Summarize the following:
Place the tile along the wall. Follow the lines that you made before you put the mortar on the wall. Rock the tile up and down slightly to help it move into place along the mortar. You may need to use a grout float to flatten the tile. You can purchase this simple tool in many home centers. You are going to have to cut extra tile pieces if there is space left between the top tile row and kitchen cabinets. You don't want the tiles to sit directly on the countertop. Leave a small gap that you will caulk later. Use plastic tile spacers to create even grout lines by placing them in the corners of the tiles.. If you are left with a gap that is less than an inch, you might want to use moulding to hide it rather than trying to cut tile to fit. You will want to make sure the mortar or mastic and the tile are completely dry before doing anything further to the wall. It can take as long as 24 hours for backsplash tile to dry, depending on the type of mortar or mastic you use and the temperature inside your home. You could use pre-sealer on natural stone. This will help the stone avoid staining. Once dry, wipe the tiles clean with water. Use a soft cloth to do so. You want to clean the tiles in this manner before you move onto applying the grout. It's time to complete the backsplash by applying grout to the tiles. Many people use poly-blend sanded grout for kitchen backsplashes. You can use caulk or silicone sealant to fill any expansion gaps between the tiles and counter or cabinets. Use a grout float to fill the joints. Push the grout at a 45-degree angle with the grout float. Scrape away extra grout when the joints are filled. Hold the gloat a a nearly 90-degree angle to scrape it off. Shape and firm up the grout by dragging in instrument across every joint. Use the edge of the grout float, a toothbrush handle end, or even a finger. Use a damp sponge to wipe away excess grout. Fill a bucket with the amount of water recommended on the grout packaging. Add the grout powder and mix together. Use unsanded grout if the gaps are less than 1/8 of an inch. Let the mixture stand for 5-10 minutes and then mix again. Apply the grout with a grout float tool at a 45-degree angle, working diagonally and wiping off any excess grout. Work in sections. The grout goes in between the tile. This is the final step in creating a tile backsplash. You will want to seal the tile so that it doesn't easily stain. Wait until the grout dries completely. This can take over a day and sometimes as much as three days. Apply grout sealant. After the grout has dried, put sealant on the lines and joints. Some sealant comes in a spray-on bottle, and other sealant is applied with a sponge or brush. Start at an end tile, and spread a uniform coating of sealant over all of the grout, including in the corners. Wipe away any excess sealant with a rag. Let the sealant dry for about an hour, and apply a second coat. Let that dry. Put your appliances and cookware back on the counter. Turn the power in the kitchen back on.
Apply the tile. Dry and clean the tile. Apply grout and caulk around the tiles. Seal the tile.