You know those big sheets of Mosaic tiles - can I stick them to a cacky ugly worktop?

[LaurieFairyCake]

I can't afford to replace the worlds ugliest worktop as Id need a new sink/tap etc.

So I thought about those big sheets, stuck down then grouted. Is it possible to get it looking ok?

[OinkBalloon]

No, no, don't do it! You will end up with the world's cackiest, ugliest work top.

Seriously, a tiled work top is the utter pits. It is unhygienic. Dirt gets stuck in the grout. Dishes chip if they are slid across instead of lifted and placed.

I know, I've got one. It's going, as soon as we can afford to gut and replace our kitchen.

Why can you not replace the whole work top?

[LaurieFairyCake]

Because I will need a new sink. And there are bloody ugly tiles adjoining this worktop as some sort of splash back affair that I just know is grouted and stuck to the back of this worktop. And they might have to be replaced - and they go half way up the wall

And I just know that if I chip them off too it will need skimming.

And I can't afford any of the above jobs but the worktop is still really ugly.

[tellmemore1982]

Firstly I think they would look awful on a work surface but secondly, mosaic tiles are expensive and time consuming to put in. Have you looked at the per square metre price?

Sinks and taps don't have to be as much as you think, there are also lots of solutions now for work surfaces that are cost effective but you do get what you pay for in terms of durability, longevity and finish.

I personally think a good work surface makes a room (or breaks which is why I can understand your wanting to change!) so it's worth saving up for and doing properly.

[OinkBalloon]

But why will you need a new sink?

(BTW I think you must be in my kitchen!)

[SisterMoonshine]

I think you've got nothing to lose - give it a go.
I once put lino on a cacky surface, it looked great. Didn't last for ever, but did the job I wanted it too for a few years. I just cut food etc up on chopping boards.

[Lelivre]

You can get these cheap but not sure how hygenic it is and you must work carefully and quickly as the mesh dissolves in the adhesive IMO and then any tile out line will drive you mad later.
Penny tiles I think they are called

[PigletJohn]

a sink can be re-used on a new worktop.

[mandy214]

Our kitchen had a tiled worktop when we moved in. It was medium sized square tiles and the grout around them was black. Not just dirty, or would come clean with a good scrub, I mean black. Proper shoe polish black. They'd obviously been in place a long time but even so, it was disgusting. Absolutely bloody awful.

We replaced the worktop on day 1 - same position in that we had a manky sink and the same bloody awful tiles as a splashback. My H chipped off the bottom couple rows of the tiles, got the worktops out, replaced with cheap as chips laminate (think it was something like £40 for a 3m length maybe - paid an extra £10 or something to the ends mitred so it was easy to fit) and then got basic white tiles and tiled over the existing tiles (he had to put more grout at the bottom where the existing tiles had been chipped off). Put the manky sink and tap back once cleaned & painted the kitchen cupboards.

It probably cost less than £100 but was such a difference - hygienic! Did the job for a couple of years until we could afford to do a proper job.

[ArtyBat]

OP, I work a lot with mosaic and have seen mosaiced kitchen surfaces that look fab.

One if the secrets is to ensure that the grout surface is at the same level as the tiles, so that there are no channels for food to become caught in.
Also, use a dark grout - I always favour black - looks far, far better.

In addition, the edge of the tiled worktop would be the weakest spot, so you would need to take care when leaning against it. Adhesive such as 'Serious Stuff' would be best as once that sets, nothing ever moves again.

You would need to have the right cutting tools too for awkward shaped pieces. The main nippers are called SideBiters, which are great for ceramic tiles (but not glass as they crush the edges), or wheeled nippers - fab for glass as they give a sharp clean cut.

If you want to know anymore, PM me.

[mabelbabel]

Re-use the sink. But don't put mosaic tiles on a kitchen worktop. It will look really grubby no matter what you do. We had some on a surface in a bathroom, and that was bad enough.

[Lelivre]

Arty if you get things even, is there a way to seal the surface to make it easier to clean and more hygienic.

Also on the edge, I guess roll top is better? Or how else to finish it?

[Lelivre]

...Finish the angle/corner edge of the top and where that roll top or square edge ends if you follow me.

[ArtyBat]

Lelivre
Yes, you can buy a grout and tile sealant, though I personally have never used one.
The grout I use is suitable for swimming pool use, so is extremely durable.

Re the edges, square 90 degree flat edges are best as these can also be mosaiced, but as I said, the edge is the most vulnerable part of a mosaic. If you used a roll top it would look odd, as there wouldn't be a definite edge to finish the tiles at.

[stealthsquiggle]

we had tiled worktops (moasaic type square white ones) in the first house I owned (inherited with the house, but we kept them). They were OK, actually - I did periodically tip neat bleach over the whole thing and leave it for a while, but I wouldn't say they were unhygenic in the mean time - easy to scrub, OK to put hot things on, etc.

