DIY: Grout Over Laminate Countertop

Preparation

• Remove the sink and cooktop if they rest on top of the counter. Give your laminate countertop a thorough cleaning. Once it is completely dry, use a power sander to remove the shine and roughen the laminate surface. This will allow the tile mortar to bond strongly to the laminate countertop.
  
  

Pre-Fit Tiles

• Dry-fit your countertop tiles. Make all necessary cuts to fit along the walls and around the countertop openings. Do not forget that the edges of the laminate countertop must be tiled as well. Cut these edge pieces, and fix them in place before you tile the top of the countertop. This way, their top edges will be covered when you lay the countertop tiles.
  
  Mix tile thinset mortar according to the instructions, then work one section at a time, removing the tiles as you go along. Spread the mortar with a trowel, then comb lines through it with its notched edges. This will help the tiles adhere to the laminate countertop. Lay the tiles onto the thinset mortar, making sure that they are level and evenly spaced.
  
  

Grout

• Once the tiles have set into the thinset mortar overnight, it is time to grout. Check for and remove any excess thinset from the tiles. Follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to prepare the grout. Use a rubber trowel to work the grout into the tile grooves. Holding the rubber trowel at a 45-degree angle, push the grout diagonally across the tile, forcing it into the gaps. Wipe away any excess grout, first with the rubber float, then carefully with a semi-damp sponge.
  
  Follow the grout instructions about the best time to remove the remaining grout haze, approximately 30 minutes. Have a bucket of water and tile sponge on hand to wash away the grout haze. Remember to work diagonally across the tile and avoid pushing the grout out of the cracks. Allow the tiles to dry, then buff away the remaining haze.