bring out the beauty in everyday living
What is a backsplash?
At its simplest, a backsplash is a vertical covering on a wall rising above a countertop or other work surface to protect the wall from spills and to decorate the wall. Many people have about a three inch backsplash that comes with their countertop to protect from minor splashes or spills. These types of backsplashes work good if you never use a blender, food processor or splash anything higher than three inches. For the majority of us this is a good start, but the wall above the counter and below the cabinets still needs to be cleaned a lot. If you have a painted wall above the default countertop backsplash you will start to notice after a while more and more stains will not come off the paint. At this point you have two choices. You can clean the area the best you can, prime and repaint it. Or you can install a tile or sheet backsplash.
Stainless Steel Sheet Backsplash
If you have unlimited funds you can have a custom cut single sheet of stainless steel installed. This starts around $30 a square foot for a flat, brushed finish. If you want a stamped or patterned sheet the price is almost double. Stainless requires special tools and a skill set that many DIY’ers don’t have, so you will probably need a contractor to install it. Stainless steel tiles are not much cheaper, starting at about $25 per square foot.
Glass Tile Backsplash
From there the next most expensive option would be glass tile which starts out at about $10 – $15 a square foot for the tile. In addition to the tiles, you will need thinset as a base to adhere the tiles to the wall, a sandless grout to fill the gaps between tiles. Finally a grout sealer to stop any of the splashes from soaking into your grout which is porous. This brings your total cost per square foot up to about $20-$25. If you are not a medium level do it yourselfer all tile will also require a contractor.
Ceramic Tile Backsplash
The most common style of kitchen backsplash is probably ceramic tile. You can also install this option for the lowest cost per tile square foot. Ceramic tiles start at about $5-8 per square foot for standard beige 4″ x 4″ backsplash wall tiles. Like the glass tiles, you will need a thinset, grout and grout sealer to finish the project bringing the finished cost to $10-$14 a square foot installed.
Real Tin Backsplash
An up and coming trend in backsplash is using traditional tin tiles. Many of these are available in 24″ x 24″ sizes (the same as standard tin ceiling tiles) which and cost about $20 per square foot or $40 per tile. One problem with real tin is that most backsplashes in the U.S. are only 18″ tall and so you have to cut every panel and lose some of the intricate details that they offer. Another issue is that the tiles are stamped out of tin so whenever you handle them you should wear leather gloves so you don’t cut yourself. This can become cumbersome when doing all the tasks involved when installing a backsplash, like cutting the tiles or applying adhesive. Finally the real tin tiles do not offer a way to finish the edges cleanly. So you need to plan you installation meticulously in order to make sure you finish with a full tile on any exposed end.
Make a splash. Leave an impression.
Fasade decorative backsplash tiles are water, impact and stain resistant — at a fraction of the price of other materials; such as, stamped tin, metal or aluminum, starting at $7 a square foot. Durable and timeless, these stylish kitchen or bathroom tiles add instant drama that leaves a lasting impression. Easy to install for a weekend remodeling project or affordable and stylish for new construction. Fasade thermoplastic tiles are 18″x 24″, the height of standard backsplashes and unlike traditional tin our backsplash tiles are available in modern, industrial or traditional styles and finishes. Fasasde also allows you to put up a metal looking backsplash without using gloves or a contractor. Tiles are installed with double sided tape or liquid adhesive over existing plaster or drywall for quick easy installation in hours not days. For more information on installation see our installation instructions.
We also have a full line of finishing accessories so your project goes up quickly and easily. Finish the edges with either our j trim or corner pieces.
To find out where to purchase in your area please visit our Where To Buy page.
