Recently, in one store we saw granite slabs for sale for about $40 per square foot and in the same store we saw granite tiles for less than $9 per square foot. Done right, granite tile countertops are just as elegant as granite slabs. If you want to upgrade your kitchen countertops and give your entire kitchen a nicer and more elegant look, granite tiles are the inexpensive way to go. So here is a tutorial for you. We hope this inspires you to make your kitchen classier.

Tools needed:

tile saw

circular saw

puzzle

hammer

Level

notched trowel

Rubber Padded Grout Float

Materials needed:

stain proof grout

tile adhesive

3/4″ plywood

Granite tiles (we recommend 12 x 12)

Matching Granite Mosaic Nose

Sponge

Measuring tape

1/16″ tile spacers

1/4″ cement backer board

screws

First, measure your old countertops and record all the measurements. You will need to purchase enough plywood and cement backer board to cover the same amount of counter. Most countertops are 25 inches deep, this should be the perfect depth for two 12 x 12 tiles plus a nose.

Once you have all your materials, remove your old countertops, and then measure your plywood to cover each section of the countertop. Cut the plywood to the correct measurements with your circular saw. Don’t worry about space for your sink for now, just place the plywood right where the sink will go. Drill holes and screw the plywood into the cabinets, one counter section at a time.

After all of the plywood is secured, you’ll need to take careful measurements of your sink, mark your measurements exactly where it will go, and then cut the entire sink out with your jigsaw. Make sure the sink hole is centered on the base cabinet.

Then comes the cement board. Cement board can be cut to the correct size with a good razor blade and then broken off, just as you would drywall. I usually put a cement board on each side of the hole for the sink, and then put strips on the front and back of the hole. Cut your cement board to match your plywood and screw it into the plywood. If your cement board is cut to fit, all you will need to put is the tile adhesive. However, if there are gaps in the cement backer board, you can use mesh tape to cover the gaps.

Now you’ll want to start laying out your tiles to figure out exactly how they’ll fit together. Being natural stone, not all tiles are the same. I like to match the darker tiles with the darker noses, laying everything out and making sure it fits together. Next, determine which tiles you will need to cut and where, mark them clearly. Cut those tiles.

Now is the time to start laying the tiles with tile adhesive. I recommend doing this one section of the counter at a time. Take your tile adhesive and start troweling onto the cement backer board. Lay the tile at the back, right next to the wall first. Place the one in front of that one, closer to the next edge. This should leave enough room for the nose at the edge where you can glue it. Be sure to spread an even layer of adhesive over the counter, working a few feet at a time. Lay your first tile and the next tile. Place a tile spacer between them at two different points to ensure there is even space between them. Some tiles may be thinner than others. This is where your level comes in. Place your level on both tiles. If it is not level, place more adhesive under the lower one until it is level.

Lay out a full section of the counter, applying adhesive as you go and laying tile on top. Move on to the next section of the counter, laying down those tiles with adhesive as well. Work your way around each section of the counter. By the time you have finished the last section, the first section should be dry. This means it’s time to start going over it all with grout.

Use a rubber-padded grout trowel to grout between all cracks. Spread it out there nicely, then wipe up any excess with a sponge. Allow the grout to dry. Do this around all sections of the counter.

Once your counters are grouted, it’s time to grab the backsplash. Find out the design you would like to use. It is perfectly acceptable to use the exact same granite tile and lay it along the back, making the necessary cutouts for electrical outlets etc. However, some people may like to use glass mosaic tiles mixed with the granite, or do different patterns on the backsplash. This is completely up to you.

When applying the backsplash, no backing is needed. The tile adhesive can be placed directly on the wall and the tile can be placed on top of the adhesive. As with the countertops, once the adhesive is dry, proceed to apply the grout, wiping up any excess with a sponge.

Once all of the backsplash is done, your final touch will be the sink and faucet. Go ahead and install the sink and faucet and voila!