How to make a kitchen countertop from tiles with your own hands: instructions from the master

Tile countertops are distinguished by their practicality It’s no secret that the main quality of a kitchen is maximum convenience and functionality. One of the essential elements of the kitchen is the countertop, which can be easily made from ceramic tiles with your own hands..

Why tiles

The tile worktop can be wiped off quickly and easily. Can also be placed on top of the tiles for hot dishes

By itself, ceramic tiles are one of the most suitable materials for the work surface, since the tiles are not afraid of physical impact, are easy to clean and have a pleasant appearance..

And if you create a tiled countertop yourself, it will become a source of pride for the whole family. How to do this work yourself and avoid mistakes, you will learn below..

Material selection

When choosing a material for a tile countertop, consider all the pros and cons of this material

The choice of tiles is not accidental. It is a durable, functional and visually appealing material. You can clean the tiles with regular soap or dishwashing detergent..

In addition to purely ceramic tiles, you can use porcelain stoneware tiles. It is more durable and is not inferior in its properties to natural stone. However, its price is higher compared to conventional tiles..

And the options for tile color effects available now allow you to create absolutely any solution in your kitchen. Also popular are mosaic sets of small tiles for the kitchen, which can also be used to decorate the work area..

The color scheme of the countertop can be completely different. Here you can only be limited by your imagination. The table top can be monotonous, have a simple pattern of multi-colored tiles (for example, stripes of different colors), or carry a full mosaic pattern of multi-colored tiles. It is only important to observe the harmony of color. The end result should fit into the overall color scheme of the kitchen..

The size of the tiles must be selected based on the size of the room. In large kitchens, it is better to use tiles with dimensions of 30×30 cm or more. Small tiles will look great in compact kitchens – 15×15 or 10×10 cm, as well as mosaic tiles with a size of up to 6×6 cm.

Advice: Do not use ribbed tiles on horizontal surfaces. Uneven tiles are more pleasant to the touch, however, they have several disadvantages. Water and dirt can stagnate in the hollows, which will then be difficult to remove with your own hands..

Required tool

Before you start laying tiles, read the rules and procedure for installing tiles.

We mentioned above what kind of tile is needed. However, you don’t have to spend a lot of money on new tiles. The old one left after renovation in the bathroom or toilet is also quite suitable..

It is easy to cut old tiles into small pieces on your own without the help of professionals, for this you need a special machine – a tile cutter. Finished small tiles can be used to create a mosaic pattern.

In addition to the ceramic tiles themselves for construction work, you will also need:

Chipboard 2-6mm thick;
Tile;
Building level;
Three spatulas – notched, plain and rubber;
Moisture resistant tile adhesive;
PVA glue;
Silicone sealant with an antifungal composition (choose the color of the sealant based on the color of the tiles and the interior of the room as a whole);
tile grout;
tile cutter;
jigsaw;
self-tapping screws 4-6 cm;
screwdriver.

Table top base

Choose the base of the tabletop carefully, because the long-term of the entire tabletop will depend on the quality of the base.

The base for the countertop is made by hand from thin sheets of chipboard, which are later tiled with tiles.

The stationary version of the table top is best suited. The tile applied to the surface of the countertop or cabinet will add a lot of weight to it, as a result, moving the countertop will become a very time-consuming work, and it will be very difficult to do it on your own. If you decide to make the tabletop movable, then install 4 legs of medium length (3-5 cm) or wheels with a stopper below.

Chipboard sheets must be prepared by treating with moisture-proof impregnation for 2 times. If this is not done, the base may swell on exposure to humid air and deform the worktop..

With the help of wooden blocks, chipboard sheets are knocked down into the frame of the future countertop. The frame is fastened with nails, and the sheets are fixed already on self-tapping screws. This gives us a rough base for the tile. Now you need to fix the finishing layer of wood on it..

Glue is applied to the inner sheets of the material. A sheet of the finishing surface is applied to the glue, which is also attached around the perimeter with self-tapping screws in increments of 10-15 cm. A painting net is attached to the finishing sheets with the help of glue.

Facing with tiles

After carefully reading the tips from kitchenremont, it will not be difficult for you to get the desired result.

As in the bathroom, countertop tiles are fixed with a specially prepared mortar. Before applying the solution, we nail a kind of formwork to the base – thin slats with a cross section of 2×2 cm, which will need to be gradually removed. The cement is placed on the surface enclosed by slats. Using spatulas, the cement mass is spread over the entire plane.

The tiles are laid evenly on the leveled cement. To maintain even gaps between the tiles, special crosses are used. Laying ceramic tiles begins from the outside or from the entrance to the interior of the room. If the whole tile does not fit into the remaining gap, it is cut using a tile cutter – a special tool similar to the bed.

In order to cut the tile without unnecessary defects on your own, draw a cut line on the inside with a pencil or felt-tip pen. On the outside along the cut line, glue the tape. This will prevent the tiles from chipping and cracking. The cut edge, if necessary, is processed with coarse sandpaper or a file.

The ends of the countertop are lined exclusively with cut pieces of tiles, starting from the bottom. After laying, the bottom row must be secured with masking tape. To do this, glue a strip of tape horizontally along the entire row, going to the sides. This will prevent the tiles from shifting under their own weight..

When the cement has completely set, it is necessary to remove the formwork and fill the joints with the remaining solution.

Grouting

Allow time for the solution to take hold – so the tabletop will be strong and reliable.

The last step is to grout the joints between the tiles. First, wipe off the excess glue that has emerged during installation from the tile itself.

Advice: If the glue is dry and won’t rub off, dampen it with plenty of water. After 5 minutes, the glue can be removed by hand without a special tool.

Remove excess glue with a sponge or damp cloth. We also remove excess cement mortar..

Dilute a small portion of the grout so that it has the consistency of sour cream. Dilute exactly as much grout as you need in this area of work. If you dilute the entire composition at once, the mass will set before you finish the work..

Using a rubber trowel, fill all joints with grout. Try to fill the seams evenly, without gaps or gaps. Excess mass is transferred with a spatula to another place, and stains are removed with a damp cloth or sponge..

When the grout is completely dry, your worktop will be completely ready to use..

Advice: it takes about a day for grout, glue and cement to completely solidify. During this period, it is better not to use the countertop and protect the surface from physical exertion..

Do-it-yourself tile countertop for the kitchen (video)

We also recommend watching this video:

Conclusion

Before using your new countertop, you need to wipe the tile surface with a damp cloth and remove construction dust, grout or cement mortar residues.

As you have seen, making a tile countertop with your own hands is easy, the main thing is to follow our instructions and not rush. Happy renovation!