Monday’s backsplash post jumped right into the middle of the project, so we wanted to take a step back and explain our process for anyone planning a similar job. First, we prepped the room by clearing everything off the counters.
Next we laid down rosin paper from Home Depot, which our counter installer recommended. It’s like brown construction paper with a moisture barrier that prevents thinset drips from soaking through. For extra protection against sharp trowel corners we placed cardboard on the counters and taped the rosin paper over it, running the painter’s tape right up to the wall.
We planned our tile placement next. We chose to begin in the corner under the microwave because it felt like an inconspicuous place to learn and it worked out to be about three sheets wide there. That made it a good spot to get comfortable with the technique.
Not knowing how long cutting would take, we avoided mixing up all our thinset at once because we didn’t want it to dry while we fumbled with nippers. In hindsight we learned it’s faster to install as many full sheets as possible first, then backfill cut pieces along the edges. That approach uses more freshly mixed thinset for the cuts but speeds the process overall.
We used a staggered sheet pattern to minimize visible seams. Alternating where seams fall helps the eye avoid focusing on one long line and gives a more continuous look once grouted.
With things ready to go, I mixed the thinset (we used a product from The Tile Shop). Mixing made us nervous because we once ruined a bag of grout by adding too much water, so we double-checked the instructions and followed a helpful video tutorial to get the right consistency. The thinset should be somewhere between toothpaste and pancake batter—thick enough to hold but still spreadable and slow to fall from a putty knife.
We applied the thinset to the wall with the flat side of a 3/16″ notched trowel and used a putty knife in tighter spots. Then we held the notched edge at a roughly 45-degree angle and combed the thinset to form grooves that help the tiles bond. We used a small 3/16″ notch because our tiles are small.
Pressing the first sheet into the grooves was equal parts scary and thrilling. We used a very thin scrap of wood as a spacer along the bottom so the tile wouldn’t sit directly on the counter; that tiny gap will later be caulked. The spacer was about as thick as a paint stick or a bit thinner.
These initial pieces were relatively easy to lay since the counters and cabinets helped keep everything aligned. Once we started tiling, we reached the progress you saw in Monday’s post in maybe an hour and a half. We were tired after all the prep, so we stopped for the night.
The next day we returned with fresh energy and continued along the sink wall. We removed the molding under the window so we could tile behind it and reinstall the molding on top of the finished tile for a clean look.
This pass we were less rigid about planning every cut. We removed full tiles around obstacles like the disposal switch before mixing thinset and backfilled the rest as we progressed, popping off half and whole tiles and placing them where needed.
We had to stop again when Clara woke up, but by then one side was complete. The window looks off-center now, but once we add open shelving on the stove wall there will be equal spacing on both sides and everything will balance. We’ll show how we finish the tile edges beside the window once we have photos to explain it clearly.
The back wall is large, but since we’re getting more comfortable with the process and most of that wall uses full tiles, we expect it to move faster. We’ve been enjoying the transformation—at night the tile seems to gleam and gives the kitchen a polished, almost wet-look shine that lifts the counters and painted cabinets.
Penny tile takes more hands-on time than larger tiles, but the finish is worth it. We were worried about alignment and hiding seams, but the sheets slide in the thinset so you can nudge them until rows look even.
We kept adjusting until the rows looked right. It’s tedious at times, but the final appearance makes the effort worthwhile.
We meant to make another video showing thinset application and tile placement but forgot—definitely on the list for the next post. Meanwhile we started the back wall late one night and plan to finish over the weekend. Our goal is to share wide shots of a fully tiled wall soon.
If you’re considering a tile project, don’t be intimidated. Penny tile can be slow, but it’s not the hardest project and can be tackled in evenings and naps. We went into this not knowing whether it would take days or weeks; so far we’re on track to finish within about a week of starting. You can do it.