How to Select Backsplash Tile
Backsplashes in kitchen settings fill the gaps between the lower base cupboards and the wall cupboards that are over, at eye level. As a general rule, most wall cupboards are installed 18 inches off the top of the finish countertop surface, giving you an 18-inch spread of backsplash space. But custom splashes fluctuate in height. When it comes to selecting your backsplash tile, you must unite design aesthetics with fabric budget and realities to accomplish the best results for your precise backsplash.
Straight-Lay Backsplash
A typical straight-lay backsplash runs complete tile off the top of the countertop with a cut against the underside of the wall cupboards. Full tiles are utilized in the outside edges, with bullnose wrap the greatest edge, and any vertical cuts have been made to the inside corners where they are visible and therefore are covered by items like a wax containers or kitchen utensils or appliances like a toaster or a blender. When purchasing stuff, use the measurements to arrange material as near possible to store cuts to a minimum, but also factor in items like light bars hanging under the bottom edge of the wall cupboards that hides sliver cuts; thus if you opt for a 16-inch tile for instance and only have a 2-inch cut, then it will never really be observable.
Diagonal Installation
Another option if you’re dead-set on a particular kind of material that leaves you with sliver cuts if you install the tile on a typical straight lay would be to flip the entire thing on its side and install the backsplash on a diagonal. Normally, installers use a complete half-tile diagonal along the bottom edge of the countertop, with complete tiles between the halves, then make cuts as required to fit under the bottom edge of the upper cabinets. But checking layout beforehand remains important to see how you must center the backsplash vertically or if you will need to center things off of a central point, such as an inset mural over a cooker.
Large-Bodied Tiles
Large bodied tiles produce a more smooth look and feel for your backsplash. If you have an 18-inch splash, for instance, choose 18-inch tiles to fill out the space. Or you might have a 20-inch backsplash and find a 22-inch material from the design you like, and all you have to do is cut off the top edges of the tiles to fit them inside the backsplash. These are best used for installations where you don’t have light bars along with any cuts under the edge of the upper cabinets are clearly visible. To remove these cuts, you simply choose a tile that is suitable for the height of the one or hairline that needs to be trimmed slightly to give the appearance of complete tile.
Smaller Tiles
If you prefer smaller tiles, then it is ideal to pick tiles that are installed with no small cuts going up against the wall cabinets. For instance, a roughly 18-inch distance accommodates four 4-inch three or shingles 6-inch pieces, though you might want to trim a little from the top edge. Or use 1- and 2-inch mosaic tiles that come in sheets or pebble tiles that also arrive in sheet formats that mimic 12-inch tiles in that they can be found in square mesh sheets.
Material Type
You should always seal seams tiles to protect them against occasional sprayback and debris from cooking and cleaning. There is no actual limit in the kinds of tiles you may select from, because all could be sealed and sealed. Ceramic and ceramic tile are both man-made choices that require very little maintenance. Natural stone tiles like slate, marble, granite and travertine are other choices, even though they require routine cleaning and resealing to maintain the stone protected. They can be found in rough, honed (smoothed but not polished) and polished format. Furthermore, tiles created from sheet metal are also offered.