The kitchen backsplash should not only protect your walls from flying liquids, it should complement your décor. Tile backsplashes are my personal favorite, although you can find attractive materials made out of solid surface, steel, or granite. They’re easy to clean and can be exceptionally attractive. At their best, backsplashes fill out your color scheme; at their worst, they scream aloud, calling attention to themselves.
You can find plenty examples of both by looking at completed backsplash projects online. This example works well:
Don Martin Construction
Tile backsplashes don’t have to pick up the color or pattern of your countertop, but they are artistic continuations of colors, textures, and themes used in your kitchen renovation. You need to know your way around a tile cutter to handle the job yourself. Most tile workers use a score-and-snap cutter to make clean cuts to fit corners, cabinet sides, or hoods.
Steps for Installing Tile Backsplashes
Before you start, look over your backsplash options. Prepping the wall is critical. Take down any switches or electrical outlet plates, then use 80-grit sandpaper to create a surface that works well with adhesives and grout. Wash off the leftover grit or wood. You should find the center of the backsplash, a focal point that draws the eye. From here, mark your plumb line.
Sort and arrange your tiles on the floor while the wall dries. Then use a trowel to apply mastic to the bottom of the backsplash where the first row of tiles line up with your plumb mark. Set the first tile in the center of the line, then work out toward the edges, creating your field row. Be sure to leave a bead line between tiles for caulk. You may want to “dry fit” your pattern of tiles to be sure of your placement.
Cut any tiles that have to run around the edges of outlets, cabinets, or light switches. After fitting them, apply a thin layer of grout into all the tile joints. Don’t work again until the mastic dries for at least 12 hours. Now it’s time to grout them again, making all bead lines straight and clean.
The last step is to caulk around the backsplash where it lines up against the bottom, at the edges of the cabinets, and in the corner sections. Find a caulk that matches your grout. HGTV details the process.
Meanwhile, we can help you find ideas for backsplash materials.
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Is it necessary to apply clear caulking to the joint between the backsplash and the counter if the counter was laid down first?
We remodeled our kitchen with a contractor we found through eContractorBids.com. The biggest hangup for us was the backsplash and how to incorporate it into our kitchen correctly. It ended up turning out great in the end with a little direction from our contractor. I wish I would have seen this blog post sooner, it would have made my life a little easier…great post!
When creating a backsplash to your cook top, make sure to keep in mind the cleaning factor. I was very proud of the backsplash I made using recycled wine bottle bottoms. It looks cool, it sucks to clean….
Agreed Hari, it amazing how dirty it can get and how dirt and excess stuff gets there so fast. Make sure when you are installing back splashes around electrical outlets you turn off the power to that outlet. Don’t get lazy on that!
[...] Still looking over your wallpaper options? You don’t want to be rash in choosing your paper. And remember, kitchen wallpaper should be coordinated with your backsplash. [...]
[...] I favor tile backsplashes for their ease of installation and trouble-free maintenance. They clean up with soap and water. [...]
Very informative blog. Thanks for idea.
Hari,
I just read your comment from 4-23-2010…hope you will intercept my question(s) about you having used glass bottle bottoms to create a backsplash…I have lots of blue bottles I’ve been saving in the hopes of wet sawing the bases of the bottles to use (in essence) as tiles behind by stove and sink…Any thoughts, suggestions, recommendations????
Thank you for any help/suggestions you may offer. I can’t afford blue glass tiles but would love to incorporate all that blue glass I so love and put it to good use.