What goes behind the tile backsplash?
RogerRemodel
| Posted in Construction Techniques on
This is my first posting. I am redoing a kitchen, thanks to Katrina and a large oak tree. I’ve looked through every issue of FH and still have questions about what would be best behind the tile backsplash.
My thought was to use greenboard behind the area of the backsplash and put 1/4″ cementboard on that and use thinset to attach the tile. The greenboard would give me a smooth wall to start with for installation of everything else.
Any comments?
Replies
You can lay the tile right up to the green-board.
I prefer to put 1/4 backer on the wall with thinset, then lay the tile on that. You need to figure out how to cap it off, unless you run it right up under the cabinets.
You don't really have to worry about water getting behind most back splashes being it doesn't really get wet so you can use any rock or cbu that makes you feel comfortable.
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I would just use mastic on drywall - either green or white. If you use the 1/4" cementboard, you may need to extend your electrical boxes and find creative ways to hide exposed edges.
I use 1/2" hardibacker screwed directly to the studs, shimmed to the level of the sheetrock if needed for 5/8" sheetrock. A 2x or 3/4" plywood as a backer at the seam holds the joint between rock and hardi securely.
While moisture isn't an issue, the thinset/hardibacker combo holds better than mastic and sheetrock, not that backsplashes across the country are falling off sheetrock.
Backsplashes don't get soaking wet like showers do. You can apply the tile right to drywall with mastic and you'll be fine.
I would not go through the expense and trouble of cement backer board. You probably have a long, long list of chores with limited time and budget cleaning up after Katrina. If it were my money and labor, even on a high end job, I would not bother with backer board for a kitchen backsplash. There are too many other things to spend on.