Installing a Slate Backsplash - the Easy Way.

Time to upgrade the house again. As always I try to keep it simple as I can but still make it come out looking high end.

I have extra slate tiles left over from another job, that means I can be creative.

Previously I had built a bar on the outdoor patio and tiled it with these slate tiles. All of the decoration Guru's said "try to bring the outside atmosphere in and this will create a really comfortable homey atmosphere. So I will show you how I installed a slate tile back splash the easy way, actually it was pretty cheap too.

Well I tried it and the wife loves it, some people hate it. So it's either you love it or hate it. Whether you like it or not is really not the point, it is how we did it that matters. Hopefully you will learn some new ideas or can provide some "positive" suggestions. Read on my friends and see all of th pictures on the last page.

If you have any suggestions on how this could have been made better, easier, safer etc. please post them.

Please let me know if you like how it came out or if you don't like it. Also please tell me why why you do or don't like it. You are welcome to rate it on a scale of 1-10 with 1 being "I hate it" or 10 "I absolutely love it."

Thank you for taking the time to read this "ible" and providing feedback.
Have a great day!

P.S. if you notice spelling or grammar errors please let me know so I may fix them :)

Step 1: Consumables List

1. (2) cases of 4 inch square engaged slate tiles from Home Depot. about $11 each x 2 (cases) = $22.00 (about 50 tiles per case)

2. (2) tubes of adhesive Loctite Power Grab

3. Caulking gun

4. (1) bag of Type S High Strength Mortar/Stucco Mix Gray (we had left overs from a previous job) $3.50 - $4.50 per 80lb bag Sakrete

5. (1) Roll blue painters tape] Tape

6. (1) Tile Sealant

7. Tile spaces (1/4 inch)

8. Rubber/latex gloves

Step 2: Tools List

1 angle grinder
1 dry tile saw blade
1 angle grinder conversion cutting kit form Harbor Freight $15
1 paint brush
1 Caulking gun
1 Black permanent marker (I used a sharpie).

Step 3: Safety Briefing

Lets take a moment to talk about some safety issues.

During this instructable use PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) and be aware of the following:

Eye protection - Flying debris, liquid chemicals, dry chemicals
Ear protection - Angle grinder noise
Hand protection (Gloves) - Caustic chemicals
Dust mask (Inhalants) - dry chemicals and tile dust
Sharps - Angle grinder dry tiles saw blade, sharp tiles pieces

BEWARE the mighty angle grinder!
The speed with which the grinder turns is extremely easy to take for granted, always respect your tools.

Step 4: Getting Started.

Make a plan of construction.

Our objective was to go for an old world look as well as blend the outside patio area with the inside kitchen. To do this we used the same tiles that we used on tiling our patio bar and half wall (instructable coming soon).

Since we used ungaged slate tiles (different thicknesses) we needed to figure out what we had to work with. We didn't want to put a really thick tile next to a really thin tile so we laid all the tiles out. We wanted an even flow to the tile.

When tiling you want to start in the center of the project and work your way to the out side. We did the following two things:

a. We offset the tiles in a brick layer style
b. We started from the bottom row and worked our way up. (We wanted to show only full tiles if possible, that was the reason for starting at the bottom.) The fewer the cuts the better.

Step 5: Beginning Row 1

Put on Safety Glasses

1. Load "Loctite Power Grab" adhesive in caulking gun

2. Lay out the tiles for the first row below where they will be attached to the wall.

3. Find the center of the wall and make a mark, a tile will be placed on each side the tile.

4. Pit a tile spacer centered exactly on the mark you made in step 3.

5. Start the first row of tiles. Pick up your first tile, squirt a dime size amount of adhesive on the back of the tile, and place it flush with the counter top edge. 'Push the tile on to the wall with even pressure to spread the adhesive out and hold it for a few seconds. INFO NOTE The back of a tile usually has grooves cut into it to hold the adhesive better.

6. Pick up the next tile and decided which direction you want to continue the line towards. Repeat adhesive instructions and place the tile on the wall. This time place a tile spacer between the first and second tiles.

7. Continue placing the first row of tiles until you have placed all the tiles that you can. Remember to put tile spacers in between each tile.

