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About This Project
You don’t have to do a complete remodel of your kitchen to add new life to it. The two projects in this article—a tile backsplash and a new range hood—can quickly and dramatically transform a dull kitchen. In most cases, you can complete the tile job in a weekend, but ours took about three days because of the added shelf above the range. And here’s a home improvement project that doesn’t take a lot of skill—you just need patience and attention to detail.
The chimney-style hood we installed creates a stylish “chef” look in a kitchen. New, pro-level gas ranges require more ventilation, so if you’re in the market for one, this is your opportunity to upgrade your range hood too. We don’t get into hood installation details in this story, but whatever hood you choose will come with step-by-step instructions.
We chose a classic 3 x 6-in. New York subway-style tile with patterned stone trim pieces that matched our countertop color. The shelf above the range is perfect for setting seasoning containers on while you’re cooking. This design feature should only be used for a range that has a panel backsplash or heat deflector built into it.
To have as much space as possible for our tile design, we chose new countertops that didn’t have the typical built-in backsplash. But you could also tile above such backsplashes with equally great results. As for price, for an average-size kitchen, you’ll spend $300 to $500 for moderately priced tile, or about $7 per square foot.
The only special tools you’ll need are a notched trowel, a margin trowel for mixing, a tile saw to cut tile around electrical boxes and at corners, and a level to draw layout lines.
Prep the Walls to Maximize Tile Adhesion
Wash the walls of the backsplash with a non-sudsing cleaner
like Soilax or TSP and thoroughly rinse with clear water to remove any residue.
In most cases, after washing you can sand the wall with 100-grit sandpaper to
slightly roughen the surface of the paint. If you live in a house built before
1978, the paint may contain lead. Instead of sanding, use a paint deglosser to
remove the shine and improve adhesion. Paint deglossers are available at paint
stores.
Before you tile, protect the surface of the countertops, because the thin-set mortar and the backside of the tiles are abrasive. We bought ordinary kraft paper and taped it to the countertops. Keep the tape about 3/16 in. away from the wall so you’ll be able to remove it easily at the end of the job.
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