My job in progress - kitchen splash back

[jgw1]

Hi all,

Time for some pay back for all the advice.

Here is the DIY job I am doing. I have cleaned up the kitchen here ready to start. I have the gas man coming wed to connect the hob next week and I am in desperate need of a sink so the primary objective is to focus on getting at least the course around these done asap - this will make sure that I can get them fitted and not have to worry about being able to get the trowel in afterwards.

I took off the tiles last week and last night skimmed the wall to make it level. Then this morning sanded this down.

Will try and post as I go along...

The hob:

IMG_20110115_185447.jpg

The sink/corner:

IMG_20110115_185457.jpg

[jgw1]

So just scored the backsplash and removed any bits and also put BAL sealant into the gap behind the worktop - these were quite big in places ~8mm so needed a fair old amount to make sure that the gap sealed.

This is just a back up as I'll use sealant to seal the worktop/tile join at the end. Now I am going to brush BAL bond SBR onto the splash back to seal the plasterboard prior to tiling (probably tomorrow).

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[mikethetile]

looking good so far

good luck tommorrow, take your time and enjoy it, stop when you have had enough

[hillhead]

Good look, looking good.

[jgw1]

Thanks, Im a bit nervous about tiling onto paint/old plasterboard as everything else I've done has been onto ply or hardibacker -which I have installed.

Anyway first coat of primer is on. Made a couple of mistakes. I bought SBR but you apply APD undiluted. I would have thought ABR would have been better as the drying time would be shorter and I have to apply two coats quicker.

Also should have laid the paper down after the primer - the diluted primer soaks into the paper and then you have to get it up to make sure that the primer underneath isn't going to stick to the worktop or mark it.

Also I could see when I applied the primer where the silicon I used to fill the gap was waterproofing the wall. I'd smeared it in place with my finger. So I had to break out the stanley again and rough up the wall just above the silicone.

[Dave]

You mean APD.?

[jgw1]

doh APD

[trevortine]

Yup, APD!!

[jgw1]

Put the second coat on leaving after an hour to dry. There isn't a drying time specified on the bottle but that means that I can go to bed now and give the walls time to dry overnight.

[Dave]

Look forward to the following pics..

[jgw1]

Right oh -

I mixed my BAL mosaic fix. It mixed quite stiff as you can see - I'd prefer that though as it means that the likelihood of slippage is reduced.

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[jgw1]

And here we are. First tiles in. Quite a fe of the mosaics have little chips. I can hide the worst but the colour body of the tile is similar to the face so they won't really be a problem with this and the grout in place.

IMG_20110116_132427.jpg

IMG_20110116_132448.jpg.

I bought 2.5mm spacers as these matched the sheet spacing - these have been invaluable as in some places the sheet compressed as I moved it around into position. The spacers were greate at re-setting the moasics out right.

[jgw1]

Have now cleaned my bucket and tools and ready to size up the tiles for the next batch. I have a socket to get round eek.

In the first tiles I laid I have now removed the spacers and cleaned them with a sponge. There is a slight white haze residue from the adhesive on the tiles from this wipe down - should I be worried about this now?

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[enduro]

I wouldnt worry about the residue, just make sure no adhesive is on the face of the tiles or coming through the grout joints. Looks good so far.

[jgw1]

I have just made my first cut to go around the socket. The nippers I bought - although rated fro procelain - aren't up to the job as the tiles are too thick.

Motorised tile cutter was OK but I had to use water. I have a problem now that the water seems to have set the glue on the webbing off and the two cut mosaics have come of the backing. It's all very sticky still.

What should I do? Not worry about it and carry on or not wet cut?

[Dave]

Thanks for the pics.. you should really have centred the hob area and worked left to right from that point.. it is a focal point.

[Scott]

Looks bang on, you have done well keeping them nice and even as you go. Its all too was for them to go a bit wobbly. You may be lucky with the layout as i reckon you could be close to centre even though you have started with a full tile from the corner.

[jgw1]

Thanks,

Looks like I have been lucky as there is a tile centered on the hob.

I have finished for the day now - just got to clean up and remove the spacers. I've acheived what I wanted to -I can grout and silicone behind the hob prior to the gas bloke coming to connect it and get the sink in.

I have a slight worry about the gap between the tiles and the underneath of the units (see photo). This has moved up to around 7mm. It looks a bit unsightly but with a 2.5mm spacing and a similar gap at the top it would mean fitting a 2mm tile run eek.

I think that I'll leave it as it is and put up with filling the gap with grout. What do you guys think.

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Here's the gap:

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[Brinkley]

can you drop the unit down a bit i like to tile first putting the cupboards sitting on top of the tiles

[jgw1]

That's a good idea. Cheers. I won't be able to make it meet the tile but I will be able to make it look better.

[Scott]

Whats off level the tiles or the units? Are you having a pelmet along the bottom of the unit?

[jgw1]

Looks like it is the unit.

I bought the material for a pelmet, but need to buy/hire a mitre saw to fit it. So basically yes if I decide to go for it

The whole kitchen, except for gas, electrics and worktop, is my work.

[Scott]

Then drop the wall unit down and the peplemt will cover any other discrepancies from eye level.

Watch that hob with the adhesive and grout on it so it doenst scratch it

[jgw1]

Cheers Scottley,

Just lowered it and the grout space is the same height across the wall now - that makes it look a lot better. Thanks

[jgw1]

Here is a breif update. I mixed up 2.5Kg of Mapei Ultracolour Chocolate grout and grouted around the hob and the sink. These mosaics really eat grout!

It seems to be OK and have pasted some pics below. I know it is a bit weird finishing all the tiling before this but this is the best way for me to get a hot meal and be able to wash up next week.

I have cleaned down the excess and lightly cleaned with a sponge but there is still a grout haze on the tiles. I think that if I keep cleaning and the sponge and going over it again and again I'll just keep leaching out grout.

However I am a bit worried about leaving the grout to develope a haze - will it be OK to clean down tomorrow night? Same for the worktop - that has a haze in places - does grout stain worktops?

Mapei grout mixed in bucket, 2.5Kg of powder took about 30min to apply so was about right for me:
IMG_20110117_200148.jpg

It's quite stiff when mixed, I left it for 2-3 min as per instructions. Oddly though it could go quite slack in the joints
IMG_20110117_200205.jpg

Close up of tiles after clean up:
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Tiles after cleaning:
IMG_20110117_212005.jpg

[Brinkley]

well done looking good jgw1

[jgw1]

Thanks,

I don't know if I could handle 3 more buckets of brown grout, the stress of making sure I don't get it anywhere I shouldn't isn't good for me.

[Scott]

It does slacken off after a a while. Can be a right pain if its mixed a little too wet start with. The haze will be fine if its just a fine haze. It can be ither wiped off as a dust if its really fine or a little more elbow grease if its a touch thicker. Otherwise another sponging off will do it.

Doesnt it get everywhere though? You should try the anthracite one its worse!