How to Do a Kitchen Sink Splash Block

Wipe down the area where you want to install your backsplash with warm water, allowing it to dry completely.

Scoop a tile adhesive like mastic onto a trowel, and at a 45-degree angle, spread it onto the wall in sweeping motions. Do not spread on more than a 3-by-3-foot area or else it will dry before you can finish.

Press the bottom center tile into place first, twisting it slightly as you press it into the adhesive. Work out from this tile, creating a complete bottom row, then building additional rows on top of this one. Leave a few millimeters between each tile so that you can fill the space with grout later.

Wet a clean rag and wipe down the tiles when they are all in place, cleaning off any excess adhesive that oozed out between them. Clean between the tiles with a small, rounded stick. Wait for the adhesive to dry according to its instructions.

Mix a batch of grout according to the instructions on the package. Scoop some grout onto a rubber grout float, then wipe the float across the tiles at a 45-degree angle. Continue until the grout is packed into the crevices between the tiles. As the grout firms, wipe off any excess with a damp sponge, using your rounded stick to shape the grout between the tiles for a smooth finish.

Wipe off the tiles with a clean, dry cloth after the grout dries and forms a cloudy film on the tiles.