How to Add a Glass Tile Backsplash Around Outlets

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  • 4-6 hours
  • Intermediate
  • 400-2,000
What You'll Need
Tile
Tile saw
Tile adhesive
Pencil
What You'll Need
Tile
Tile saw
Tile adhesive
Pencil

Glass tile can serve as an excellent backsplash for your kitchen when used effectively. Installing individual glass tiles can pose many interesting problems in many interesting ways, but none are more challenging than installing these tiles around wall outlets. In order to complete this project effectively, you will need to follow the steps below carefully and in order. If done correctly, you will be rewarded with an attractive and functional backsplash that you can be proud to say you did-it-yourself.

Choose Your Tiles

The first step of this project will be to determine the type of tiles that you will be used to complete your backsplash. This choice is very important, and not just for aesthetic reasons, but also because it will determine the relative amount of trouble that you'll have to go through to work around your wall outlets. Different tiles come in different shapes, sizes, and textures, and all of this will come into play when you have to cut and install your tiles.

Apply Tiles with Tile Adhesive

Once you have selected the type of tiles that you will be using, begin to apply tile adhesive to the wall you will be tiling as well as the back of the individual tiles. Press each individual tile into place side by side across the wall, leaving the spaces around wall outlets for last.

Measure Wall Outlets

Once you have installed tiles across the wall everywhere but surrounding the wall outlets, you will need to carefully measure the outlets themselves. Outlets can come in irregular shapes, which is why it is important to measure them, but as a general rule, most outlets will be roughly two inches by four inches.

Measure Tiles

Next, you will need to carefully measure the tiles you will be using in order to determine where and how you will need to cut them to make them fit around the outlet. Use a pencil to make marks on the tile where you will need to cut them. There are no set dimensions or cuts that you will need to make every time, and every outlet is different, so you will need to do this for every outlet individually.

Cut Individual Tiles

Once you have marked off where you will need to make cuts on each tile, you will need to make these cuts with a specialty tool known as a tile saw. If you do not own a tile saw, and many people don't, you can sometimes rent one from local hardware, or home improvement stores. Much like any other saw, tile saws come in models attached to a stand or in hand-held models.

Adhere Tiles to Wall

Once you have cut the individual tiles to the specific dimensions that will fit around your wall outlets, you will need to apply them to the wall using the same technique you used to apply the other tiles. That is, apply tile adhesive to the wall and to the back of the individual tiles. Once all tiles are in place, apply grout around the tiles, and allow ample time for it to dry.