Am trying to finalize plans for remodeling my kitchen but am having trouble with material to use for the backsplash. Intend to keep my lower cabinets with granite countertop. Presently have a beadboard backsplash that goes all the way down to the countertop…. simply ran a bead of silicone caulk where trim meets counter. Wife says beadboard is now history.
Looked at tile backsplashes in several model homes yesterday and noticed that everyone of them simply had mortar (or whatever material is used to grout) between the bottom tile and the countertop. BUT…. each one of them had a crack in the mortar that looked like it would permit water to enter.
What is the proper way to install tile so that I don’t have a leaking seal where the tile meets the countertop?
Any suggestions appreciated.
Replies
Color matched to the grout-Caulk.
With the disimilar material, the movement of cabs/walls(usually exterior), that crack in grout or caulk is near impossible to avoid.
I shim up that first row of tile to enable later countertop removal (if necessary) and to give the caulk room to make a grab. I caulk the joint b/4 grouting. Then grout as normal. When the grout line cracks there's still a good seal behind it.
A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Thanks to all ..... good advice.
I'm not sure looking at model homes is a good place to get good ideas. Usually they are rather quickly put together, and thus some finer details are rushed and/or eliminated. The last message is accurate, use a caulk at the seam. Each building material moves at a different rate, and the caulk is flexible enough to compensate.
grout as normal smoothing the bottom edge a little too deep and let dry. mix clear caulk with grout power and fill. instant colour matched grout. if its already done, you can caulk over it with a thin layer clear caulk.
Tmaxxx
Urban Workshop Ltd
Vancouver B.C.
cheers. Ill buy.
Tmaxxx what do you do ? squeeze out some caulk and mix with grout and use your finger .? Sounds good for a short run.
yup thats pretty much it. just subing the water for caulk. it dosent seem to take much. just a thin layer.Tmaxxx
Urban Workshop Ltd
Vancouver B.C.
cheers. Ill buy.
I don't know if this will help but in this country in a kitchen wet area a right angled copper flashing is fitted from under the stone bench top to up behind the splash back being tiles or whatever then caulked also common is to do the splash back in the same material as the bench top.
Regards from OZ
You can make it fool proof but not idiot proof
I think the best look with a tile backsplash is to use a basecove tile for the bottom row of the backsplash. Not all tile lines have this trim piece, so you have to pick one that does. And since you are meeting up with granite rather than a tile counter, you would have to figure out a way to get the base cove below the top of the granite, which might mean having a channel cut into the granite along the back edge. Or use granite tile for the counter top rather than solid granite.