Your kitchen backsplash is a major focal point. Here is how to get it right.
A kitchen backsplash can really make your kitchen stand out. It all comes down to taste. The most common one being a simple 4”, or 6” backsplash made out of the same surface material as your countertop. The other most popular options are tile or a solid surface like your countertop. You can do a lot with Tile. There are infinite ways to tile your backsplash. You can do ceramic or porcelain subway tiles. You can do glass subway tiles. You can do porcelain with glass mosaic tiles. If you want to completely customize your backsplash, tile can be a great option. What is the draw back to using tile as a backsplash? Care and Maintenance. The smaller the tile, the more grout lines to keep clean, and seal. A lot of people do not realize that you are supposed to seal the grout between the tiles. If a tile backsplash is properly cleaned, cared for and sealed, it shouldn’t stain. If you are a messy chef, and someone who gets sauce all over the kitchen, a tile backsplash might not be right for you. A solid surface like Granite or Quartz, is easier to clean than tile. If you go with Granite you will need to seal it once a year with your countertop. Quartz is the lowest maintenance of the three.
Granite and Quartz countertops are usually sold by the slab. Sometimes you end up with a lot of left over material due to the shape and size of your cabinet layout. You can do a few things with the left over material. You can use it in a different part of your home, like a bathroom, window sill, desk etc.. Or if you have enough you can do a full backsplash. I usually advise my clients that if they have enough Granite or Quartz left over to do a full backsplash. Do it. It usually isn’t that much more expensive than the cost of the counters, and you have already purchased the material. Unless money is not an option, it usually is the best “bang for buck."