This is not a blog post on how to install wall tile. If you’ve read my blog at all you will know that I’m not qualified to teach anything.
Really.
1.) I’m impatient.
2.) I don’t read directions. (usually)
3.) I tend to do thing backasswards.
4.) I’m pretty darn klutzy.
5.) I’m ridiculously messy while doing a project.
6.) I always forget to take “during” pictures. (refer to #1)
The message of my blog is, even if you think you’re a DIY dork, DO IT ANYWAY!
It seems to be catching on according to my email, blog comments and the two people I actually know in real life that read my blog. They tell me that I’ve inspired them to try their hand at new things. So, there’s that.
I do start out with good intentions, however.
I made my lines with the level according to Magic Dave’s over-the-phone directions. I completely ignored them and started in a different place to the left of the sink. But I had good intentions!
Mr. Wonderful whipped up a batch of thinset sans directions. We put three sheets of tile on the wall and they immediately began making a big, slow slide downward.
Panic ensued.
Mr. Wonderful being the DIY King that he is, exclaimed “What do we do? Call a professional!”
To which I replied calmly, “No, damn it! We’re gonna figure this out!”
And then I called my neighbor, Stacy, who was putting up the exact same tile in her bathroom at the exact same time. She did, however, have a semi-professional helper and they ran over to see if they could assist.
To our credit, in the time it took Stacy and her handy helper to walk down two houses, Mr. Wonderful and I had already figured out that our thinset was too watery. So, we pulled it, washed it , wiped down the wall and started over.
I’m laughing at just how inept I am at thinset application.
Somewhere around here…and by here I mean between the arrows….there may have been some swearing and choice words spoken that shouldn’t have been. All because I’m a bit of a control freak and things weren’t going according to MY plan. (like I had one!)
Hmmm…I just had a thought. Perhaps this is why Mr. Wonderful doesn’t like DIY? Something to ponder…
Just for the record, right around the tail end of the second arrow, Mr. Wonderful turned to me and said “I love you.”
To which I sweetly replied, “Shut up.”
We started hitting our stride and working cooperatively about here. Again, by here, I mean where the arrow is. This is also the spot where I realized I had mistakenly got a box of bisque-colored tile instead of all white.
*sigh*
It just wouldn’t be a project of mine if I didn’t find a way to mess it up or delay it. That was the reason for our trip on Sunday into the “big city”. We needed more tile.
I also decided to switch from Delorean Gray grout to white. You may have noticed some imperfections in the setting of this tile. You’d be right and really, not all that observant ‘cuz quite frankly, they’re obvious. But here’s the thing. The sheets of tile were not spaced well at all. Sometimes when we added a spacer or a nickel, as it were, it would send the whole sheet out of whack and make it look just plain crooked instead of just not spaced correctly. We did the best we could being novice tile installers. This is one of the reason why I decided to switch from gray to white grout. First of all, the inconsistencies wouldn’t be as noticeable and I also felt that all of those grout lines would look too “busy” in the gray. I don’t like busy.
So, this is where we stand on the kitchen tile. (The mess has been cleaned up and replaced with dirty dishes.) One wall is nearly finished. One wall has yet to be started. I’m not looking forward to doing the second wall by the stove. Halfway through doing this wall, my back was on fire and shooting lighting bolts through my buttocks and down my leg. During the clean up, I was standing at the kitchen sink when Mr. Wonderful asked me to scoot over because he needed to use the sink. I had to inform him that even though it didn’t look like it, I was, in fact trying to move. It just wasn’t happening. Ruptured spinal discs and DIY are not for weenies!
In spite of the back pain, the mistakes and the unnecessary swearing, we will be doing the second wall ourselves.
Many of you wouldn’t be able to stand the wonky tiles and I get that.
But here’s the thing….I’m not going for perfection in my home.
I’m going for pretty.
“Pretty good, not bad, can’t complain,” to quote a John Prine song.
Bye from the bungalow,
Linking up to:
Hi, I'm Jean. I live in historic Butte, Montana in a Craftsman home built in 1920. This blog is all about my adventures (and sometimes misadventures) in updating and decorating my house with antiques and vintage goods I find at garage sales, thrift stores, estate sales or wherever cool things from the past are waiting to be discovered.
