Tiled bench top

[Lionel]

Hi all, Helping my brother with a small kitchen reno his wife wants the old bench top tiled. I initially baulked at the idea but when she laid out a set of floor tiles over the bench and a row of matching tiles along the splash back I had to admit it was very attractive. Ive got all the gear etc but I would like to ask your opinions on having a tiled top, durability, water penetration etc. many thanks, Lionel

[mic-d]

Just give consideration to the type of material the top is made from and how that will affect adhesion. Perhaps you will need to roughen up the surface with a grinder or nail down a sheet of tile underlay. You will have to seal the grout with something eg Sure Seal or it will become grimey in no time. If they happen to be rectified tiles you could butt them closely with silicone as the 'grout'

Cheers
Michael

[Honorary Bloke]

Lionel,

Just finished tiling my kitchen benchtops and they work great. I have had tiled benchtops in several houses over the years and never a problem. I like them because they are impervious to heat and hard to scratch or otherwise damage.

Downside is maintaining the grout, but a good grout sealer, applied about two weeks after the grout is laid in, goes a long way toward protection. If your brother likes the look, go for it.

What is the current substrate? It must be both strong (to prevent deflection--tiles are heavy) and waterproof. If it isn't strong, beef it up with a layer of ply. If it isn't waterproof, add some tiling underlayment before laying the tiles. Good luck.

[Purse]

Was just reading about this yesterday. If memory serves, i believe there is a specialised grout for bench top applications.

Cheers
Purse

[GraemeCook]

We had small (about 40mm square) tiles on the kitchen benches at our previous house and initially we loved them. Tough, heat proof, aesthetically great, and they matched our Arabia dinner set beautifully.

Then small things like sesame seeds and flour started getting caught in the grout recesses. They would not sweep up and had to be vacuumed. An absolute pain.

We replaced the tiles with solid wood. Almost as hardy and a smooth surface.

Cheers

Graeme

[Lionel]

Thanks guys, I did wonder how the grout would stand up to it but apparently there is a hospital grade grout and silicon sealer available which should do the job. The tiles are 300x300x10mm floor tiles which will work out spot on as the bench top is 3600x600mm. Probably finish off with a nice jarrah edge. Once again many thanks for your advice..........Lionel

[sco]

I remember my mother commenting on tile benchtops once.. she lived in a house with cork floors and tiled bench tops. Mugs would bounce on the floor and smash on the benchtop. Something to consider.

Cheers

sco

[Honorary Bloke]

I remember my mother commenting on tile benchtops once.. she lived in a house with cork floors and tiled bench tops. Mugs would bounce on the floor and smash on the benchtop. Something to consider.

Is that some kind of Australian parlor game? The moral of the story: bounce your mugs off the floor.

[sco]

LOL... Better still... Play dontdripthebastardinthefirstplace