How to Lay Subway Tile for a Kitchen Backsplash

Mark out the dimensions you want for your backsplash, on the wall using a pencil and level. Adjust the sides of the area to hold all full tiles. (Example: If your subway tiles are 6 inches long, and you plan to use five of them from end to end, then make the width of the area 30 inches, plus 1/8 inch for each grout line.) Leave enough room around the perimeter of the marked area to accommodate border tiles.

Use a notched trowel to spread tile mastic over the marked area.

Press the bottom row of subway tiles in place, positioned horizontally. Put spacers between the tiles, and below them, to separate them from the countertop.

Set the second course of tiles in place in the same way, above the bottom course, with the tiles lined up with those below them. Again put spacers between all the tiles as you hang them. Repeat and continue, building up the area course by course. Cover the whole marked area.

Spread mastic over the back of the first border tile press it to the wall at one end of the tiled area. Put spacers between the border tile and the subway tiles. Repeat, setting border tiles all around the tiled area.

Let the mastic dry for 12 hours. Remove the spacers.

Grout the tiles with a grout float, pressing the grout into the spaces between them. Let the grout sit in the lines for 10 minutes. Wipe up the excess grout with a damp sponge.

Let the grout set for 24 hours. Run a line of caulk along the base of the backsplash, where it meets the countertop.