If you are looking to make your home match your vision, you are in the right place. Here is your complete guide on how to tile a countertop over plywood in no time.
A luxurious home aesthetic does not have to come at a hefty price. You can spend your money on the best tile countertops that look fantastic, but you can save on the installation. That is because, with the right steps, you can easily learn how to tile a countertop over plywood.
Materials And Tools You Will Need
Of course, the DIY job will not be successful unless you have the right tools and materials to execute it. While you will have to buy these tools, they are not that expensive, and you will save money by not opting for a professional. Some of these materials and tools might also be already in your home for you to use.
Here is everything you will need to get it done in no time:
- Hammer
- Four-in-one screwdriver
- Chalk line
- Caulk gun
- Clamps
- Jigsaw
- Circular saw
- A set of drill bits
- Level
- Cordless drill
- Nippers
- Grout float
- Framing square
- Bucket
- Utility knife
- Saw For tiles
- Cement board
- Notched trowel
- 1 to quarter-inch galvanized nails
- Pneumatic stapler
- 1 to 5/8 inch screws
- Straightedge
- Fiberglass tape
- Tape measure
- Construction adhesive
- Taping knife
- Grout sealer
- Tile
- Grout
- Mortar
- Sealer
You can visit your nearest hardware store and find these materials in no time. Once you have everything you need, you can move on to the application.
How To Tile A Countertop Over Plywood
Now that you know what tools and materials to get, you also need to know how to use them for your project. Here are all the steps you need to take to understand how to tile a countertop over plywood in no time:
1. Select The Tile
Of course, the first thing you need to do is select a tile for your countertop. The choices are endless, and you can select a tile of any size and color. You can opt for many popular choices such as granite, quartz, slate, ceramic, and many others.
It all depends on the look you want in your kitchen, your budget, and your preferences. During this step, you can take the advice of a professional to select the best tile for your home. Once you do, you can move on to tiling it over plywood.
2. Measure The Dimensions Of Your Cabinet
The first and most important thing you need to do is define the dimensions of the cabinets from your wall to the face frame and its front edge. After that, measure both the sides. You can also install cleats across the edges for support that are not supported by the cabinet.
3. Attach The Plywood Countertops
Take the plywood and cut it. You must ensure that the thickness of the plywood must be ¾ inches, as this is the ideal thickness. On the other hand, if you want a thicker counter, you can go with a thicker plywood board, or you can layer a few plywood sheets together to reach the thickness you need.
Once your plywood is cut with the ¾ inch thickness, you can screw it to the cabinet tops with the 1 to 5/8 inch screws. Remember that you need to ensure the evenness of the face frame with the front edge.
4. Attaching Another Plywood Layer
If you want your countertop to be thicker than ¾ inches, you can attach another layer of the plywood board. You can use an adhesive and then staple the other plywood sheet of ¼ inches. You can keep adding plywood in this way till you reach the thickness you desire that matches the tiles at the edges.
5. Create A Sink Cutout
Of course, a countertop is not just a big chunk of slab you can place. You need to have appropriate cutouts within the slab that will allow you to install other things. So, place your sink on the sink base cabinet and then create an outline.
You can trace a second mark a half-inch inside the perimeter mark. After that, you need to circle the corners and use a jigsaw to cut them. As your old countertop strips off, you need to define the dimensions of your cabinet from the wall towards the face frame front edge.
On the other hand, if you have cabinets without frames, you must set the dimensions to the fronts just behind the drawer front doors. Another tip you can follow in this step is to minus 1/8 inches from the measurement to ensure slight deviation on the wall and calculate the length. You can transfer these dimensions on to the board of the plywood and begin cutting it out using a circular saw and a straightedge guide for an even and clean cut.
Remember that prior to you screwing the plywood on the cabinet tops, you need to attach two by two inch wall cleats on the studs that offer no cabinet support. Besides that, if you own dishwashing machine, you need to cut out the opening thinner one by three inches pine to length and then screw the studs. Doing this will guarantee that there is enough room for the dishwasher backside.
Be sure to select the right screws which will go inside the drywall and inside the studs about one inch. If you opt for longer screws, you can damage electrical wires or water pipes in the wall. You can begin by drilling a pilot hole and then screw the plywood to the fronts of the face frame every eight inches along the cabinet backs and in the cleats.
Then, keep your sink on top of the plywood and place it carefully depending on your tile layout. After that, you must mark it and cut out the rim of the sink.
