Homemade Counter Tops

Put a piece of plywood on top of the cabinet that is cut to fit and anchor it with 2-inch screws. Drill the screws through the supports under the plywood and up into the plywood. Repeat with an additional 1/2-inch-thick piece of plywood if you want additional height.

Lay the sink upside down on the counter surface and use a pencil to trace around it. Remove the sink.

Measure in 1 inch from the traced area and draw a new outline. Cut the inner outline out with a jigsaw; this is the frame on which the sink will rest.

Measure the plywood counter and mark cement board to fit. Cut the cement board with a masonry blade along the marked lines. Attach the cement board to the plywood with 1 1/2-inch flat-head masonry screws. Insert screws every 6 to 8 inches along the edges, and then insert an additional row of screws down the center of the counter, except where the sink will go. After attaching the top board, measure and cut a thin strip of cement board for the edges of the counter. Attach with screws.

After you install the cement board, lie under the counter at the sink. Cut out the cement board with a jigsaw from underneath to open up the sink space.

Spread thin-set mortar on the counter, starting at the front edge at the midway point between the ends of the counter. Smooth the material on with a notched trowel. Apply enough thin-set for two to three tiles, and lay the tiles down -- pushing them into the mortar firmly -- so that they are up against the edge. Use spacers between the tiles to keep them about 1/4 inch apart.

Apply more thin-set along the front of the counter on both sides of the first tiles, and place more tiles until the front edge of the counter is tiled. Continue with additional rows, working your way to the back of the counter.

Cut the tiles if needed to fit the ends of each row or around the sink opening. Measure the location where the tile is to go, and take away from that measurement the width of the spacers. Mark the tile with the dimensions of the space for cutting.

Cut tiles with a power saw, following the mark lines. Move the blade slowly through the tile to keep the tiles from chipping. Spread thin-set and apply the cut tiles as you did the others. Place the cut side in toward the counter so that it isn't seen. Once the top is complete, install edge tiles along the front edges of the counter in the same way.

Leave the tile to dry for a day after you are through installing all the rows.

Remove the tile spacers. Spread grout over the counter with a rubber float. Smooth the grout over the top of the tiles at a diagonal direction to the grout lines, and fill the spaces completely. Clean off the surface of the tile with a damp rag as you work so that it doesn't dry on the faces of the tiles. Leave the counter to dry for a day.