How to Install a Brick Backsplash in the Kitchen

How to Install a Brick Backsplash in the Kitchen

The kitchen is probably the most used room in the house, so you want to make it a pleasant place to spend time. It’s also important to have a kitchen design that will be cherished for years.

The backsplash in the kitchen is usually one of the most decorative parts of the design. It is an opportunity to use color and pattern, experiment with materials, and add a dose of personality to the most frequently used gathering space in the house. It’s also a relatively small canvas that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg to renovate if you change your mind and want to try something new. 

Kitchen Backsplash can be covered with any tile material, such as ceramic, stone, or glass, and the tiles can be any size or shape. But Brick backsplashes are unique and eye-catching, and that’s what makes them special. They grab your attention and convey a feeling of permanence. And guess what? It is also an easy task to install, and we will help you figure out How to Install a Brick Backsplash in the Kitchen.

What is a Brick Backsplash?

Brick backsplashes are hard coverings for the walls behind kitchen countertops. They are both decorative and functional. It creates a classic look and offers a tough, thick covering for protecting walls from damage. A brick backsplash is generally made from a veneer masonry unit that looks like bricks rather than actual bricks. 

How to Install a Brick Backsplash

Adding a brick backsplash to your kitchen is a great way to increase the value of your home while adding an extra touch of class. Here are a few steps to install a brick backsplash on your own.

Step #1: Prepare the space

Thoroughly clean the brick tile so it can get a firm grip on the wall. Apply a cleaner fluid to the wall, wipe it down with a cloth, and then dry it with a new cloth. 

Tiles rarely fit a layout without any cuts, and backsplashes often have electrical outlets to tile around. Therefore, measure the size of all your tiles before you begin tiling.

Step #2: Remove Faceplates and Cover Countertops

When installing the brick backsplash in your work area, please ensure that the electricity is off and remove the faceplates from light switches and outlets using the cordless drill or manual screwdriver. Also, Cover the counter with a drop cloth or a plastic sheet to catch any debris. 

Step #3: Determine the layout of your brick backsplash

Measure the area for the backsplash. Measure the height and length of each section of the backsplash. Then, mark a similar sized and shaped area on the nearby floor. Ensure that you also mark out all outlets on the walls.

To get the square footage, multiply the height and length of the area you want the brick backsplash to cover. It’s time to head to market for your brick selection! Make sure you buy more than you think you’ll need in case of cracks and damage. 

Step #4: Determine space between bricks

Place a dowel rod between several brick tiles to determine how much space you should leave between them and what the grout line should look like. Layout brick tiles to determine how many you will need to cover the wall. Then you can decide if you want them staggered, lined up straight, or in another style or pattern.

Step #5: Install the brick backsplash

Due to its weight and strength, brick requires a stronger adhesive and more powerful tools. Brick also needs a stronger adhesive than tiles do. Use the caulking gun to apply a wavy line of adhesive to one of the brick tiles. Place the tile on the wall, press, and hold it for several seconds. 

Use a grease pen to mark the wall, then place a brick in line with it. Place bricks until your desired pattern is created. 

Step #6: Finish Brick at Top

Make sure to stop at outlets and switches when placing bricks. Then measure and draw the area of the outlet on the brick and cut it using a wet tile saw.

Consider cutting bricks lengthwise or leaving a gap when you reach the bottom of the cabinets or the ceiling. When the gap is greater than half the height of a brick, cut filler bricks. When it’s less than half, you can leave a gap, and no one will notice it.

Step #7: Add the grout 

Let the bricks sit for a day for the adhesive to dry completely. Take a bucket and mix the grout in it. Using a trowel, apply it between the bricks. Clean off any excess grout on the bricks by wiping them with a rag.

Step #8: Add Caulk

Fill the gap between the bottom of the brick and the countertop with the caulk using the caulking gun.

Step #9: Seal Surface

When the grout is dry, brush off a sealant. Coat the brick surface two to three times to fully seal it. Use the water method to check if the wall is sealed or not. Sprinkling a few drops of water across the brick veneer will reveal whether or not the wall is sealed. If the water beads up, it is well sealed. If it soaks in, apply additional coats of sealer.

Install outlets, faceplates, and light switches again.

Final Thoughts

Everyone wants to turn their house into their dream home, or at least make small updates here and there, but that’s often easier said than done. Updating your kitchen by installing a brick backsplash in the kitchen will give a new and unique look, and it is not a difficult task. So what are you waiting for? Go and renovate your kitchen backsplash with bricks by any style of your choice.

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