Welcome back to The Art of Renovation! This week we are discussing an important but often misunderstood kitchen element, and that is backsplash. Kitchen backsplashes make a large difference in not only the design of a kitchen but also in the function. People often do not put enough thought into picking a kitchen backsplash, and are not aware of things to look out for. We want to give you a few areas of consideration to help you pick a backsplash for your kitchen such as types of backsplash tile, best practices for backsplash installation, and how to design your kitchen backsplash to best suit your lifestyle. With these tips your kitchen backsplash will be more than you could ever dream of!
Types of backsplash tile
The type of tile that you choose for your backsplash will be important mainly for maintenance. Consider how often you want to be cleaning your backsplash, how often you want to be re-sealing it, and what your cooking style is. If you cook with a lot of sauces for example, you might want to go with a tile that has minimal grout lines to minimize the amount of cleaning needed.
Marble
Marble tile is quite porous and it needs to be sealed more regularly. However, it is a great option if you want a tile that gives texture and depth.
Subway
Subway tile has become increasingly popular for homeowners to choose in their kitchens. This tile is ceramic and it is very inexpensive. Subway tile can be installed in a variety of patterns, making it a very versatile product to work with in terms of design.
Penny Tile and Honeycomb
Penny and Honeycomb tile are great options if you want your backsplash to be the focal point of the kitchen. There are several types of material for penny tile including porcelain, glass, stone and ceramic. The most popular material for penny tile products is porcelain, which has less grout lines.
Design
There are a few important things to consider when you are designing your kitchen backsplash. Things like colour, texture, format, and maintenance all factor into the design of a backsplash. Questions you should be asking yourself are “Do I want the backsplash to be the focal point of my kitchen, or just a simple background?” and “Am I concerned about the maintenance and cleaning needs?”
Installation
Many people do not think to confirm the backsplash installation process with their contractor. When we walk into a previously renovated kitchen, an issue that we often see is backsplash tile being installed around appliances and cabinets. When installing a kitchen backsplash, the tile should be installed first, and the appliances such as range hoods and cabinets second. Although it may be “easier” to install the tile around the range hood, if your range hood needs to be replaced in the future and it is a different size, make, or model, you will have to find the exact backsplash tile and go back in to install it and ensure it fits with the new range hood. To avoid this headache, ensure that your contractor is installing your backsplash over the entire area and not just around your appliances.
We hope that these tips help you to choose the perfect backsplash for your kitchen! If you have any further questions about kitchen backsplash we would be more than happy to help you out. You can contact us by email info@contactrenovations.ca or phone (780) 455-4446.