6. Marking And Cutting The Cement Board
Take your cement board and set it over the plywood board. After that, you must use a fine-tip marker and outline relevant shapes. You can also use a carpenter’s pencil during this step.
Next, you need to cut your cement board. You can do this by using your jigsaw and the cutting blade. It will help you have a neat and clean-cut in no time.
7. Trowelling Mortar
Use the quarter-inch notched trowel to place a slight mortar layer on the plywood board. You can then insert the cement board on top of the mortar and attach it to the plywood with screws. You can use cement board screws for this process.
8. Cement Board Installation
After you are done trowelling mortar, you must snap thin cement board strips and insert them inside the mortar on edge. You can use the 1 to ¼ inch galvanized nails to nail the strips in no time.
9. Taping Edges And Corners
Once you install your cement board successfully, you need to tape the edges and corners. You can do this by reinforcing the outer edges and corners with fiberglass tape strips. The best way to do this is by embedding the tape using a slight and even mortar topping.
The key to laying a sturdy foundation is for the tile to bond with the cement board and plywood. You can set this foundation by mixing mortar into a consistency that is soft. After that, you can trowel this mortar on the plywood using a quarter-inch notched trowel.
Then, you can easily insert the cement board on the mortar. Be sure to screw the board eight inches into the plywood underneath using the quarter-inch cement board screws. The purpose of this mortar will be to fill any spaces between the surface and bring them together so they can become one in no time.
If you want to cut slender cement board strips, you must mark both of the sides and then pry the edge. After you cover the surface top, you can cut these slender strips to cover any plywood corner that is exposed. To do this, you must again begin by mixing a tiny batch of mortar and spread it on the edges of the plywood.
You can screw the edge every six inches, so it is in place. After that, you need to put the fiberglass mesh tape on the corners. It is easy, and all you have to do is begin peeling the mesh and roll and press it over the corner edges.
After the mesh is in place, you must trowel a mortar layer again. Let this be for some hours and dry up before you move on to step ten.
Also Read : How To Make Your Granite Countertops Smooth
10. Checking The Layout
Before you start laying the tiles on the countertop, you must ensure a perfect layout. So, lines of chalk for the layout and then pre-cut some of the tiles to ensure the right fitting. You can spread a layer of mortar along with the quarter-inch notched trowel and gently place the tiles where they belong.
11. Using A Saw To Cut Tiles
Many times you will have to cut the tiles properly so they can fit on your tile countertop. You can do this by using a tile saw. You have to press the tiles lightly along the diamond blade without using any extra pressure or force.
The best way to cut the tiles is to draw the lines on the top through a square frame. Before mixing the mortar, you can put the tiles first and determine the widths of the grout lines. On the other hand, if you have a corner inside, you can start the tile pattern from there to track it symmetrically.
You need to plan the cuts and positioning of the tile beforehand. It will help you avoid any thin pieces and ensure you get an even countertop. Doing this will also help you change your pattern as you need it to be.
Another thing to do is to check the backsplash layout. That is because if the grout lines don’t match the countertop, it will not look good. So, the key is to follow the countertop grout lines.
Finally, you can mix some thin-set mortar into a soft consistency. Spread it using a quarter-inch notched trowel and leave the layout lines exposed to ensure optimum tile placement. You can then begin setting the tiles.
Be sure to put them on the mortar and slightly press them so they can stay in place. After you are finished with one section, you must look at the tile and check the spacing for any grout lines or crooked lines. If it is fine, you can continue this till all the tiles are in place.
12. Final Steps
Now that you have all the tiles in place on top of the countertop, you need to lay the accent border and install the decorative trim tiles. This will help you fill any gaps and make your countertop look finished in no time. After that, you need to clamp a ledger so that you can support the tile pieces on the front edge.
Think of this as a railing for tiles so that they can stay in place and look finished. You can mark your tiles and set the backsplash in the same way you set the tiles on the cement board and countertop. Remember, if you have any porous tiles or stones, you need to seal them before grouting.
After that, you need to grout the tiles and then wipe away any excess grout. Finally, you need to let your countertop be for a day so that it can dry successfully. The next day you can begin using your kitchen countertop.
Final Words
That was your complete guide on how to tile a countertop over plywood. If you want to save money, you can use these guidelines to tile a countertop yourself in no time. Remember that this process is time-consuming, and it can take a few days for you to complete.
That is why you must ensure you have plenty of time so that you can put the tile countertops in place. Once you do, your kitchen will look fantastic, and you will get a high return on your money and effort in the long run as it will last for years.
