Dry Fitting and Cutting Tiles
It is advisable to dry fit tiles before applying the adhesive because it will give you a good idea of where cuts are required. Use a felt-tip pen or chalk to mark where you need curved or straight cuts. After this, use a scoring cutter or wet saw to make the tile cuts. Finally, pare all the rough edges with a tile nipper. You can use the same procedure to prepare your stacked stone panels.
Installation
At this stage, you should have selected the right adhesive to use. Always prepare an adhesive mixture that you can use within 30 minutes. Apply this adhesive using a trowel on the rough drywall surface. The rule of thumb is to spread an adhesive coat 
that is ¼” thick on the wall. Make sure you spread the adhesive evenly over the wall surface. Start setting the tiles one at a time. Follow up each tile installation with the insertion of a spacer. Continue with the same process until the entire wall surface is covered.
Grouting
You should not start grouting joints immediately. Instead, allow the adhesive time to set and dry. Most manufacturers provide this information on the adhesive package. If the backsplash is dry enough (after at least 24 hours), prepare the grouting mixture. Once again, prepare a mixture that you can use within 30 minutes. Before grouting the joints, remove all the spacers. You can now fill in the grout joints using the grout mixture. Remember to remove excess grout from the wall surface. Let the mixture dry for about 15 minutes and then clean the surface using a damp sponge. Finally, use a dry cloth to buff the surface to create a professional and polished look to your thin veneer stone backsplash.
Installing a backsplash in your kitchen is not a hard task. With some bit of effort, you can have a new backsplash ready in a few hours. However, you must prepare well before beginning the installation work. Some of the tools and materials you will require include adhesive, float, trowel, spacers, tile nippers, rubber grout, and a sponge.
Author Bio
Andrew Deen writes and blogs in the area of home improvement and DIY projects. This article was designed to explain the steps of installing a backsplash using materials, such as Norstone USA Natural Stone Veneer.
