Lay tiles using a horizontal level line and a vertical plumb line as guides. Use corner trim or tile with bullnose edges to avoid exposed edges at the ends of runs. Shift the pattern left, right, up, or down so that there are no thin slivers or small pieces of tile in highly visible areas. Measure the number of tiles needed, horizontally and vertically, to reach the ends of the walls, keeping joints uniform.
Subway tile backsplash kitchen free#
The surface must be free of oil, grease, dirt, paint, and old grout or adhesives. No matter the material, it must be flat and solid any warps, bumps, or springiness can cause tiles to crack. The backing, or substrate, might be concrete, plywood, drywall, or cementitious backer board.
Photo by Eric Roth The Backing is Stable, Rigid, and Clean A distressed finish mimics a metal appearance, and a speckled finish adds subtle character to the design. Glaze can be mixed with factory leftovers to create a recycled look. An unexpected, luster-free glaze makes black tile feel up to date. Varying the kiln’s temperature creates a natural, stone-like finish. Then there are the tile finishes that evoke a distinct mood. And tile ends can be subtly contoured to create a unique grout line. An eased bevel and a crackle finish make basic tile appear distinctive. Glazing can be applied to highlight beveled edges. Hand-applied glaze produces subtle tonal variations that can animate a finished wall. Rounded edges (or “shoulders”) feature sides that are slightly softened, while beveled edges, where the sides slope away from the face, give each tile a sculptural quality.Īs if the dizzying array of colors isn’t enough, ceramic subway tiles also come in many types of finishes. Or keep the ambience tranquil with a tile color that matches its setting.Ĭeramic subway tiles traditionally come with a square edge, but other options present a different look. Add energy and intrigue to your decor by picking a color that contrasts with the surrounding elements, including the wall paint and flooring shade. After selecting a shade that appeals to you, the most important thing to consider is how it will influence the overall attitude of the room. The color choices for ceramic subway tile is as limitless as the rainbow. To make sure you have enough tile to cover your entire project, measure your project space, round that number to the next highest square foot, then add 10 to 15 percent to cover waste, cuts, and breakage. One square foot comprises eight 3-by-6-inch subway tiles. Prices for ceramic subway tile start around $2 per square foot for budget field tile and soar to $50 (or more) per square foot for handmade artisan tile.
Subway tile backsplash kitchen install#
They’re tough enough to take a beating for decades-in fact, the adhesive, grout, and caulk used to install them will likely need replacing long before the tiles do. Manufacturers often use the term now to describe any rectangular tile with a length twice its height, from 4-by-8-inch planks to 1-by-2 mosaics, and even some tiles (such as contemporary 2-by-8 strips) that don’t share the original’s proportions at all. Inevitably, the popularity of subway tile has expanded its working definition. And they’ve made the leap from kitchens and baths to other hardworking spaces that benefit from easy-care surfaces, such as laundry rooms, mudrooms, and fireplace surrounds. Today’s tiles come in a mind-boggling array of colors and finishes that partner well with just about any style of decor.
More than a century later, ceramic subway tile still endures as a perennial favorite for homeowners. The easy-to-clean, stain-resistant, light-reflective, 3-by-6-inch glazed white rectangles captured the public’s imagination back then and quickly moved into the bathrooms and kitchens of prewar houses for practical and aesthetic reasons. As a staple of kitchen and bath design, the ubiquitous ceramic subway tile has been around since it was introduced in New York City’s subway stations in the early 1900s.
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