Kitchens
Installing an outdoor kitchen countertop
It’s important that exterior 3/4″ CDX plywood is installed as a base for a mortar bed and tile. Because this is an outdoor installation it is important to coat the plywood with a waterproofing membrane. Here we used Ardex 8+9. Next we installed mortar bed reinforcing wire directly to the membrane. Sink rail is nailed…
Read MoreSetting up a dust-reducing barrier
This job required us to grind off the shiny finish of a granite backsplash so that we could install ceramic tile over it. This creates dust. In order to minimize the amount of dust circulating around the house we used telescoping poles to seal off the area with plastic sheeting. The poles needed to be…
Read MoreFree form glass mosaic backsplash
This was a challenging but fun project installing tiny glass in an irregular shape. It was installed over a recycled glass counter top. The homeowners chose penny round accents that picked up some of the colors of the recycled glass counter top. We tried to replicate the feeling of rolling waves.
Read MoreVintage kitchen transformation
Do you think I can bring this kitchen back to its former classic self? The homeowner wanted to retain this kitchen’s vintage style. The exact size of the existing box trim on the counter edge was no longer available so I had to remove all 22 trim tiles. Also, most of the quarter rounds surrounding…
Read MoreSpecial problems with setting thin mosaic glass
Click to enlarge This kitchen backsplash was tiled in ultra thin 4mm glass mosaic. The tile was difficult to work with for a variety of reasons. Following the manufacturer’s instructions I used a 3/16″ v-notched trowl to spread white thinset. I was then instructed by the company to knock down the ridges with the flat…
Read MoreSandstone mosaic kitchen backsplash
These interlocking sandstone mosaic tiles were installed in a kitchen backsplash. They have not yet been grouted. The customer pre-treated these tiles with one coat of Stone Tech Enhancer Pro before installation. This was meant to make grouting easier and protect the tile from staining. However, grouting was difficult because the surface was still very…
Read MoreKitchen backsplash with glass subway tiles
This kitchen backsplash was done in 3×6″ glass subway tiles. The tiles were not staggered onto a mat, so they had to be individually set. The white paint on the back of each glass tile was not infused by heat onto the glass, so a brand new glass blade needed to be used. The tiles…
Read MoreStaggered Mosaic Kitchen Backsplash
This kitchen backsplash has been set with travertine and Emperador dark and light marble staggered mosaic. It is trimmed at the edges by using two rows of tiles set in the opposite direction.e.
Read MoreTiled kitchen backsplash
This kitchen backsplash features staggered subway tiles with a glass and slate accent.
Read MoreKitchen counter grout cleaning
Kitchen counter before grout cleaning. The same area of the counter after cleaning and touching up the grout. Another picture of the counter before the grout was cleaned. After the grout was cleaned. Kitchen counter before grout cleaning: The same area of the counter after cleaning and touching up the grout: Another picture of the…
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