Can Backsplash Be Applied Over Drywall?

Drywall Information

• Drywall, or gypsum board, is board you use to create wall structures. The boards typically come in 8-by-4-feet, although you can find the boards in larger sizes. You tape the boards together, holding them in place with a liquid joint compound to complete the structure. Light sanding and painting finish the walls. You have different types of drywall to use when building a home or other structure. Rooms that receive a lot of moisture, such as kitchens or bathrooms, use water-resistant drywall. Treated paper covers this drywall to help it repel moisture.

Materials

• When designing your backsplash you have a variety of materials to choose from, including glass, ceramic, granite and plastic laminate. You can apply these materials to drywall, provided the surface is properly prepared. The drywall surface must bond with the backsplash adhesive material. Painted or grease-splattered drywall needs some prep work before you can begin backsplash installation. Cleaning the wall and light sanding typically take care of things.

Backsplash Application

• Once you are finished with the drywall preparation, you are ready to begin adding the backsplash. Apply enough tile adhesive to the wall with a grooved trowel to fit a row of tiles, beginning at the bottom of the wall above the countertop. Press the tiles firmly to the adhesive. Continue adding adhesive and tiles until you complete the backsplash. You can cut the tiles yourself with a tile cutter or have tiles precut at your local home improvement center. Once the adhesive dries, for several hours or overnight, you are ready to apply the grout. Mix grout according to the manufacturer’s directions, and spread it over the tiles in small sections to fill in between the tiles. Wipe the wet grout from the tiles with a damp cloth as you go along.

Considerations

• The materials you use to adhere backsplash to the drywall will create a water barrier, which is what you want for your backsplash as the moisture content there is generally high. Tile applied directly to water-resistant drywall typically lasts up to 16 years, according to U.S. Inspect. If the drywall is in bad shape, Roy Berendsohn with Popular Mechanics suggests you cover it with particle board or plywood to create a smooth surface to apply the tile.