Tiling a worktop

djenks_2

HI, I have just tiled the splashback behind the worktop with mosaic tiles and think it may look nice if I tile the worktops too. I have a circular sink & drainer so I was going to get glass beads to fill the gap between the tiles and sink.

I was wondering what to do with the roll top edge though? Paint it of add a single row of tiles? Also what grout do I use? Will it be hygenic?

All ideas, suggestions and thoughts much appreciated!

From Dawn

Lemoncurd

I don't know if there are any grouts which are better for this purpose but my sister has tiled worktops and finds them an absolute nightmare. She just can't get them clean, she has re grouted a couple of times but I don't think it made much difference.

amandathepanda

I would advise the same, don't tile a worktop, hygiene nightmare everything gets stuck in the grout and it easily discolours.

aniahill

I am looking into doing this and there is a handy B&Q page about it, saying what type of grout to use for it to be hygienic etc

http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq_advice/common/howtos/ceramictiles//main.pdf

Anyone had any positive experiences of doing it? And any photos?!

Slimcilla

If you are set on doing it them I would advice gray grout or any darker colour.. White grout picks up stains from the colour of just about everything from purple cabbage to carrots to yellow Cif that you use to clean it with.. You can get lengths of edging strip from most DIY stores that will hide the roll top. Fit that first and then tile back from it so you have a neat line. You really will have to undo your sink to fit it over the tiles or it will look silly and that may be too much of a stretch for your plumbing..

A friend did this and it looked really cool to start with, she did break more wine glasses and plates than before as they smashed against the tiles. After a year or two it looked a bit worse for wear as a few tiles cracked and the grout was a revolting yellow colour from the Cif she used. She bleached it once in a while and it looked better for a bit.. The wooden edging strip in front of the sink needed varnishing every year too..

andyhop

use a resin grout for worktops that prevents bacteria growth

Imp

I've had a tiled worktop. It was horrid to work on, and a nightmare to keep clean.

debbie42

I've had a tiled kitchen woksurface too. Never ever, ever, ever again. I couldn't be more anti them. I'd rather have concrete slabs. Get my drift?

dander

Another vote for don't do it! I had a tiled worktop and it was horrible to live with. Needed constant bleaching to keep the grout clean. It's not even easy to just wipe off crumbs because of the undulations.

ginvzt

Don't do it!!!!!!! It may look nice in a catalogue or brochure, but it is nightmare to live with!!!!!! If you really have to, are you sure of doing it with mosaic tiles? These are the tiny ones, aren't they - think how you will have to live with them every day. People are complaining that it is hard to clean them in the bathrooms, think about it on the worktop!!!!!

Sorry - just noticed the time of original post.... djenks, did you tile the worktop in the end?...

27col

I made the mistake of tiling my worktops. I hated it from the day that I did it. The grouting was impossible to keep looking nice. I redid the grouting using some resin type product that was supposed to be waterproof. Well, it wasn't, and not only that, it cured a nasty grey colour. In the end I got someone in to fit a nice wood pattern worktop, just so we could get rid of the tiled one.