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Friday, July 5, 2013

A Kitchen Improvement

Location: Catskill, NY (High 92, Low 74)

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One of the things that we haven’t really liked about the kitchen was trying to cook without getting anything on the wall. The walls are just covered with paper, and Harry is forever putting up cutting boards to keep bacon grease and other stuff from splattering on it while we are cooking.

We had read on the Heartland forum about other people who put up a tile backsplash and a few days ago we decided to take a trip to Home Depot (our long lost ol’ friend) to check out what they had.

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We found a pattern that we liked on a thin glass tile mosaic, and picked up some SimpleMat to make the job a little easier.

 

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Harry started this morning by sticking the mat to the wall and smoothing it down.

 

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Then he stuck the tile mosaic to the mat and pressed it down.

 

 

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Attaching the tile mosaic took a little over an hour. Then Harry mixed up the grout by adding the required amount of water.

 

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He spread the grout mix and made sure he got it in all the little nooks and crannies.

 

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Then it had to set for two hours before taking the buffing cloth to it.

 

And…the finished product!!

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It just needs a little caulk around the edges after it has set overnight and the sealer spray put on in a couple days. But we are very happy with how it looks already. Smile

Next up…the bathroom!!

17 comments:

  1. Wow - that looks great and it doesn't look too hard wither! That might be something even the Klumsy Krecklows could handle LOL! I really would like some tile behind my stove.

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  2. That looks fantastic!!! Yes, its me!!! We've been following....just quiet. Not much to write about and feeling kinda down about not traveling or RVing! That is about to change soon. Hopefully we'll be rejoining in a different capacity!!

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  3. That's such a great idea! Didn't look too difficult either.. Good job Harry :)

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  4. That really looks great. Always nice when it turns out not to be a forever job like some of them do. And then it looks good - that's a big plus.

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  5. Excellent idea. Might have to do something like that too.

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  6. nice job..looks lovely and so easy!!

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  7. Looks great. Did you use anything to finish the exposed edge (like trim) or did you just use the edge of the tile?

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    1. I haven't done anything with the edges yet. Waiting for it to setup more and then I will tape off the area around the edge and run chalking that matches the grout around it and down the corner joint. If that doesn't work out trim maybe in order.

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  8. Beautiful job and Harry looks pretty proud of himself!

    I'd also be interested in knowing if you used any trim and if not, how it looks up close?

    I bought some of the same stuff about a year ago and have managed to procrastinate and not put it up. Yours looks so nice, maybe I'll get motivated.

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    1. I haven't done anything with the edges yet. Waiting for it to setup more and then I will tape off the area around the edge and run chalking that matches the grout around it and down the corner joint. If that doesn't work out trim maybe in order.

      It took about 3 hours then had to wait 2 hours and buff it with a rage. It wasn't a real hard project.With very little mess.

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  9. Thinking we need to so likewise. Thanks for the tips.

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  10. It looks great but how will it travel?

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    1. There are people who have already done this on the Heartland forum, and they said they've had no problems with it when traveling. Guess we'll find out for ourselves in a few weeks. :)

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  11. I've been thinking of adding that type of tile to my RV bathroom.. I did not know about that installation mat. Thanks.

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  12. 3 years later how has it held up?

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    1. We were actually just looking at it the other day. It has held up really well. At the seam in the corner where the two walls come together, we can see just a couple small hairline cracks in the caulk, but no cracks at all anywhere else.

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