Michael Aguilar

How to Install Granite Tile Over Ceramic Tile Kitchen Counter You want to give your kitchen a new look, but don’t want to go through the trouble of a complete remodeling. One great way to do this is to change the look of your kitchen counters. Granite has become a favorite among many homeowners as a material to use for countertops. It has much better wear characteristics than tile and hides imperfections much better. Contrary to popular opinion, although it is recommended, it isn’t necessary to remove the original ceramic tile countertop prior to laying granite tile down. A successful tiling job, whether ceramic or granite, starts with proper preparation. Tools and Materials Wet saw (dry saw can be used, but a wet saw cuts down on chipping and dust) Tape measure Pencil or felt pen Notch trowel 5 gallon bucket Thinset mortar Granite tiles Grout of the proper color 2-4 foot level Painter’s tape Grinder or belt sander with 50 grit paper Adjustable wrench or plumber’s wrench Phillips screwdriver Utility knife Silicone/latex sealant Spacers (If so desired) Safety glasses Grout float Grout sponge Cheesecloth towels Tile sealer Plumbing Fixture Removal Clean out the area under the sink. Against the wall you will find two valves, called angle stops that need to be shut off. Remove the water lines leading to the faucet by turning them counterclockwise with the wrench. While still under the sink, remove the screws securing the sink to the counter basin. Using the utility knife cut the latex sealant around the sink between the sink and the existing tile. Remove the sink. This may require lifting it out or letting it drop, depending on how it is mounted. Surface Preparation In order for the thinset to set up and adhere properly, it needs to be able to bond with the surface it is applied to, in this case, the existing tile countertop. Use the grinder or belt sander to rough up the surface of the tile. All you need here is to remove the glaze so that the thinset can bond to the porous material under it. Lay Out the Granite Tiles Lay the granite tiles on top of the ceramic tile, starting at the front edge of the sink and working out and back. If you are required to cut any of the tiles, you want them near the edges and in the back, since the eye is drawn to the center of the counter space. If you have purchased granite tiles that have a lip for use on the edges, be sure to leave room for them. These are pieces of tile that are designed to be placed at the edge of the counter and will extend out and over the existing tile and the plywood base of the counter. As you lay the tiles out, be sure to place spacers between them so your measurements will be accurate. When you reach the edges, mark the tiles that need to be cut with the pencil or felt pen. Stack these pieces with the piece from the front on top and the back piece on the bottom and carry them out to your tile saw. Mix the Thinset Mortar Read the directions on the bag of thinset for the water to mix ratio and to see how much area the bag you bought will cover. Mix accordingly and completely, ensuring that all of the lumps have been removed from the mix. Lumps are bad, they create weak spots. Remember, start with less water than you may think necessary, since you can always add a little more, but you can’t take any away of you use too much. Let the thinset stand for ten to fifteen minutes. Cut the Tiles Fill the tub of the wet saw and plug it in. Turn the saw on and place the first piece on the sliding tray. Hold the tile firmly and slide the tray and tile toward the spinning blade at the rate of about one inch per second. Slide the tray fully to the rear of the saw assembly to ensure a complete and smooth cut. Make all of your cuts in a single motion. For cuts that require precision, such as for objects that protrude into the counter area, hold the tile at a 45 degree angle while cutting. Don’t forget to wear the safety glasses. Keeping the pieces of tile in the proper order, take them and the bucket of thinset to the kitchen. Apply the Thinset and Tile Remove the tiles you laid out and carefully stack them out of the way. Scoop some thinset onto the counter. Spread it evenly with the notch trowel, using full strokes from one end of the counter to the other, covering the whole counter space. Lay the tiles individually, with spacers (if so desired) between them, two spacers per tile side. Once you have a section of the counter covered, place the level over the tiles. Adjust as necessary to level the countertop. Look under the level for gaps between the tiles and the level and adjust as needed. Make any fine adjustments to the cuts you made earlier and run out all of the tiles across the whole surface of the counter. Edge pieces should be taped to the pieces just inside of them to ensure they don’t move. Allow the thinset to set up for between two and four hours. Grout Remembering what was said above about the thinset (lumps and water), mix the grout completely and let it set for ten to fifteen minutes. While the thinset is setting, remove the spacers and any tape you used. Scoop the grout onto the countertop and spread it across the tiles, pushing it into the gaps between tiles. Do this twice across the whole surface of the counter to be sure you have completely filled the gaps between tiles. Allow the grout to set for two to three hours and use a grout sponge which you constantly clean to remove any excess grout from the surface of the tiles and to smooth the surface of the grout between the tiles. Allow the grout to finish setting and drying for another two hours and wipe the tiles clean with the cheesecloth towels. Seal the Grout Granite tiles are polished to a high luster at the factory which makes them almost impervious to water. However, the grout needs to be sealed so that usage doesn’t cause it to erode. Liberally spray the grout lines and tile surfaces with the sealer and use a sponge to work the sealer into the grout. Allow the sealer to dry completely according to package directions. Use an approved cleaning agent to clean the counter. Finish the Job If you’re going to install a backsplash, you should do this after the countertop tiles have been laid and grout and seal both counter and backsplash together. Once the grout and sealer have been allowed to dry completely, reinstall the sink and any other plumbing or electrical fixtures that you removed. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tile_saw.jpg