Hi all,
I need some opinions here on a tiled kitchen backsplash. My contractor insists that the finish trim should overlay the tile, for a cleaner look, while my tile man says it is better to install the trim first and butt the tile to the trim. The tile guy says he cannot determine how the tile will fall until the trim is installed.
Is there are correct way to approach these steps or are they both correct?
zeb
Replies
What trim are you talking about? Usually tile above a counter goes from the backsplash up to the undersides of the cabinet or hood. In a typical installation there is no trim.
I think he's talking window and door casing.
Trim, ya know?
If I'm right here ... both would look ok ... but the window and door jambs are gonna need to be extended out after the tile's done ...
aka .. extension jambs.
I usually tile after the trim's up ... and cut to fit.
I'm assuming the doors and window are set ... so the tile guy could get a rough idea if he knows the reveals and casing width ... plus .. what the sink apron detail is to be ...
then he just has to tile past that mark ...
and the trim guy will cover all the rough edges.
I've never installed tile like that ... but not a bad idea now that I think about it.
JeffBuck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Artistry in Carpentry
I agree with the tile guy in general. It's easier to plan and make it look right (balanced) with all the trim in place.
Window and door casing should go on first. If there is some sort of gap-hiding trim (gasp!!) being installed above the back splash or some such, then that depends on the situation.
Also, if you're talking casings, it would be rare for the tile to completely surround the window/door, so you'd have an uneven surface for the trim if it was installed after.
yeah ...
the trim guy would have to do an extenstion jamb for the jamb ...
then an extension jamb for the exposed trim edge ... which would have to be scribbed ... to fit both the tile backsplash and the rest of the wall ...
then that's have to do all the way around the opening ... both sides and top.
Maybe we're just talking the window apron?
I've seen tile run up to the bottom of the sill ... and the apron glued to the tile ...
as opposed to the way I usually do it ... cut and fit the tile around the sill/apron.
then run the bead of caulk.
JeffBuck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Artistry in Carpentry
I'd install the tile first and then trim.
Dave
I prefer the trim be installed to define the field, then the tile man fills in the field. It allows him to cut tiles as required (like Jeff mentioned) to create a BALANCED layout in the field.
Were the tile to be set and then the trim cover a portion of the tile, it could make the tile look off-balance. Could. Depends on the size of the tile and how much is covered.
Where tile meets trim, I always prefer a line of grout or sanded/unsanded caulk at the tile/trim interface.
Pure opinion based upon aethetics.
We trim first to allow the tile guy see the finished area. It will allow him to layout the tiles so they will look right. What would you do it the tile only covered half of the opening? Trim first.
We become by effort primarily what we end up becoming
- Zig Ziglar
Zeb, I'll play the advocate for the trim guy. When (and often) a tile is stout like a tumbled stone and the trim is newer style store bought (thin-1/2"thick) I'll notch the horn of the sill to fit over the tile, mount it and slip the tile behind. The casings I might apply also before tiling. I would extend the jamb to just proud of the tile face and set the casing to the extensions......either backing the casing after tiling above the tile line or setting the tile line and backing before. This method keeps the casing's thickness beyond the plane of the tile. The apron if used might get in the way of setting the tile if close to the counter. If so, I'll apply that later. There's ususally a couple ways to skin the cat. Either way, you want a pleasing job and no slivers of tile which don't look good.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Although more properly addressed during the planning stages here is another reason why back banding the trim would be helpful. Oversized accessories such as tile, stone, chair rails, etc., fit better and look better if not overpowering the basic trim.
Assuming (much as I hate to do so) that the previous posters are correct in that you`re speaking of window trim, I suggest it depends upon the size of the trim you are using. A thinner stock trim ought to be installed after the tile backasplash, whereas a thicker stock will give you a clean line to die your tile into without having to extend the jambs and fill behind in areas above tile.
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
"DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"
Thanks to everyone for the useful advice,
It appears that there is no correct way of doing this and it is a matter of the materials used and the thickness of all the elements. I was talking about the apron of the trim which at it's widest point is 3/4" and narrowest 7/16". I think it will look nicer with the apron placed over the tile work as the tile itself is 3/16" thick.
Anyway it most likely will not matter how it's handled as the contractor placed the windows slightly off which meant that the window trim had to be short trimmed on one side to fit in between the cabinets. And that looks far worse.
Thanks again
zeb
Ain't that the way it goes. Your own time and concern violated by another.
Just make sure you get the check;o)
Kind of like the money pit..
"How long will it take you to do it"
"2 Weeks"
When can you start
"As soon as your check clears the bank"
Darkworksite4:
Gancho agarrador izquierdo americano pasado que la bandera antes de usted sale
Trim first; then tile.
Boris
"Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934