Home Improvement Kitchen Remodel & Repair Kitchen Tile

Guide to Backsplashes For Kitchens and Baths

Bathroom tile backsplash

 

Art Wager / Getty Images

Backsplashes are an ideal canvas for making your dreams come alive with materials ranging from colorful ceramic or porcelain tile to tiny glass mosaic tile and traditional subway tile. In contrast to kitchen projects that require technical expertise, installing a backsplash is one that can truly be called a do-it-yourself project. Learn the basics of backsplashes before you purchase materials and install one.

  • 01 of 05

    What a Backsplash Is

    4x4 Tile Backsplash Behind Stove

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    A backsplash is a vertical extension to a counter—typically a kitchen or a bathroom counter. A backsplash can extend a few inches high or it can go as high as the ceiling.

    A backsplash is primarily functional, secondarily aesthetic. The backsplash protects the wall behind the sink and counter against water damage from inadvertent splashing.

    In the kitchen, backsplashes cover other parts of the countertop beside the sink area. They also help protect the wall against grease splatter when cooking or food splatter during meal preparation.

    Built with care and an eye toward aesthetics, backsplashes can be a beautiful addition to your kitchen or bathroom—almost like a permanent picture on the wall.

  • 02 of 05

    What a Backsplash Does

    Bathroom sink backsplash

     

    NickyLloyd / Getty Images

    Due to the amount of water and abuse that kitchens get, it's highly recommended that you have a backsplash along the back of your kitchen countertop. Even if you can control the water, the walls may become damaged from items accidentally pushed up against them: knives, cutting boards, food, and more.

    In bathrooms, a backsplash is still recommended, though it is possible to do without a backsplash in some situations. If you have a sink counter that does not butt up against the wall (a pedestal sink, for example), your need for a backsplash is only aesthetic.

    For either applications, kitchen or bathroom, a backsplash is essentially your last line of defense before water, grease, food, or damaging items reach your wall. Even if you're not interested in building an elaborate, eye-catching backsplash, it's still a good idea to have some type of backsplash in place.

  • 03 of 05

    How a Backsplash Is Installed

    Man installing backsplash

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    Many backsplashes are made from ceramic or porcelain tile. Tile is easy to work with and offers a wide range of designs. Tile is waterproof and it is simple to clean.

    1. Apply thinset mortar to the wall. You can either apply the thinset directly to the wall or to a cement board backer.
    2. Press the tile into the wet thinset mortar. The trick is to start out with straight tile rows and to maintain those rows as the thinset cures.
    3. Insert plastic spacers. Made in a T-shape, these spacers are fitted between the tiles. After the thinset has dried, the spacers are removed.
    4. Press grout into the seams with a rubber float to further strengthen the tile's overall structure.

    Tip

    Simple backsplash installations can be completed in only a few hours, with minimal tile cutting. Installing a backsplash typically is less messy than other tile projects because just a thin layer of thinset mortar is applied.

  • 04 of 05

    3 Traditional Backsplash Materials

    Glass tile backsplash with fruit bowl

    Nancy Rose / Getty Images 

    Ceramic or Porcelain Tile

    Ceramic tile and porcelain are common backsplash materials. Vitreous (slick surfaced) ceramic tile or porcelain offer good wipe-down ability, no small thing when dealing with behind-stove grease splatter. Ceramic is also cost-efficient. While it's possible to purchase expensive artisan tile, you'll find just as inexpensive or moderately priced ceramic tile.

    Glass Tile

    Glass tile conveys a sleek, contemporary look. If a modern-style kitchen is what you have in mind, you may want to consider this material. Glass is trickier to cut than ceramic or porcelain tile. Glass never goes out of style, but certain sizes and colors of glass do.

    Countertop Material

    The default material offered by some countertop installers is the countertop material itself. If you have a solid surface countertop, installers may run a 4-inch high backsplash of the same material along the length of the counter. This helps to mask any gaps between the counter and the wall. This is often considered an optional element, so speak to your installer ahead of time about whether a backsplash will be included.

    Continue to 5 of 5 below
  • 05 of 05

    3 Non-Traditional Backsplash Materials

    Laminate Flooring DIY Backsplash
    Laminate Flooring DIY Backsplash

    Bower Power Blog

Sheet Laminate or Glass

One of the newer, trendier backsplash materials is sheet glass. A great advantage of sheet glass backsplashes is that the backside of the glass can be painted—the side facing the wall. This paint layer is protected against wear and tear and is virtually impossible to scrape or scratch.

Backsplashes of this type are mainly found in kitchens and sometimes in bathrooms, directly behind sinks and usually stretching the entire length of the counter and up to the ceiling.

Laminate Flooring

Easy to install and attractive, laminate flooring planks can be used as backsplash material. The large planks cover the space quickly. Laminate flooring isn't especially moisture resistant along the seams and edges. So, elevate the bottom edge of the laminate 1/8-inch from the countertop and fill the gap with caulking. Tap the planks firmly together to close the seams.

Stainless Steel

For a modern, almost industrial look, stainless steel is also a great alternative to standard backsplash materials, as it's easy to clean and durable. It is a more costly option, though, and you'll want to make sure it's installed by someone with plenty of experience working with the material.