YOU GUYS! I am so excited about this. I thought of doing this on a Sunday and by Wednesday it was completed. (I only worked on it on Tuesday and Wednesday night.) In total it took me around 5 hours to complete this, not including drying times. I also painted Carrara marble countertops right after this..video below on the step by step process for both the backsplash and the countertops. Here's how I did the backsplash...
THE BEFORE
1. I washed my backsplash with some hot water and a rag to remove any dirt or mess stuck on there. You can also clean it with rubbing alcohol after to insure everything is off but I just wanted to get started! (You'll learn I barely have any patience because I get too excited about the finished product)
2. I had to tape off all the corners that I didn't want to get paint on and I also taped off the top where it connects to the cabinets. (We are eventually painting or staining our cabinets as well so with my lack of patience I wasn't focused on keeping it all perfect, aka I did get some paint in areas one would not want to.) BUT take your time with the taping, this might be the most annoying part of this all but try to be very detailed when you're applying it. This is what will make your project look like a pro or a bad DIY'er.
3. PRIMER BEGINS. Now once your tile dries off, you're ready to put your oil based primer on the tile. Primer is used to ensure the paint color you want, really sticks to the tile and so that it will be as strong of a color as possible and you won't see any pink tile, in my case. I only put one coat of this on and I let it dry overnight. (It said it only needed 4 hours to dry but I started this at night) To insure you get the primer everywhere, use a paintbrush to get in the corners or the places the roller can't get into. Then use the roller on top of that and everywhere else.
4. Once the primer has dried for 4 hours, you can go ahead and start to put your paint color on. Same thing, use a paintbrush to get in the corners or the places the roller can't get into. Then use the roller on top of that and everywhere else. To put the 2nd coat on, it said to wait 2-4 hours. My patience comes in again.. I waited only 2 hours. and VOILA. YOU'RE DONE! I didn't put another topcoat on or anything because my goal for the counter top is to do a very glossy finish so I didn't feel like I needed it too glossy also on my tile. To each their own! You can customize this however you want and pick whatever paint color you want.
(HERE I AM PUTTING MY BOYFRIEND COLIN TO WORK)
Things I wish I realized before and things I learned after this:
1. Make sure to really push down the tape completely to the surface you are trying to protect so the paint does not seep through.
2. Do not do a second coat of the paint with the dried out roller that you used for your 1st coat. (again, I got too excited) You need to tie a garbage bag tightly over the roller to preserve the wet paint. You can also throw or clean that roller and/or put on a new one on to ensure you don't create bubbles and so it's a smooth roll on the tile.
3. Don't get paint on your kitchen appliances and if you do, try to wipe it off with hot water immediately or with an SOS pad.
4. You can wash a paint filled paintbrush with gasoline. Just put some gasoline in a mason jar and stick the paintbrush in there and all the paint comes off. (some paints only need soap and water to come off, but the primer needed the gasoline)
5. You need a ruler to mix the primer up. (or if you get it at Home depot you can ask them to mix it for you) Just mix with the ruler for about 2-3 minutes and it's ready. Don't be afraid if it's too gooey on the bottom, it'll all mix together eventually.
ALL THE ITEMS I NEEDED:
-RULER TO MIX
-4 INCH ROLLER KIT or http://www.homedepot.com/p/3-Piece-Trim-Kit-HD-MS-200-4/202097461
-MORE 4 INCH ROLLER COVERS (1 for primer, 1 for 1st coat of paint, 1 for 2nd coat of paint)
-PAINTERS TAPE
-COVER FOR YOUR COUNTER TOP SO IT STAYS CLEAN (I JUST USED GARBAGE BAGS)
VIDEO ON BACKSPLASH (INCLUDES HOW I DID THE COUNTERTOPS)
It already looks so much better just with the backsplash painted... on to the countertops next!
Cabinets have also now been finished are linked below!
Cabinet post is here
Cabinet video is here
LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS!