The flat sides of square-edge tiles expose the porcelain or ceramic under the glaze. Bullnose tiles have one curved edge that finishes a tile installation neatly without exposing the unglazed ceramic or porcelain edges. To finish a backsplash without bullnose tiles, you’ll need to disguise the unglazed edge of the tiles with trim molding or caulk. If you choose molding, select one that is as thick along one edge as the thickness of the tiles, and narrow along the opposite edge to gradually slope the backsplash down to the plane of the wall.
Trim Molding
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1.
Measure along the top edge of the backsplash.
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2.
Measure a piece of trim molding to that length, and mark it lightly with a pencil.
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3.
Cut the molding at the mark with a small handsaw or miter saw set at zero degrees.
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4.
Paint the molding to match the room’s trim. Alternatively, brush wood stain on the molding with a foam paintbrush, let it set for approximately five minutes, and wipe off the stain with a rag. Let the stain dry, apply wood sealer and let the molding dry.
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5.
Set the molding in place against the upper edge of the backsplash. The thicker edge of the molding should butt against the upper edge of the tiles.
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6.
Drive 1 1/2-inch finishing nails through the molding and into the wall with a hammer, leaving the small nail head slightly out of the wood.
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7.
Place the tip of a larger nail on the head of one of the finishing nails in the molding. Tap the nail lightly with a hammer until the head of the finishing nails is approximately 1/16 inch below the surface of the wood.
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8.
Fill the slight depressions in the wood at each nail with latex caulk or wood putty, wipe off the excess with a plastic card or putty knife, and let the filler dry.
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9.
Dab paint or stain on the caulk or putty marks with a small paintbrush.
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10.
Squeeze a thin line of clear silicone along the seam between the molding and the edge of the backsplash.
Caulk
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1.
Cut the tip of a caulk tube nozzle at a slight angle with a utility knife.
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2.
Put the caulk tube into a caulk gun, and squeeze the caulk gun trigger until you see caulk entering the nozzle.
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3.
Place the slanted nozzle tip flat against the left or right end of the upper edge of the backsplash. The nozzle should touch the edge of the tiles and the wall at the same time.
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4.
Squeeze the caulk gun trigger, and pull the nozzle across the upper edge of the tiles. Work slowly, applying a neat line, called a bead, of caulk across the upper edge of the tiles.
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5.
Drag the edge of a caulk spreader along the upper edge of the tiles. A caulk spreader is a small, flexible plastic or rubber tool that spreads caulk evenly, removes the excess caulk and makes a straight, clean line in one pass across the edge of the tiles.
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6.
Let the caulk dry, and paint it to match the walls, if desired.
