There are several ways to border a tile backsplash. Using tile itself is one of the best. If you don't want to deal with the durability and maintenance issues of putting wooden trim around the edges, get bullnose tiles, which are like regular wall tiles but are finished on one edge. That edge forms the border of your backsplash. The bullnose tiles can completely match the ``field'' tiles (as the main span of tiles are called), or you can pick entirely different colors and designs to set off the border from the rest of the backsplash.
Things You'll Need
- Level
- Square
- Pencil
- Tape measure
- Tile adhesive
- Adhesive trowel
- Wall tiles
- Bullnose tiles
- 1/8-inch tile spacers
- Tile cutter
- Grout
- Grout float
- Sponge
- Caulk gun with caulk
Instructions
1
Mark on a border on the wall where you want the perimeter of the main tiles of the backsplash to be (not including the bullnose tiles around the edges), using your level, square and tape measure. Mark a vertical line through the center of it.
2
Mark a second perimeter, around the first, to show where you want your bullnose tiles to go. The outer line should be as far outside the inner line as the width of a bullnose tile, plus 1/8 inch.
3
Spread tile adhesive over the whole inner area. Press your wall tiles into place, starting at the bottom row in the middle. Put spacers between the tiles, and at the bottom of the lowest row as well (to separate them from the countertop). Cut the end tiles as needed on your tile cutter.
4
Set your bullnose outer perimeter in place by "buttering" the back of each bullnose tile and setting it next to the inner tiles. Make sure the finished edge of each bullnose tile faces out from the backsplash. Separate them with tile spacers. Cut the bullnose tiles at the corners and by the countertop as needed.
5
Let all the tiles set overnight.
6
Pull out the spacers. Grout the whole backsplash, using your grout float to spread the grout over the tile face, pressing it into the lines between the tiles. Don't grout the horizontal joint between the bottom row of tiles and the countertop. Wipe off the excess grout with a damp sponge.
7
Let the grout set overnight.
8
Run a bead of caulk in the horizontal joint between the bottom row of tiles and the countertop.
Tips & Warnings
Wear eye protection when using your tile cutter.
Source: www.eHow.com
