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When to Hire a Professional
My husband and I consider ourselves handy but we are also realistic. I have
forbidden him from most electrical and plumbing jobs. This is not so much out of
concern for his safety as it is a matter of keeping my sanity. A plumbing job
that I was told would just take a half an hour usually spirals into a full
weekend project with multiple trips to the home improvement store. He is
definitely capable of those tasks. I’d just rather leave them to a professional
and concentrate our time and energy on home makeover projects we can complete on
time and on budget.
Kitchens and bathrooms are the two rooms that pretty much sell your home. You
would be amazed how a few basic updates can add tremendous value.
The Makeover Begins
After tackling the low hanging fruit like painting, changing light fixtures and
cabinet hardware we were on to the bigger jobs. We decided the kitchen was the
next to check off the list. Our kitchen had an outdated tile backsplash and worn
laminate countertops. We knew both of those had to go and fast. In order to stay
within our budget and achieve the most dramatic results we focused on these
areas in our makeover. We decided on granite countertops, which we assigned to a
professional to install, and a tile backsplash which we added to our to-do list.
After a professional created a template for our countertops it took about two
weeks until they were in. In the meantime, we chose our new faucet, an easy to
install backsplash tile and grout and created a list of tools needed to complete
the job. We also lined up a plumber to reconnect the faucet once the counters
and sink were installed.
Demolition time
There were a few things we did ourselves to help keep the cost down. First was
the demo. I am not going to lie, smashing those awful countertops with a
sledgehammer did feel pretty good, and it saved a few hundred dollars in labor
costs. Most countertops are either screwed on or glued to your cabinets. If its
glue, take a blade and slice along the seam and they will separate easily. If
they are screwed on, make sure all the screws are taken out before you try to
remove the tops. But before you lift that hammer to start smashing, make sure
the water is turned off and the faucet, garbage disposal, dishwasher and ice
maker are disconnected. This is usually a pretty easy task but consult a basic
plumbing how-to book if you run into trouble.
Now on to the backsplash. Chipping away the old tile without creating huge holes
in the sheetrock is a tedious job. About halfway through the project and five
holes later we decided that we would just cut around the tile and replace the
sheetrock. Yes, this sounds scary and I was weary of the idea of hanging
sheetrock but after a quick tutorial from the local hardware store owner we cut
our demo time in half and created a smooth solid surface to secure our new
backsplash to. I swear half of the projects that make our stomachs turn with
fear are not so bad if you have the time and a basic set of tools.
Before you attempt this project take a look at the layout of your kitchen. If
it’s going to involve a lot of intricate cuts and spacing then this may not be
the ideal first tiling project to undertake as a rookie. Also, be realistic
about the pattern you choose. Unless you’re Michelangelo, refrain from the mural
of the Italian cherub over your stove, it’s never going to turn out like the
picture.
The supply list
With that said, we chose a basic tumbled marble in two shades. We thought it
would accent our cabinets and bring out the colors in the granite. Now the
grout-Don’t go too dark. People tend to pick colors like taupe and khaki but
don’t be fooled. These colors are at least two shades darker once mixed. Stick
with ivory or antique white when working with earth tone tiles like tumbled
marble. Other tools and supplies that should make your home improvement store
shopping list include two buckets, one to mix the grout and one to fill with
water. A handheld grinder with a carbide bit, a large sponge, premixed adhesive,
stone sealer, a package of tile spacers, a tile float and a pair of heavy duty
rubber gloves.
Once the counters were in and we got over how amazingly different this stone
made our kitchen look, we set aside a weekend to put the finishing touches on
our kitchen makeover.
Divide and Conquer
When you are satisfied with the pattern you have chosen, take measurements and
divide the project up. Work from the outside in so all cut tiles are concealed
in corners and finished edges are on the borders. Let the adhesive dry at least
a day before sealing the tile. Then wait at least a day before grouting.
In my opinion the grouting is the hardest part. If you don’t break a sweat while
grouting then you aren’t doing it right. The consistency of the grout is
important. Add a little water then mix and repeat until it is the thickness of
pudding. Not so thin that it will slide off the float but not to hard that it
won’t move if turned upside down. The key to the grouting process is to move
quickly and complete the job. If you stop in the middle and come back to it the
next day, chances are you will never get the grout to match. So allow yourself
enough time. Once you grout a section go back over with a wet sponge and wipe
away the excess. After about an hour you will see a white film form on the tile.
Go back over the tile with a sponge until they are clean. Take special care
around outlets. Cover them with plastic and cut the power while working with
water. For step-by-step instructions on how to tile a kitchen backsplash visit
(http://www.askbuybuild.com/).
Once the grout is dry and you have applied another coat of sealer take a step
back and admire your handy work. You just added value to your kitchen not to
mention the satisfaction of completing a home remodel project on your own. With
a few successful projects under your belt you will be steps closer to a home
makeover without breaking the bank.
About the
Author: The Author is a Famous Do it Home
Specialist
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