We are thinking about adding small mosaic or stone tiles on our kitchen backsplash. We recently went to a short class at Home Depot on tiling. The guy there reccommended installing a backerboard on drywall first. Is this difficult for a first-time DIYer? Several of the tutorials I‘ve found online install directly onto the drywall. Any recommendations? What are the consequences for installing directly onto the drywall? Thanks in advance.
How To Install Stone Backsplash
There okorder /... Hope this helped! Enjoy your new kitchen!
It can be done directly onto drywall. Hung ceramic tile for many years B4 backerboard or wetboard drywall came out Tiles in my place have been on for many years in around the tub and on the counter. They are not submerged underwater so it is not a big deal as is made out to be. I wouldn't bother with the backerboard on a backsplash. So long as the drywall is dry and the drywall paper still firmly affixed you should have no problem. So long as you grout properly(so that the water does not get past to the paper to get the paper and drywall wet in flood conditions) it will be just fine.
Backerboard, hardiboard cement board, different material, same purpose. It would be overkill on your project. whether you do it is up to you. but definitly not necessary. its mostly used for extreme wet conditions where water is constant in contact, such as shower/baths, or flooring on drywall install the tile directly on the drywall using thinset mortar, premixed is fine to use especially for smaller projects. use spacers and a good grout, let dry about 12 hours,then wipe it down again, let it dry for 6 hours then apply sealer. on backerboard, remember applying backerboard to drywall will extend your wall, if you use 1/2 backerboard, plus 1/8 thinset, then 1/4 tile, you bring out the wall 7/8 of inch, of course they make 1/4 backerboard but still 5/8, remember you have to cap this somehow to bring the tile back to the wall. If you want more flush look you need to remove the area of drywall which you plan on tiling, when you do this, cut the drywall about 3 smaller on all sides smaller than the area you are tiling, cause you have to tape and finish seams between the backerboard joints using fiberglass mesh and mortar, screw holes need to be filled as well. as far as drywall to backerboard joints easier to do what i said above and keep it flush. The only consequeces is that without proper installation it could lead to moisture problems. But thats with anything that isnt' properly installed.