We have those penny tiles on a splashback in the downstairs loo and I managed to find matching ones with which I plan to cover the nasty cheap laminate sink surround once we have got around to slightly more basic jobs like mending the holes in the wall

[PatterofaMinion]

Waste of money LFC - really, the mosaic tiles aren't cheap and depending on what the worktop is made from they may not adhere anyway.

If you hate the whole lot, get someone in to remove the old tiles and worktop, see how it is after. You may not need to skim, and you might find it costs less than buying a load of mosaic sheet.

If it were me I'd do it myself (have done so, floor to ceiling tiles, grim job) but then I can't live with things like that. That was in a rental too I asked during the job if it was Ok as I didn't want them to refuse permission by me asking before I started.

[PatterofaMinion]

Sinks (some) are really cheap anyway but you can reuse.

Sticking tiles to laminate is unlikely to succeed. It has no key for the adhesive.

[LaurieFairyCake]

Thank you all so much for your thoughts.

If I replace the worktop I would have to
Replace the sink as its so horrible. The problem is that getting someone in to replace the worktop is insanely expensive round here (South east) so I might as well replace the sink.

Someone would charge me upwards of a grand for one day's work to do it. The actual worktop and sink would only cost me a couple of hundred.

And that's if I could get someone.

[LaurieFairyCake]

So that's why I was thinking about mosaics as I've tiled every surface before so think I could do it. What I can't do is replace the worktop, it's too heavy for me to even lift if I managed to undo it. And I can't plumb a sink. Or cut the worktop round the sink.

[PatterofaMinion]

Oh cripes. Really? It's that much? I can't believe it costs that much...any chippy would do it for you for around a ton, I think. I'm also in the SE.

I've taken out a few worktops and all you do is get underneath, unscrew any screws holding them to the cabinets (are your cabinets Ok?) and the you wobble them about till they shift, and then you take a normal jacksaw to them in a strategic place, and cut them in half.

Make it much easier to move when it's in bits.

Look under the sink though first, and see if you have isolation valves on the tap pipework. And how taps are fixed.

You might want a plumber for five minutes to disconnect if you're not sure what you're doing. Pushfit will be simple, as will flexi tails if you have iso valves (they look like a little screw inside a steel bolty bit on the pipe - you turn the screw head sideways and they are off from that point upwards so you won't have a flood).

The first rule when you're doing a job to the house is get rid of everything you don't want. Then work from scratch. Can I come over and help you please

[PatterofaMinion]

Oh also run a Stanley along the bit where the grout joins the worktop or you will pull off tiles with it...

cutting a sink hole isn't too bad. I did it on our 40mm oak worktop using a jigsaw. Took about half an hour.

Anything thinner or less resistant like laminate ought to be easier. A pro might make a better job of it but you won't see it once the sink is in anyway.

[LaurieFairyCake]

The only flaw is the 'plumber for 5 minutes' - 70 quid an hour

And then I'd need to get him to come back
and put a tap in and reconnect it.

I HATE hiring tradesmen, no one will want to do it and they really will try to charge me a grand to do it as that's daily prices round here for jobs they don't want.

[glammanana]

Laurie have you thought of going to one of your DIY Supermarkets and ask when they are taking down their displays as they get sold very cheaply,OH & I bought units & worktops for our utility room complete with sink for £180.00 and plain tiles at £8.00 per box so even if you have travel a little way it would be worth while,I am a firm believer of not making do wait a while until you can do the job properly,the prices you are quoting for work is crazy here where I live the max would be £100.00 a day labour and fitting a worktop and tiles would be one days job in my estimation.

[Zinxie]

How about painting the worktop and investing in strategically placed big worktop savers.

I use transparent worktop savers underneath the kettle, by the cooker as a chopping board, and sane thing, next to the sink.

Josephjoseph has lots of very funky worktop savers.

[mandy214]

Do you have any FB groups locally? We have quite a few - business recommendations / Mums and Dads /General Buy and Sell etc - do some searching. I would ask for recommendations for someone to take out and install new work top, or plumber that help with work top. Just look for odd-job type people, or local people who will maybe give you a couple of hours at a cheap rate. If you go to a small, independent timber merchant (who usually sell work tops) they will probably offer an installation service at a fraction of the cost of some of the tradesmen.

I know what its like trying to get reliable tradesmen but seriously £1,000 a day?! You're not looking in the right places (regardless of where you live!).

[ArtyBat]

If you do go down the tiling route, just be careful when buying the tiles and make sure they're all from the same batch.
Otherwise you risk not only a varience in colour, but also in the depth of the tiles. Even if ithey're out by just a milimetere it will affect the surface of the worktop, causing an uneveness.