I'm getting ready to install a travertine backsplash in my new kitchen. I will be installing it over existing drywall. Should I ude white thinset or mastic? Also, some people say seal the tiles befor you start, some say don't. Any ideas?

Hi, we are having our kitchen remodeded and I want a backsplash on the wall behind the cooktop. The area is about 84x18 in. Our contractor insists that if I want the wall tiles there, I must have them on all the other wall spaces in the kitchen where there is no cabintery. That will not only be too expensive, but also I dont want that much color in the kitchen(I ve chosen a bright wall tile). Please tell me if I am doing something totally wrong by getting the wall tiles only behind the cooktop

I too have formica laminate on the wall and want to replace it with tile. Since my new countertops are not as thick as the old ones, and there was a metal strip between old countertop and wall laminate, there is now a gap of drywall of approximately 1 inch between the granite countertop and the bottom of the wall laminate. Can I fill this in with something to make the backing surface even, and if so, what can I use? There are several places within this gap where they drywall is damaged from countertop removal, but I believe these areas could be spackled. Unfortunately before discovering this site, I took advice on an associate at a major home improvement center (Kitchen backsplash Ideas expert), who told me I could not tile over the laminate but that the laminate would pull off easily from the wall. I attempted to pull one piece off and most of the covering on the drywall came off with it. I don't suppose there is any repair for this other than replacing the drywall? The total size of the area I attempted to pull off is 24 x 36 and about 1/2 of that area still has laminate, which will not come off and the other half has naked dry wall. Luckily for me, this area is separate from my main kitchen area, where the laminate remains intact.