|
|
 |
Flower Design Marble Tile Backsplash
|
|
 |
| 3 ft by 6 inch Tile with Design Strip Custom Backsplash |
|
|
 |
Teardrop Glass Tile Cut at Every Straight Edge
|
|
|
 |
|
Glass Tile Fireplace With Colored Thinset Used to Grout this 90 sq ft of Tile
|
|
 |
Glass Tile Centered Backsplash with Travertine Border
|
 |
Glass and Travertine with Marble Pencil Border with 45 Degree Angle Cut
|
|
 |
Mother of Pearl Glass Backsplash
|
|
 |
Rainbow Multi-Color 1” Glass Mosaic Tile
|
|
I hope this info on backsplashes has been helpful to you and as always I'm here to field any questions you have to help you out thanks Chris
