Kitchen Backsplash in Los Angeles, CA

Backsplash tile ideas, from subway to arabesque

Most kitchen backsplashes fall into a few families. Each has a look, a grout load and a cleaning habit that comes with it, so it helps to choose with the stove side of the kitchen in mind rather than the prettiest sample on the board.

Subway tile backsplash layouts are the most flexible: run them in a classic running bond, stack them vertically to make a low ceiling feel taller, or set them in herringbone behind the range as a focal point. Arabesque tile backsplashes do the opposite, drawing the eye with every curve, which is why grout color matters so much there. For the small-format options, the mosaic tile page explains glass, marble and porcelain sheets in detail.

How high should a backsplash go, and where should it stop?

The standard backsplash runs from the countertop to the underside of the wall cabinets, usually about 18 inches. Where there are no uppers, such as beside a window or over a range with a chimney hood, you have three choices: stop at a clean horizontal line, carry the tile to the ceiling, or run it to the hood and stop at the hood edge.

• Stop lines: end the tile at the bottom of the window casing or at the outside edge of the upper cabinets, never mid-wall without a plan.
• Full-height backsplash: tile to the ceiling on the range wall makes cleaning easier and makes a small kitchen look taller.
• Exposed edges: use a matching bullnose, a pencil liner or a slim metal profile so the cut edge isn’t raw.
• Outlets: plan tile joints around switch and outlet boxes; boxes may need extension rings so devices sit flush, which is a job for a qualified electrician.

Signs an old kitchen backsplash needs replacing

A worn backsplash gives warning long before it falls off the wall. The damage usually starts behind the range and the sink, and these signs mean regrouting will not be enough:

• Grout behind the cooktop has turned brown and no cleaner brings it back.
• A hairline crack runs along the counter joint, often after settling or a quake.
• Tiles beside the sink sound hollow or shift when pressed.
• Soft or stained drywall shows at the edge of the tile near the faucet.
• A 4-inch tile splash left over from an old 1970s tile counter no longer fits the new top.

Is a slab backsplash better than tile?

Neither is better everywhere. A slab backsplash cut from the same quartz, granite or marble as the counter gives one continuous surface with no grout to scrub, and it looks especially sharp behind a range. It also costs more in material and fabrication, and a marble slab still needs sealing. Tile offers more color and texture for less money and is easier to repair one piece at a time. Many kitchens split the difference with a 4-inch slab splash on the counter and tile above, or slab behind the range and tile everywhere else. Because the showroom carries both slab and prefabricated countertops, you can price both versions of the same wall.

Backsplash installation: from the showroom to your wall

1. 1

   Lock in the counter first

   Choose the countertop material and color, or bring a sample of the one you already have, since the backsplash has to work with it.

2. 2

   Shortlist two or three tiles

   Lean them against the counter sample and a cabinet door, then step back about 6 feet, the distance you will see them from every day.

3. 3

   Decide height, layout and stop lines

   Settle standard or full-height, the pattern, and where each run ends at windows and cabinet edges.

4. 4

   Pick grout and trim

   Choose grout color and type and the edge finish for exposed ends.

5. 5

   Measure and order

   Measure each wall section, subtract windows, and add overage for cuts and spares.

6. 6

   Install after the counter is set

   Tile goes on once the countertop is installed, so the first row sits on the finished surface. Arrange backsplash installation, or hand the tile to your own setter.

What drives the cost of a kitchen backsplash?

• Square footage: a standard 18-inch splash on a galley wall is a small area; a full-height range wall can double it.
• Tile format: mosaics and handmade-look tiles cost more to set and grout than 3x6 subway.
• Pattern: herringbone and chevron need more cuts and waste than straight running bond.
• Wall prep: tearing off old tile and patching drywall adds a day before any setting starts.
• Edges and outlets: trim pieces, metal profiles and cutting around many outlets add time.
• Slab vs. tile: a slab splash adds fabrication and a template step.

Permits, outlets and licenses for a backsplash job

Retiling a backsplash in the same place is generally cosmetic work. Moving or adding outlets is not: that is electrical work for a C-10 electrician, and for addresses in the City of Los Angeles it is LADBS that sets the permit requirement, while Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena and other cities have their own building divisions. For the setter, look up a C-54 (ceramic and mosaic tile) classification at cslb.ca.gov. In a home built before 1978, tearing tile off painted drywall can disturb lead paint, which brings the EPA’s RRP lead-safe practices into play.

Why pick Adcom for a kitchen backsplash in Los Angeles?

• Tile, counters and cabinets in one room. The showroom was set up so clients can see cabinetry next to backsplash and countertops before deciding.
• Tile and slab under one roof. Price a tiled splash against a slab splash without visiting a second supplier.
• Hard-to-find tile. Google reviewers mention staff locating tile that wasn’t on the shelves.
• Installation if you want it. Backsplash tile bought at the showroom can be installed on request.

Keeping a backsplash clean, and kitchens we see from across LA

Behind the range, grease settles into grout before it shows on the tile, so wipe the wall with warm water and a little dish soap once a week and seal cement grout after it cures. A mid-tone or darker grout hides cooking splatter far better than white; a Google reviewer chose brown grout with white arabesque tile for exactly that kind of everyday wear. More ideas are in backsplash ideas that hide grease and wear and grout color and sealing. If you are also redoing a bath, the shower tile page covers wet-area tile.

Backsplash projects come in from the whole area: compact Burbank kitchens where one short wall gets a bold tile, Glendale homes with Spanish-style arches that suit arabesque shapes, and condos and houses throughout the City of Los Angeles, including the Valley neighborhoods closest to the showroom.