http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD0i3XWPVtA
I wanted a new kitchen but was on a very limited budget since I was unemployed. Having watched what seemed like hundreds of hours of the DIY channel and in particular the show "Sweat Equity" I felt compelled to act. The state of my kitchen was that it was at least 20 years since the last remodel and had no value. I figured how bad can I mess it up, the worst thing that could happen was to have it done professionally later. Thus began one of the most satisfying projects I have done in a long time. I want to share it with you and maybe you can learn from it and even improve upon my mistakes.
My advice: Borrow, rent or buy and return your tools to keep the cost down. :)
Tools
-Level
-Square
-Tape Measure
-Safety Glasses
-Carbide Tipped Scoring Tool
-Circular Saw
-Drill with Screwdriver Bits
-Jigsaw
-Notched Trowel
-Rubber Padded Grout Float
-Sponge
-Tile Saw
-Level
-Paint Brush
-
Materials
-24 sq ft of 12x12 Absolute Black Granite Tiles
-3/4" Plywood
-Trim Pieces
-1/2" Cement Backer Board
-Deck Screws
-Masking Tape
-Thin-set Mortar
-Un-sanded Grout
-Grout Sealer
-Paint
-Door Handle Pulls
-Sink
-Faucet
-Plumbers Putty
Here is he kitchen with the plywood base in rough position and with the sink placed in for testing.
Here are the tools and ingredients for the laying of the tiles.
I used speedset but in hindsight wished I had used regular as it would have given me more time for the setup and laying of the tiles. The grout is unsanded.
Sink is set in place to check the depth and positioning.
Faucet I got on clearance at the Home Depot
Screw Gun and deck screws ready to go !
Freshly painted cabinets
$30 bucks for Cabinet Restore paint.... a bargain!
Remove or empty the drawers
Old school plumbing from the 1960's
Lots of bracing added in addition to what is seen here.
This piece was left over and provided the majority of the support for that corner.
Always check the level.
Glued and screwed in place.
Laying more test tiles.
Cement board in in place, helps to have 2 people for this as it is heavy.
Under view from below the sink hole.
Countersunk the screw heads.
These helped with the chipping to get the fit right.
3/4 inch plywood heavy and solid.
The old counter top once considered hip and now out of date.
Gluing the top to the base cabinet.
Sink hole is cutout
Tape all the joints
And the edges.
Old school phone jack....I havent even had a land line for 10 years.
Dry laying the tiles for a idea of where they will lay.
Had to make lunch so microwave is there temporarily.
Measure twice, cut once.
Borrowed tile saw, a wet tile saw.
Nice clean cuts!
Turkey Meatballs for lunch.
Again dry setting the sink to see how it will look.
More dry setting for the tile.
Grout time!
Work quick it dries fast !
Tile set.
One side of the counter done.
Wood spacers to build out the back splash.
The grout ready to go.
Looks like it is edible.
Grout is applied and drying.
Sponging off the haze from the over grout.
See the Layers.
Test to see how the edge will look.
Sorry for the bad pic. Using a cut saw to cut the angles for the edging.
The home stretch.
Grout Sealer.
Connecting the plumbing.
Putting in the drains.
Recycled garbage disposal.
Double check the power status when doing the hook up.
Yikes!
Flex pipe in for the win.
Good to have for any kitchen.
My helper Ian.
My helpers macaroni and cheese.
Be creative on this corner you will figure it out :)
UMMMMMM Cookies!!!!!
Sweetness !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This cost under 300 buck to do. You can do it too and probably even better !
For flooring I used rubber workout mats the cost less than 20 bucks for 5 squares. Easy on your feet when cooking and if you drop anything it won't break.