We are John Prine fans as well! I have ruptured disks in my neck and lower back, so I feel your pain.
Your tile is beautiful and no one will study it for the imperfections (that scream at you, but aren’t that noticeable to others!).
Thank you for sharing, you ROCK in my book!!
from: the East Coast of Virginia!!!!
Oh my gosh, I feel your pain. Because I’ve been there! If your kinda misery loves company, you might like this post of ours: http://www.thissortaoldlife.com/2012/07/31/the-nitty-gritty-on-installing-a-tile-wall/. It’s ridiculously long, but if you keep going to the end, we did share some tips on grouting that I learned the hard way. (Is there any other way to learn in DIY?
)
Kudos to you for even taking it on, Jean. Once the grout is done you won’t notice those imperfections anyway. My husband did all the tiling at our old house. I was the grout haze wiper. : )
It’s not very nice of you to make me laugh at your unfortunate back pain. Hope the stormy sky that sends those bolts of lightning clears up before the next tile laying extravaganza. And for what it’s worth to my naked eye the tile doesn’t look all that wonky.
Bliss
I hope you don’t have to bend as much to do the other walls, yikes! I love the tile – especially the skinny ones right under the wood trim. Very pretty! It’s going to look awesome when it’s done!
Jan
Jean, you are so much braver than I am~ and I feel for you and your ruptured disc. It’s so painful!
I’m following you and as a new member of TICT, it’s nice to meet you!
These walls are going to be gorgeous. I had white subway tile in a previous house and I miss it!
Have a great day,
Tina
It’s literally a labor of love! I think it looks great and just think of how proud you’ll be when it’s finished. At least you CAN work together on a DIY project….I always want to do everything myself!! Oh, please take care of your back!!
I know for a FACT the tile looks fabulous and Jean and Mr. Wonderful did a fabulous job, as Jack the very handyman did a fabulous job at my house two doors down. Anyone that has seen Jean’s house will know that NO ONE will be measuring her space lines. Her house and decorating is sooooooo fabulous you just bounce your eyes around trying to take all the wondrfulness in. Also she and Mr. Wonderful are so fun to be around and so warm and inviting that you are just enjoying their company so much nothing else matters. She also has another full time job helping me redo my house. She either helps me …. or I will just move in with her. I already have my eye on her guest bedroom she just completed! Amazing! Now I need to go back up and read Rita’s grouting tips before I move onward with my shower project. Thanks!
Wonky’s my middle name…really! That’s one project I’ve never tried, but some day when I do I hope it comes out as good as yours!!! Take care of your back, you need it to DIY!
Hugs,
Pendra Wonky
Lol!!! I’m still wiping the tears out of my eyes! My best friend and I have accomplished several of these projects (my husband would rather be beaten than do a DIY project). We once “cleaned and freshened up” a bathroom. It ended up getting stripped down to the studs and the subfloor. In our defense, it was beautiful when we got done (and maybe slightly over budget).
I can’t wait to see the pictures of the second wall!
We must’ve been separated at birth, because I am exactly the same way (no.s 1-5): impatient and I want perfection…however, since I never take the time to read the directions, I’m willing to accept all that is imperfect! And your Mr. Wonderful handled it the same way as my hubby would’ve ~ are we lucky, or what?! I’m sure it looks as fabulous as your neighbor says it does! See you at the Prairie Sister Show in Missoula!
Hi, Jean
Hats off to you and your husband for doing this job. I would have chucked it. Holy cow, I can’t believe you did it and it looks awesome! You and Mr. Wonderful are amazing. : ) By the way the name of my blog changed and I am no longer Home Sweet Butterfly, but http://www.diy180.com
Hugs,
Vanessa
Hi!
I happened upon a link to your blog and have spent the last 2 days reading every post! I love your style of decorating and deeply admire your DIY ambitions. If only I had your drive and enthusiasm. I’ve been thinking of tackling a tile project for my kitchen as well. I just read about a double sided adhesive sheet you apply to the wall and lay down your tile,no thinset required. Just grout as usual. Sounds very simple.
I love your blog and thanks for sharing your world with us!