A Backsplash With Shine

Over the years, you have made quite a few improvements to your kitchen from painting the walls to resurfacing the cabinets to replacing the countertops. The one area that you have left to tackle is the surface between your countertop and cabinets. While you could create a tile backsplash, you are looking for something a bit different. Why not use tin ceiling tiles?

Although once found in older homes only, tin ceiling tiles are now available for all sorts of projects from ceilings to backsplashes. In order to create a tin tile backsplash, you will need to measure the area where you intend to use them and purchase enough tiles for the task, making sure you have a couple of extra for any mistakes that may occur.

With the tin tiles in hand, you will then need to collect all of the supplies. These include: • Bucket of soapy water • Rags • 80-grit sandpaper • Tape measure • Pencil • Gloves • Safety glasses • Tin snips • Awl • Hammer • Round-headed nails • Denatured alcohol • Polyurethane • Paintbrush

To install your tin tile backsplash, follow these directions:

1. Clean the surface with warm soapy water.

2. Rough up the surface with 80-grit sandpaper.

3. Lay out the tiles in the design you wish.

4. Measure and mark the tiles according to where they will be placed.

5. Cut tiles as marked with tin snips.

6. Working in sections, put tile in place, hold against wall and pre-punch nail holes with an awl.

7. Nail tiles in place.

8. Complete steps 6 & 7 until all tiles have been attached to the surface.

9. Wipe down the tiles with denatured alcohol to remove the protective coating from them.

10. Apply a coat of polyurethane to the tiles to protect them.

Creating a tin tile backsplash is not difficult. It does take some time, however. To speed up the process and make it easier on yourself, you may want to ask a friend to help. They can measure and mark the tiles while you cut them and hold them in place as you punch the nail holes and nail them in. For this project, two sets of hands may be better than one!