What Size Grout Line For 3x6 Subway Tile

White Subway Tile Backsplash | dreamgreendiy.com

So, you've seen the pretty side of our mid-century modern kitchen makeover (with photos by Andrea Pesce), but today it'southward time to permit you in on the NOT and so pretty side of the project. Like most major home improvement undertakings, the process behind our DIY tile backsplash upgrade looked a whole heck of a lot worse before information technology started to expect better—and I learned more than I e'er dreamed I would while working through the steps, one by one.

White Subway Tile Backsplash | dreamgreendiy.com

Considering I'm admittedly a newbie when it comes to tiling, I was extra relieved to have the opportunity to enlist the assistance of BuildDirect Abode Marketplace. The team behind this Vancouver-based brand was basically the only reason (aside from my dad showing upward to help, of form!) that I am able to tell yous that I survived the procedure—and all with a beautiful kitchen to evidence for information technology.

DIY White Subway Tile Backsplash | dreamgreendiy.com + @builddirect

Between their major line of tile options (SPOILER: we went with white subway tile) and the vii-days-a-week support staff who were there to answer any of our questions, no matter how mundane, I neveronce felt alone. That said, I will not lie and tell yous that tiling a backsplash is a cakewalk. Information technology's tough work. But—similar a lot of difficult things in life—the results are well worth the sweat and stress.

Since I'm nonetheless feeling pretty new to the process, I'grand not really at a point where I can offer you an "official" step-past-step DIY guide. I recall I need at least one (or two!) more than tiling projects nether my tool belt before I'grand prepare to make a declaration similar that here on the blog. But I'thou more happy to offer you all the insight, product suggestions, and links to real how-to's below. So let's get started!

3×6″ White Hammersmith Subway Tile(the verbal corporeality will depend on your specific backsplash foursquare footage; we ordered twoscore foursquare feet)
Bullnose and corner pieces to match for the edges(again, the verbal corporeality will depend on your square footage)
Level
Record measure
Plastic drop cloth
Painter'south tape
Spacers
Premixed tile adhesive mastic
5″ notched trowel
ix″ notched trowel
Moisture tabletop tile saw
Rod saw
Safe grout float
Pulverization grout
Bucket
Microfiber towel

For a more than accurate picture of but how far nosotros've come, I'g going to offer something that I sort of loathe sharing: the dreaded "before" photos. I cringe to show you lot these dingy looking pictures, consummate with lopsided purses and tool bags piled on the old counters, but information technology really is the best way to demonstrate the incredible amount of work that went into going from Point A to Betoken B, so here it goes.

From the moment John and I commencement walked into our mid-century habitation, we brutal difficult for the sweeping ceilings, the open space, and the ample countertops and cabinets in the kitchen. The retro stove was also a big draw, and I'm happy to written report that she'due south an accented work horse, plugging along merely as steadily as, I imagine, the day information technology was installed.

That said, we were non big fans of the old formica countertops, wallpapered walls and backsplash, and the shallow sink. So, nosotros got correct to work calling up local contractors in order to have intendance of the things that we knew we'd hire out (call up: new granite counters, updated electrical, large scale interior painting, etc.).

Y'all can hop dorsum to yesterday's big reveal post if you missed any of those details, merely essentially, nosotros turned everything that we could upside down before even thinking near addressing the presentlyhoped-for tile. What y'all see below is how we lived with the kitchen for roughly ii months in between the "rent out" phase and buckling down to work on the tile ourselves.

I gave myself the vacation flavour to enjoy, only presently after the Christmas tree was taken down and thanks notes were sent, I was on the telephone with my dad scheduling a weekend to finish the tile piece of work.

I as well went ahead and decided in one case and for all on our tile choice. I was hoping to nail an ultra classic expect in our redone retro kitchen, something that would stand the exam of fourth dimension. So, I ordered a range of samples from BuildDirect, simply after examining the over-nighted tiles, the Hammersmith Subway Tile was a clear winner. That glossy, smooth white end immediately caught my eye, and I considered it the perfect complement to our newly painted white walls and original white appliances (namely that 1960'south stove!).

Before my dad's arrival that fateful January weekend, I began past taking some time to patch the walls, and and then scraped and sanded them to a perfectly smooth finish. It wasn't pretty, simply it needed to exist washed in order to offer our new tile an even foundation to lay on.

After that, it was officially go fourth dimension. Dad showed upwards and we immediately spent an hr or so planning our assault (big wall first, sink wall next, oven wall last) and taking detailed measurements. We as well laid plastic driblet cloths downwards on the counters secured with painter's tape to make certain that our brand new granite stayed clean and impairment-complimentary. Then, we started cranking out our cuts on the wet tile saw, slathering mastic adhesive on the walls with a notched trowel, and laying our new tiles one past one with spacers in between.

We opted for a i/xvi-inch grout line to keep things nice and sleek, but placed 1/eight-inch flat spacers along the bottom to allow for a slightly chunkier caulk line just higher up the countertops (which we withal demand to exercise, past the way).

Once we got the hang of things, we motored our fashion through the project, one painstaking tile at a time. The three of us—myself, John, and my dad—all had to work double fourth dimension as nosotros juggled drying mastic adhesive, sagging tiles, and angles that needed to exist measured, marked, and cutting, but we managed to get it all done over the form of that weekend.

Afterward giving the tile 24 hours to business firm upward, John and I went back over the grout lines with mitt-mixed grout, and finally buffed information technology all to a vivid sheen with a microfiber towel. Similar I said, we nevertheless need to run caulk along the bottom, and add trim pieces to cover the gaps betwixt the tops of the tiles and the lesser of the cabinets, but we are currently enjoying an extended break earlier putting those finishing touches in place.

Was it especially fun? Non really. Would I tile a kitchen backsplash again? Honestly…Probably non. Simply would I exercise information technology again on a smaller scale, like around a bathroom sink? Definitely. And if you inquire me whether or not I feel like a DIY bada$$ for having done it ourselves, I would reply with an enthusiastic HECK YEAH!

Of course, I would be remiss not to remind yous of merely how integral the BuildDirect Home Market place was throughout this procedure. When I was only starting out, I had the opportunity to connect with a product expert on staff who offered me several how-to video links (see those here and here), plus suggestions for how to the go the project done on fourth dimension and on upkeep. And when nosotros had a question about the particular subway tile that we had ordered in the middle of our mess in the kitchen, we were able to give their hotline a quick telephone call, and got a real person immediately who walked us through the logistics.

By doing my research with a pro alee of time and knowing that I had back up on-telephone call if needed, I was able to enter into the process with conviction. There wasn't eveni moment throughout our tiling project that I felt like I was completely clueless. Information technology was a lot to accept on overall, yep, simply I e'er knew the adjacent step and simply how to become to that beatific light at the end of the tunnel. Speaking of which…Allow'south drool a petty more over those "subsequently" photos, shall nosotros?