Mark with a pencil for chalk lines.
Tile on plywood countertop.
Whoever did the counter before used 1 2 thick plywood 1 thick particle board and a layer of some type of fiberglass sheet over the plywood and particle board layers.
Prepare the tile countertop base if not purchasing or using a preexisting counter.
Save money by installing a tile countertop yourself.
Use the notched side of the trowel to comb through the thin set to get a uniform thickness.
On counters that won t be exposed to water you can install the tile directly to the plywood.
Glue and staple another layer of plywood 1 4 in over the 3 4 in.
To tile the counter top attach a temporary apron to the counter and dry run the tiles on the counter leaving a grout joint.
Use the flat end of the trowel to push the thin set over the surface of the plywood.
If installing over bare plywood in a moisture prone area first cover it with a moisture resistant membrane such as 15 pound felt paper or 4 mil polyethylene sheeting.
Plywood if necessary to build up the thickness to match the edge tile.
Tile adheres most effectively to construction or exterior grade plywood that is cut to fit your countertop.
If you re crafting a new counter from scratch the following bullets detail how to build a new countertop using plywood and concrete boards.