Step 6: Beginning Row 2

Beginning Row 2

1. Make sure you offset the tiles and continue placing tiles as you did on row 1.

Step 7: Beginning Row 3

1. Continue placing tiles and spacers until the row is completed.

2. Gaps where tiles need to be cut later are ok, they will be filled in soon enough.

Step 8: Beginning Row 4 (Final Row)

Row 4 is the top and final row in our project.

It is at this point that we will have to measure and cut every tile for this row.

1. Using the bricklaying pattern you can basically start this row anywhere you like.

2. Remember to put a spacer on top of row 3 when you are measuring your tile to be cut.

3. Place your tile flush underneath the cabinets and mark a line(with your black marker) even with the top of the spacer and that givers you your tile width to cut.

You can continue this for the entire length of row 4 or you can do a few and then go and cut them and start gluing them up.

4. Lets go to the next step and cut some tiles.

Step 9: Cut Some Tiles

Time to cut some tiles.

Since we are using a dry tile saw you will definitely want to cut the tiles outside. The dust factor here is something to think about.

SAFETY NOTE I recommend eye protection, ear protection, and a dust mask. Beware of cutting hazards.

This particular adapter can be dangerous this one will take a finger off in half a second. There are several ways to cut tile, but this was cost effective way for me.

I used this saw and cut all of my tiles in short time and created lots of dust. Stand upwind when cutting and wear a dust mask

Cut your tiles.

Lets go to the next step.

Step 10: Final Placement of Tiles.

Finish cutting all of your tiles and glue them to the wall.

We are now ready for the next step.

We are close to finishing.

Take a 10 minute break, get a drink or a snack (after you wash your hands).

Taking a break allows the adhesive to cure and also allows you to inspect your work so far.

After the break is over remove all of the tile spacers, save them you can reuse them on other projects.

It is time for the next step, grouting.

Step 11: Installing the Grout

Time to install the grout.

You will need your eye glasses and some rubber gloves (if you choose). SAFETY NOTE The grout mix is a little caustic and can also make your skin raw from rubbing sand particles. It is a wet version of sandpaper.

We used stucco mortar mix, because that is what we used outside. We also thought it gave a more old world look.

When mixing follow the instructions on the bag, for the type of application that you will be using it for.

Our mixture ended up a little thicker than ketchup.

Typically you use a trowel to apply grout. However, I have found this can get really messy. We used our hands and just pressed it into the gaps with our fingers. It was very easy to work with. It was still messy, grout always is, it was just less messy and less work to apply it by hand.

INFO NOTE We also only mixed a small amount at a time. Since our mixture was dryer than normal, it started to dry out in the bucket quicker than normal. So make it as you go. No need to mix up an entire 80lb bag.

Apply your grout. Let dry, Then with a wet rag or sponge wipe the tiles clean. you may have to do this 2-3 times or more. That's why I didn't use a trowel, trowels can really make a mess of small jobs.

Step 12: Applying Tile Sealant.

Make sure your grout has dried. Check to see if you need to wipe the tiles off again, make sure they are clean.

Follow the instructions on your product for applying the sealant.

Next pour a little tile sealant into your wifes (or mothers) best Tupperware ( no we men don't think about the repercussions of doing this).

Grab your paint brush and say in a very fun and loud voice " Wow this painting sure is fun I could do this all day." Next wait for daughter to come running in to ask if she can help. (Tom Sawyer psychology). Instruct daughter on application of sealant and watch her have a great time.

SAFETY NOTE You will see in the picture my daughter is not wearing her eye protection. I failed to enforce, provide, and instruct the use of eye glass safety. I was really kicking myself later when I came back and looked at the pictures. luckily there weren't any incidents.

The seal we used was also a gloss so things came out a bit shiny.

Step 13: The Review

It won't take long for the sealant, to dry.

Step back and take a look at the completed project. Good job.

Thank wife and daughter for their help and give praise for job well done.

I myself didn't like the glossy effect of the sealant, however my wife loved it (that's what is really important). I like the over all job and the look and it was easy. This project only took 1 day to accomplish. It adds a lot of character and ups the value of the house because it is considered an upgrade.

Final thoughts
This project was completed in Feb 2007 and I know we need more pictures for the various steps and close ups but i didn't take them at the time so I don't have any to post.

If these tiles are ever removed there will be a lot of patch work to be done because the glue works better than advertised.

I think the total cost for all of the supplies was under $50