How to Put Bricks as a Backsplash

Mark the perimeter of the backsplash you want, drawing the borders on the wall with your pencil and level. Position the borders with wall space around them on the sides, to allow some of the brick tiles to go half a tile beyond the borders.

Spread mortar over the marked area using a notched tiling trowel.

Press the brick tiles to the wall starting at the bottom, from end to end within the area, with the long sides sitting horizontally. Set spacers between the tiles and the countertop, and between the ends of the bricks, to separate them from each other.

Place the second course of brick tiles in place above the first, staggering the positions between the two rows, so the ends of the tiles on the second row meet halfway along the length of the tile in the course below it. Set the final tiles on each end so they hang halfway over the edges of the tiles of the bottom course. (Note: Since the end tiles will be jutting out past your marked area, spread mortar on the back of those tiles, rather than on the wall, then press the tiles into place.)

Repeat and continue, pressing each new course of tiles in place above the previous course, staggering each row. The end tiles for each course should alternate with the course below it, so one course lands on the side border of the marked area and the next course goes half a tile past the border. Continue putting spacers between each tile as you hang them.

Cover the whole backsplash area. Let the tiles set for 12 hours. Remove the spacers.

Spread grout over the brick tiles, using the long edge of the grout float to scrape the grout over the surface, pressing it into the spaces between the bricks, but do not grout between the backsplash and the countertop. Let the grout sit in the lines for 10 minutes, then wipe up the excess grout with a damp sponge.

Let the grout set for 24 hours. Run a bead of caulk along the joint where the backsplash meets the countertop. Use your thumb to smooth the caulk into a flat line.