How to Cover Tile Countertops with Thin Quartz

Give your space a clean, updated modern look with ultra-thin quartz countertops. They have a clean, slick look that’s perfect for the modern home. Whether it’s for your new kitchen or bathroom, thin quartz brings your space to life with upgraded designs that have designers raving.

Loving the look of quartz? Already have tile countertops installed? There’s no need for major renovations. Here’s how you can achieve that clean quartz look with your existing tile countertops.

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Things You’ll Need

Before we dive straight into the project, here’s what you’ll be needing:

• Pencil and graphing paper
• Measuring tape
• Thin-set mortar
• Joint sealant
• Notched trowel
• Putty knife
• Adhesive gun
• Damp sponge
• Tape
• Old newspapers
• Pipe wrench
• Hammer
• Pry bar

Instructions

Now that you’re done preparing everything we need, we can now begin with the project. Start by protecting your floors and cabinets. Grab the old newspapers and start covering your cabinets. Use the tape to make them stick. Cover the floor area surrounding your countertop with the rest of the newspapers. No need to add tape.

Preparing the Cut-Outs

Place the paper on top of the countertop and trace the area that you want to replace. Make sure that you cover the entire area that you want to replace. If there are fixtures like sinks, faucets, and nozzles, trace around them. These cut-outs will make it easier to get more accurate measurements of the quartz.

Preparing the Quartz

Measure your countertop surface. Take careful note of the width and length of the quartz countertop surface that you’re planning to install. After doing that, head down to Granite Selection or your nearest stone manufacturer to choose a slab.

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There are plenty of quartz slabs available so you have no shortage of options. Why not go for the Calacatta Luccia MSI Q Quartz? Its gorgeous gray marbling set against an off-white backdrop is perfect for the modern kitchen. Or what about the Coastal Gray Caesarstone Quartz? Picture the beauty of the ocean waves splashing against beach rocks but on your countertops. Whatever your choice is, you can never really go wrong with Granite Selection.

Once you’ve made your choice, hand the cut-outs over to your stone manufacturer so they can prepare your countertop surface along with the measurements you want. This enables them to prepare the stone accurately, accounting for where you want to install your sink and other fixtures.

Removing the Tiles

For easier installation of the quartz, we’ll need to get rid of the old surface to make way for the new. However, getting rid of the tiles can be difficult. Here’s a step-by-step guide to carefully removing tiles without damaging the countertop:

Turn off the water supply on the sink, if there’s one. Using a pipe wrench, remove the faucet and the drain and unmount the sink carefully. Set aside and secure all the screws, mounting clips, or any other fasteners that you remove – you’ll be needing them when you reinstall the sink again.

Use the pry bar to remove the tiles. Find the tile closes to the wall and insert the edge of the bar under its front edge. Carefully tap the bar with the hammer to loosen the tile without doing damage to the countertop. Once the mortar is loosened, pry the tile away from the countertop.

Continue removing all the tiles to expose the countertop. Once all the tiles are removed, clear the surface by removing all the debris. Using a putty knife, smoothen the area by running the knife across the surface and leveling the rough surface.

Clean the exposed surface using a damp sponge. Remove any dust and debris and let it dry sufficiently before you begin any work on the surface.

Applying the Adhesive

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Prepare the thin-set mortar. Apply the mortar across the entire surface. Use the putty knife to spread it evenly across the entire surface. Make sure that the entire surface is sufficiently coated with the mortar to ensure that your thin quartz sticks to the entire surface.

Installing the Quartz

Gently place the quartz slab over your countertop. Make sure you have sufficient helpers with you to help you lift the countertop. After all, your quartz might be too heavy for you, which may cause some serious injury if you try lifting it yourself. Additionally, without additional support, you might drop the slab, causing damage to your slab, your floors, or both. Furthermore, grabbing a friend will give you more control over the placement of the slab.

Once the slab is in place, secure it by using the rubber mallet. Gently “knock” the surface in place across crucial areas like the countertop edges and in between. This will also make sure that your surface is level.

Finishing with the Joint Sealer

Seal up any gaps in the countertop using the joint sealer. Use an adhesive gun to make it easier to apply in the desired location. Don’t be afraid to be generous. Use the putty knife to keep them in place and clean off any excess using the damp sponge.

Finishing Touches

Remember when we removed the fixtures? It’s time to install them again. Start by noting the location of the sink on your new countertop. Place the sink upside down on the counter and mark with a pencil where the holes need to be. Drill holes for any screws that will be used to mount the clip. Apply adhesive along the edges of the sinkhole. Place the sink and press down along the edges for 10 seconds to secure the sink.

Undermount sinks are trickier to install. Follow the same steps above but on the reverse side of the quartz slab before installation.

Make Replacements Easier with Granite Selection

While covering your tile countertops with a new, thin quartz surface might seem like a fun DIY project, it’s actually quite taxing. There’s so much prep work that needs to be done – not to mention the actual installation work that you need.

For easier renovations, there’s Granite Selection. Located in Elk Grove Village, IL, we manufacture and install stone countertops. Give us a call at (888) 906 3317 and schedule a consultation. Let us help you with your upcoming tile replacement project.

Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Kitchens