#Installing Tile Countertops

Stone tile

We used stone tile for this project.

Want to give your kitchen a timeless natural beauty? Put in your own tumbled stone or ceramic tile countertops and backsplash. You can choose any tile, any color and any size, but if all the choices seem daunting, do what we did. We chose a natural slate tile with predesigned accent pieces and a marble edge for a custom look. Setting kitchen tile is a project that's definitely within reach of the average do-it-yourselfer. In this article, we'll show you how to build your countertop from start to finish.

Our project took three days, but you might want to reserve more time. Also, plan on eating sandwiches or take-out during the process, since your kitchen will be down for several days. And don't even think about starting it until all your tile and the new sink and faucet are on hand so you won't have downtime waiting for special orders.

We purchased our stone tile at a specialty tile shop, which gave us the option of design help and choices we wouldn't have considered, but you can also cruise the aisles of your home center for inspiration. We purchased all the plywood, cement board, thin-set mortar, grout and hand tools at a home center while we waited for our tile order to arrive.

This project features a special “tile rim” cast iron sink. It rests on top of the cement board and plywood, leaving about a 3/8-in. squared edge so your tile sits perfectly flush with the top edge of the sink for a nice, even, wipe-clean surface.

Screw down 3/4-in. plywood for a solid base

Photo 1: Determine your cabinet dimensions