Lofts have become quite famous in places that are near downtown. Learn how to renew your backsplash to smarten up your loft including your concrete floor.
Putting in your tile backsplash
What you would need:
• A cloth. Choose one that is soft and see to it that it is lint free.
• A trowel. Get the one that is notched.
• Backsplash tiles
• Plastic spacer
• Sponge. If you don’t have one, a cloth will do. Just make sure it is damp
• Adhesive. Specifically the thin-set ones.
• Screwdriver
• Rubber float. This is going to be used for the grouting.
• Tape measure
• Grout. Specifically the non-sanded kind
• Carpenter’s ruler
• Wet saw. This will be used for cutting tiles.
Figure A
Procedure
Before anything else, be safe and make sure that all power is turned off and that no electricity is running in your kitchen. Then free up the countertop space. After that, take off each cover for each outlet as well as the plates to the light switches. Get the dimensions of your backsplash area to establish the needed number for the tiles. If you want to get the square footage, just measure the length as well as the width and multiply them. The tiles don’t necessarily have to be installed as squares. Use your creativity in setting up patterns and in positioning them.
Always remember that in laying out the tile, the rule of thumb is to install the full tiles in the area where it is seen the most. Before you actually install them, do a dry fit on some tiles to somehow gauge the space. Then mark the wall on the sink with a line to indicate where you are going to start.
Figure B
Once you are done with that, get your notched trowel and use that to administer the adhesive. Stick one tile first to your adhesive and twist it until the vertical line that you used for reference is in line with it. Proceed in installing the other tiles and make sure that there is an equal gap of 1/8” by putting in your plastic spacers. On the 2nd row, you have the option to counterbalance the tiles to make the joints on the first row not lineal to that of the second.
After you have completed installing the full tiles, proceed in getting the measurements for the un-tiled spaces to then install the cut tiles. Don’t forget to observe the 1/8” space allotted for your grout. Using your wet saw, you can now start cutting the tiles according to the measurement you have gathered for the un-tiled spaces. After installing the cut tiles, leave the adhesive to dry overnight.
Figure C
Now it’s time to take out the plastic spacers and blend the grout. Fill the spaces in between you tiles with grout by diagonally spreading it using your rubber float. Leave the grout to set for around half an hour. Get your sponge and use it to clean the tiles by wiping it. You can use a cloth that is damp in the absence of sponge. Take out any excess grout by using a rubber float. See to it that it is dry. Wait for two hours then use your soft cloth to buff your tiles.
Finally, you can accent it with some items if you feel like it.
How to stain your concrete flooring
Things that you would need:
• Painter’s tape
• Broom
• Bucket. Choose a big one
• Concrete stain
• Brush. Choose the roller kind.
• Floor cleaner. Choose that one that is free from phosphate.
• Paintbrush
• Sealer. Specifically for the concrete
• Gloves
• Tray for your paint
• Protection for the eyes
• Plastic liner
Procedure
First thing you need to do is to use your mop to do away with any debris. Follow up with your cleaner that if free from phosphate. Before you begin staining, ensure that the floor is flawless and moisture free.
Figure D
After that, put water into the bucket followed by an equivalent portion of the stain and then mix together. Once you are done with that, pour it in the tray you have set aside after you put in the liner for plastic. Then use your roller to put in the mixture to the concrete. After that, cut some stain unto the wall with the use of your paintbrush. Make sure that the doors as well as the boards for the base, and any other surfaces not included, are not flecked with the stain by using your painters tape.
After you have applied the first coat of stain, follow it up with a second coat. Leave it until it is completely dry. The more you coat, the darker it gets. Do the same thing with your concrete sealer. Apply the first coat and then re-coat. Use your roller for this. Once your done, just wait for it to completely dry and your done.
