Inspiration & Advice
How to ‘rock’ the latest rock tile look in your home.
A standout rock tile backsplash
Loving the current rock tile trend? It’s popping up in and on houses everywhere at the moment. The good news is, replicating the look is easy with Jack – whether you want to create a sleek modern aesthetic or something more traditional and rustic.
Crafted to give the appearance of natural stone, our Jack Rock Tiles are designed for quick and simple installation. You definitely don’t need to be a tiler to pull it off! The special peel ‘n’ stick backing means no messy glues or mortar is required.
Our Rock Tiles come in three colour finishes – Slate, Sandstone and Alabaster – so you can select one that suits your tastes and home. Use them as a feature wall or splashback indoors or add to any undercover outdoor area.
Tools & Materials
Additional materials needed for this project:
You don’t need much to get started when you rock tile with Jack. Check out our product recommendation, plus additional tools and materials below.
- Utility knife
- Steel square or ruler
- Tape measure and pencil
- Masking tape
- PPE (safety gloves and glasses)
- Optional - Tile corner edge trim
- Optional - Silicone or caulk & caulking gun
Your step-by-step guide
Prep and measure the wall
First, wipe down your wall surface, so it’s dust and grime free. Dirt may stop the tiles from sticking. Plus, make sure you fill cracks or irregularities and add a primer/undercoat.
Handy Jack tip! Tiles can be installed over most structurally sound substrates as long as they're clean, dry, smooth and free of dust, wax, soap scum and grease. This includes plaster, cement, fibre cement, plywood, glass, ceramic tile, plastic and aluminium.
Next, measure the area you want to tile and use the chart below to work out how many 5-tile boxes you’ll need. Each box contains 0.45 square metres of tiling.
Coverage guide: Please note that uneven surface areas may be noticeable after wall tile installation.Create layout and cuts
Lay your tiles in the desired pattern on a flat surface, then measure, mark, and cut the tiles to fit. Tiles can be installed in a staggered pattern or in line with each other.
Note: Select tiles from different packs to ensure colours blend. Variations are normal due to the composition of the natural stone and clay powders.
Handy Jack tips! Apply masking tape to the tile surface and mark the tape.
First measure the length of tile required and mark the tile. We recommend applying masking tape to the tile surface and marking the tape.
Then, cut tiles to the correct size using a utility knife scoring several times across the surface of the tile until the tile and adhesive backing have been cut through. Use a steel ruler as a cutting guide.
Time to tile
Use a level to mark a guideline at the base of the project, then peel the backing and carefully line up the tile with the guideline.
For smaller projects with a level base, begin with the bottom row of tiles and work upwards. For larger projects or areas with uneven flooring, start approximately 450mm from the highest point of the floor – use a level to draw a guide line.
Handy Jack tips! When removing the protective backing, peel the top portion down only 50-75mm along the top of the tile.
Align the tile to the guide line, press the top gently and slowly peel the remaining protective backing down and away.
The adhesive is active-bonding and pressure-sensitive. So don’t apply pressure to the tile until you’re sure it’s in the right place, or you won’t be able to move it without a heat gun.
Also, make sure the tile doesn’t fold over onto itself, as this can cause the backing to stretch and produce gaps between tiles.
Caution: The protective paper is very slippery, so keep it off the floor.
Complete the first row of tiles using the same peel-and-stick process.
Handy Jack tips! Add an edge trim at the end of you first row if required; use a level to ensure the trim is straight.
Continue this process using the top of the completed row as your guide. Keep checking each row as you go to make sure they stay level.
If your floors and walls aren’t straight, install your tile level and plumb and then fill gaps around the edges with a suitable silicone or caulking compound.
And that’s your rock tile wall done. Tick!
