Any tricks we should know before tiling the kitchen sink area? *UPDATE June 16 FINISHED*

[abc]

so its 88 and it can do the job? what does a model with more money get you that this one wont? btw thanks i'm probably going this weekend...

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: abc
so its 88 and it can do the job? what does a model with more money get you that this one wont? btw thanks i'm probably going this weekend...

How much cutting do you have? A score & snap with a dremel for the L-cuts will suffice if you don't have a lot of cutting to do... Also the size of tiles matters, since you can't easily score the big ones!

 

[StageLeft]

bump first post

 

[bootymac]

I think you could've done a way better job with the tiling around the socket...
What tools are you using?

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: bootymac
I think you could've done a way better job with the tiling around the socket...
What tools are you using?

Dremel and score and snap. I'm actually redoing the socket right now. I had low standards at first. It'sonly so nice you can do without a tile saw, but I'm doing better with a recut now, and I'll just bust those old ones out...

 

[bootymac]

Thought you had a tile saw, sorry. It would make everything a lot easier 😛

edit: oh yeah, is it possible to have the socket faceplate rest on the tiles? If you can, just leave a lip of tile when you cut it to go under the faceplate.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: bootymac
Thought you had a tile saw, sorry. It would make everything a lot easier 😛

edit: oh yeah, is it possible to have the socket faceplate rest on the tiles? If you can, just leave a lip of tile when you cut it to go under the faceplate.

I suppose it's possible, but I'd planned on grouting right up flush with the faceplate, then pulling the plate away until the grout is dry, and then screwing it in.

Oops 😱 I just broke my drill bit/grinder. It was getting worn anyway. It promptly decided to stop cutting halfway through a tile just now and I kept going until I saw red. Then it snapped. I'll buy another tomorrow, but I may bail on redoing that outlet I have on the first post. I have one other one like it, cut a touch better...I'll still buy that new bit and fix this tile up (the existing tiles - where they join, so that it looks straighter), but I may just grout that large gap. The dremel does a poor job at cutting thin sections of the tile - especially if you don't have a proper table (I'm bracing it within the pages of a textbook with a 70lb dumbell on top and then guiding with the dremel accessory hehe).

 

[drnickriviera]

ew ew, yea you definately need to redo those outlets

Here is an electric wall heater in a bath I recently did. See how clean it looks when the tile goes under
Pic1


You need to cut the tiles to the black lines. Unscrew the switches from the box. After the tile is dry and you have grounted, then put the switches and outlets back on. If you goofed up a little cutting a tile and the coverplate doesn't hide it. Get an oversized plate. The usually have 3 sizes. normal, midsize and oversize.
pic2


These little details make all the difference. I still say rent a wet saw

 

[Bryophyte]

I third the motion to make the face plate go over the tiles. It would look much neater, and leaves you the option of changing faceplates for different sized ones in the future.

 

[bunker]

Gaahh..Skoorb!! Take the face plates off, use washers behind the outlet screws to bring the outlets out further, tile close to the outlet, put the plate back on so it sits on top of the tile!!!

 

[Sluggo]

OK posted a few pics of my backsplash to guide you 🙂

Backsplash done in 18"x18" floor tile (yes I did it myself)

How a finished plug should look

Better view of a finished plug

backed off view

with the faceplate off Notice how the "ears" of the outlet rest on the tile itself. The plate cover is big enough to cover the overcut in the corner. Yes those are drywall screws holding the outlet in the plastic box.

A more difficult one that is close to the edge of the tile

If anyone was wondering...YES, it is very difficult to cut outlet boxes out of the middle of the face of the tile. It took me and my Father In Law, a big wet saw and about 3 broken tiles for everyone one we managed to get done. It was a huge mess, but I love the look of the bigger backsplash tiles.

 

[EagleKeeper]

I agreee with replacing the tiles.

Only cut enough of the tile ouit for the actual socket.

Place the faceplate over the time, not flush with it.

 

[StageLeft]

Bump

 

[bunker]

I guess as long as you like the way it looks, no big deal 🙂.

Just pray one of your sockets doesn't go bad and you have to grind out the grout and re-grout to replace it.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: bunker
I guess as long as you like the way it looks, no big deal 🙂.

Just pray one of your sockets doesn't go bad and you have to grind out the grout and re-grout to replace it.

I was never going to grout it in place anyway, but just have the grout go straight up to the face plate and then pull the plate while the grout dries, after using the plate to get the 'cut' right with the grout. But, now that I can get jumbo plates it's moot, since I cut close enough for these jumbos to cover my gaps, so nobody will ever be the wiser.

 

[Bitek]

Originally posted by: Sluggo
OK posted a few pics of my backsplash to guide you 🙂

Backsplash done in 18"x18" floor tile (yes I did it myself)

How a finished plug should look

Better view of a finished plug

backed off view

with the faceplate off Notice how the "ears" of the outlet rest on the tile itself. The plate cover is big enough to cover the overcut in the corner. Yes those are drywall screws holding the outlet in the plastic box.

A more difficult one that is close to the edge of the tile

If anyone was wondering...YES, it is very difficult to cut outlet boxes out of the middle of the face of the tile. It took me and my Father In Law, a big wet saw and about 3 broken tiles for everyone one we managed to get done. It was a huge mess, but I love the look of the bigger backsplash tiles.

Nice job, that kitchen/backsplash looks awesome! Lovely cabinets too!

 

[StageLeft]

Up

 

[StageLeft]

up~!

 

[StageLeft]

bump update

 

[Eli]

Looks like the Dremel did it's job! 🙂

Looks nice!