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Family Room: Countertop Tiling, Part 1 How to install recycled glass tile From "Home Transformations" episode DHTR-202

Before the rough counter is tiled, the surface gets leveled. See how Michael Ray and the Hortons create a leveling form and level the surface using a process called "screeding."

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E
	Figure F
	Figure G
	Figure H

Materials:

tile cutter (aka: wet saw)
thin set mortar
cellophane
1/4" square notched trowel
1/8" – spacers
side grinder
small putty knife
1/4" – Plywood
double sided tape
grout bag
sanded grout
sponge
rags
bucket of water
6" knife
recycled glass tile
sea glass
leveling compound
cellophane
level
cement backer board
mud pan
circular saw
hand drill
wood screws
cement board fasteners
mud mixer
utility knife

Countertop Tiling

1. After discovering that an existing counter top is not even (figure A), the next step would be to pour on leveling compound.

2. Wrap plastic around plywood to act as form around the edges of the counter (figure B). The form will hold the compound in place, and the plastic wrap will keep the compound from sticking to the plywood.

3. To mix the leveling compound, use enough water to get a "pancake" batter-like consistency.

4. Apply the batter to the countertop and use another board and trowel to level the surface (figure C). The process is called screeding.

5. Let the compound set for two hours. Once dry, remove the plywood form (figure D). Score and cut cement backerboard to fit (figure E). Cement backerboard provides a stable base for tiling. It's the preferred board for tiling.

6. Attach the cement board with cement fasteners (figure F).

7. With the countertop level, lay out the tile. Find and mark the center point of the counter (figure G).

8. Dry fit the tile before installing it.

9. Once the layout of the tiles is established, cut the tiles to size with a wet saw (figure H).

10. Mix thinset mortar to the consistency of peanut butter (figure I). Thinset is basically a mixture of sand, lime and cement. Thinset needs to set for about 10 minutes and then be remixed before it's ready to be applied.

11. Using a quarter-inch notch trowel, apply the thinset to the counter top. Butter the back of each tile (figure J).

12. Set the tile in place and insert spacers (figure K).

Figure I

Figure J

Figure K

Tiling Techniques Center For more information on tiling inside your home, visit DIY's Tiling Techniques Center.

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