Basement Makeover: Mosaic Subway Tile Backsplash

It's time for another basement makeover update!  In case you missed it,  the floor has been ordered, the plank wall is complete and now the mosaic subway tile backsplash is finished.

Before I get to the tile I wanna back up and share the back story of this space.   The previous owner of our house "finished" the basement, but it was certainly not my style or taste.  The walls were covered in dark paneling, the drop ceiling was dated and the dark vinyl floor made for a cold and unwelcoming space.  It was a slow process, but over time we eventually tore out the paneling and drop ceiling then moved the bathroom down about 4 feet to make room for a bar.

The sink from the original bathroom became the new location for the bar sink and new plumbing was ran for the bathroom.

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The bar area was built using inexpensive, unfinished wood cabinets that I stained with Minwax Ebony stain.  The space was left incomplete for quite awhile until we saved up enough money for granite countertops.

I was happy with how everything turned out, but always wanted to add a white subway tile backsplash.  Unfortunately, the space is a bit small for the classic 3x6 tiles, so I opted for a smaller mosaic version, which was perfect.


SUPPLIES NEEDED:
- Tile (I used these)
- Wet tile saw (we borrowed this one)
- Laser level (this will be your best friend!)
- Square notch trowel
- Rubber grout float
- SimpleSet Thin-Set
- Tile spacers
- Grout (I used Bright Snow White sanded grout)
- Tape measure
- Sponge

We were lucky enough to be able to borrow a wet saw from a friend, which cut down our costs of having to rent one.   Trust me when I say, you don't have to spend a lot of money on an expensive wet saw.  A smaller, less expensive version will do just fine.

Before I started adding tiles to the wall I measured my tile placement then laid everything out on the floor.

***TIP*** Don't forget to take into account grout lines when measuring.  I made the mistake of measuring wrong and didn't realize it until I had already installed quite a bit of tile.  I ended up ripping everything off the wall and starting over.  Measure, measure, measure.

I found it easier to apply thin-set to the wall first then add my tile.  You'll want to make sure you apply a generous amount of thin-set while holding your trowel at a 45 degree angle.  

***TIP*** Press hard when applying your thin-set.  The trowel's notch should be about equal to the thickness of your tile.

Cutting the tile was definitely a trial and error process for me.  I must have ruined at least 4-5 tiles before figuring out how to make cuts without my tiles chipping.  I found that moving the tile VERY slow at the end of the cut seemed to work as well as flipping the tile over and pushing it through from the other side.  

Once I had all my tile installed I let the thin-set dry over night and most of the next day.

I had a really hard time deciding what color grout to use.  I love the look of white tiles and dark grout, but I had a feeling it would look too busy with the countertops.  Ultimately, I went with sanded grout (used for joints over 1/8 inch) in snow white.

The grout is super easy to mix, simply add enough water to form a toothpaste like consistency then let it sit for about 10 minutes before applying it to your wall/floor.

After I had all the tile joints grouted I wiped off any excess grout using a damp sponge.  The worst part of grouting is definitely getting rid of grout haze.  It took me at least 4-5 swipes before my tiles were clean.  After the grout was dry I sealed it and now all that's left is to add a spacer to the electrical outlet.

I'm also thinking of adding a thin piece of stained wood under the cabinets to cover up the cheap unfinished look.  See what I mean?

Either way, I'm happy that I took on this challenge on and I'm loving how the subway tile finished off the space.

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