Your Local Queen Creek Handyman Shows You How to Create a Striking and Unique Backsplash Part 2 Grouting.

Local Queen Creek handyman shares best tips and practices for creating a beautiful backsplash.

Use My Guy here to finish up the discussion on creating a tile back-splash for your kitchen or bathroom.  This time we talk grout, what you will need to do it correctly and how to do it correctly.  Grouting properly begins by following the grout manufacturer’s specifications on the water to grout ratio.  You can also use pre-mixed grout which is more expensive but will be more consistent.

So here’s what you will need:  Plastic sheeting, masking or painters tape, grout (pre-mixed or dry), two clean buckets, putty knife, sponge, soft cloths, grout sealer and caulk. 

Before you begin, take the plastic sheeting and spread it over your countertop sealing it with the tape.  Once this is complete mix your grout to the specifications on the package in one of the clean buckets with the putty knife.  When it is ready it should have the consistency of creamy peanut butter.  Next take the grout float and dip it into the grout making sure that there is plenty on it.  Take the float and run it down over the tile at a 45 degree angle making sure to go in a diagonal direction.  Do only small areas at a time so that the grout doesn’t dry out.

Once the grout has cured for 10 – 15 minutes use a damp sponge to clean the excess grout off of the tiles.  Make sure to clean the sponge often.  You may need to go over the grout 3 or 4 times to get most of it off.  Be sure to be gentle, as you don’t want to disturb the grout lines.  Now just let the grout cure for 24 hours.  Once this is done you can buff the tile with a dry cloth to get off any remaining grout.

Now it is time to seal the grout.  Spray the grout with a sealer and wipe it in gently with a soft cloth.  Next caulk the lines next to the windows, any lines that meet wall to wall and along the bottom of the counter.  Make sure to use a latex caulk.  This will ensure that no water leaks behind the tile.

Now your back-splash is finished and it’s time to get cooking.  Be as messy as you want because now you have a back-splash and cleaning up will be easy.

Now although creating a back-splash can be a fun weekend project for some, for others it can be an exhausting way to spend your weekend after working all week.  If this is you then give Use My Guy Services a call.  We are a family owned and operated handyman company that has been in business in the valley for 5 years now.  We have an A+ on the Better Business Bureau, we have dozens of 5 star ratings on yelp and Face Book and we just won the Super Service Award from Angie’s List.  We can take care of all of your handyman needs from tiling a backsplash to plumbing and electrical repairs, installing new doors, frames and even drywall repairs.  Call us today at (602) 316-9187 to speak with one of our friendly and courteous office assistants to schedule an estimate or an appointment.  Or check us out online on our Face Book page or on our website usemyguyservices.com.

Thanks for reading

Use My Guy Services Your Local Queen Creek Handyman.