Help! Faucet too close to backsplash?

14 years ago

The fabricator came over to template the bathrooms and kitchen yesterday and something I didn't expect happened: the clearance between the faucet base and backsplash is only going to be 1/8 ".

Here are the details:

The granite countertop is 82" X 22 1/2 "(1 1/2 overhang), sinks are Kohler bancroft inside 17X14 (19 3/8" X 16 3/16 outside), faucets are Delta Lahara(wide spread)with a 2 1/4 " base. the granite is 1 1/4" thick so the backsplash is 1 1/4" thick.

According to the fabricator, the 21" deep base cabinet, 17X14 sink and 2 1/4" base faucets are all pretty standard size. Can the 1/8" clearance be really standard? Has any one run into this problem before?

My questions are:

1)Is 1/8" or even 1/4 clearance acceptable? ( I really don't like it.)

2)Is there something the fabricator can do to increase the clearance?

3)Is 1 1/4" backsplash too thick?( thinner backsplash is not an option.) Can I use a ring of tile (2 to 4" height) instead to gain extra 3/4" clearance?

4)If I use tile as backsplash now, when I redo the shower, tub, and floor later (maybe a couple of years later), do they have to match the backsplash on countertop? How easy or hard is it to replace the title backsplash without damaging the granite countertop?

Please help!! In the mean time I try to control myself and not to panic:-)

Featured Answer

niffy

14 years ago

I totally don't have an answer for you - I need the same answer and your post is so timely! I think the bases of our cross-handle faucets are literally going to butt up against the backsplash. I don't know quite what to do. We have standard depth vanity, memoirs sink, 3 cm backsplash. Our builder has a vanity in his spec house with same cab company and same sink, so I'm not sure what gives....
Our fabricator did mention possibly cutting down the backsplash to 3/4" inch from 1 1/4"... I know I don't want tile!

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Comments (6)

mike_home
14 years ago
There is nothing wrong with a 1/8 inch clearence other than looks. It will be hard to get into a small space to clean.

Whis is the thinner backsplash not an option? I know some facbricators will charge extra for this. Backsplashes don't need to be 1 1/4 inches thick.

I noticed the Delta Lahara faucet comes with and without a base. Here is a link to the faucet without the base.

Delta Faucet 3538-SS Lahara Widespread Double-Handle Lavatory Faucet

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0014XNR8E/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0014ZQNX8&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1ZMTNJ0M4BYQ3A4CY4MF

Can you swap the faucet? It is a little more money, but I think it will look nicer without a base and give you additional clearence.
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Thank you so much, everyone!!! You really made me feel better about the choice I made. We don't have too much natural light back there, so I am always afraid of things being too dark, since my cabs are already espresso colored. Cat_mom.... GGASPPPPPP!! I LOOOOVE love love looooove that backsplash! Love the vertical lines, love the sparkle- LOVE! Thank you for sharing that! The one other tile I was considering is the glass linear by Island stone in Frangipani. It is a little more mushroomy in color, and the glass blend is all matte with a beach glass texture to it. While it is pretty, I thought it would be a little too dark, and not enough interest with the matte and texture. Here is a color sample on the granite. You can see the pattern in the link below. Thank you again everyone!!!!! Here is a link that might be useful: linear design
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Okay, I will give you the Italian porcelain tiles. But not used in the kitchen....YET. Our kitchen will be done next winter, with wooden floors in the kitchen. The tile I used is a couple of colors from the same Italian porcelain line sold at Lowes. First we put down the 12 x 12 unglazed tiles in Roman Salmon (a terra cotta color that is sort of mottled and the color of clay flower pots). That was done on the sun porch, and it looks great. I also had them do the new second bath with these tiles in 16 x 16 size in the shower and on the floor outside the shower. The shower floor was done with the 1/2" mixed color mosaic of this same brand, to keep from having a slippery floor, and one which can slope toward the drain. Then we decided to use the same product in the color Rialto Blanco, a little off white/gray/tan color, very much like your 4 x 4 tiles along the back splash. Only these were the 16 x 16 tiles and we put them in the master closet. Then as part of the master bath, I wanted the 2 x 2 mosaic tiles in the Rialto Blanco color again, but these are mounted on 12 x 12 mesh. The smaller tiles keep the floor from being slippery. And these are the ones which appear like tumbled marble. And I absolutely love them for that use. They do not look "perfect" but have a tumbled appearance which goes well with my desire for an "old" look. It might not work for you, with your really elegant kitchen cabinets and granite countertops. I'm thinking that above your 4 x 4 border of tiles, kept fairly plain, I'd look for something in an iridescent mosaic that would compliment your dark countertop. Just a band of it, or maybe something to echo your crown molding along the top of your cabinets. They make a rope cap that is about 1" wide and maybe 6" long, stands out more than the 4" tiles do. Or, perhaps you get the 6 x 6 tiles and put a cap on them which could be high enough behind your faucet that no water would splash up there and damage the wall? With your window higher behind the sink, that would split that distance pretty nicely. Anyway, I get sidetracked with ideas. Sorry. And here are the pictures of the tiles in my place. Master bath floor tiles 2 x 2 Rialto Blanco porcelain mosaic Master closet..16 x 16 Rialto Blanco porcelain Small bath shower 16 x 16 Roman Salmon porcelain tile on walls of shower, and on bath floor outside shower... ...same bath also showing the 1/2" mosaic on shower floor and the sun porch floor with 12 x 12 Roman Salmon
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Ooooh, you have me a little worried. I am planning a white on white kitchen...but back to the topic at hand. No I definitely don't think a lip of a backsplash is at all unfinished. In fact, i think most houses just have a lip? I wonder if the wall of a BS is a new thing. In fact i just took a quick look at property listings (no I am not a realtor, haha) and the 3 houses I clicked on (close to a million$) all had a lip of a backsplash. I think it is personal preference. And your right it is a dust catcher=). but better to have dust than me rub off my wall every time I wipe my counters down. (good paint may well solve that dilemma) but I do think that it looks naked with nothing. We cook alot ( and I am messy) so I have to have something behind my stove...and personally i do like the full wall of backsplash. If you have soapstone, that may break up the white enough to not make it so stark. You could possibly consider the lip of soapstone and then tile above that....? Best of luck
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monicakm_gw
14 years ago
The back of my faucet touches my backsplash. Standard vanity depth. It was thisclose to not fitting :o Isn't a problem tho.
Monica
Sara_in_philly
Original Author
14 years ago
Niffy--Have you decided what to do yet? I went to see a Toll-brothers model home, the clearance is about 3/8", still tight but better than 1/8". How much is your fabricator going to charge you to cut down backsplash to 3/4"?

By the way, what is height of your backsplash? The backsplash in the model home I saw is 3". I wonder whether that's the standard now. My current formica backsplash is 4".

Mike--I am using the Lahara shown on your link, that faucet has a 2 1/4 " diameter base, therefore the 1/8" clearance. The less expensive Lahara model with a plate base will be even worse, I gave up the idea of using it in the smaller bathroom right away:-)
Ease of cleaning is a big consideration to me.

By any chance you know how much extra fabricators in your area will charge to cut down backsplash? My fabricator wanted $50/ln ft, I have two bathrooms with the same clearance problem (one is 82 X 22 1/2, the other is 62 X 22 1/2), so it will cost me extra $700-800 to get thinner backsplash. That's too much for me.

I am willing to pay extra, but not that much extra. Maybe he was just pulling my leg.

Monica--Thanks for posting the picture! It gives me a real sense of what it looks like. Do you find it hard to clean behind the faucet? Love your granite, what is it? What kind of sink is it?
mike_home
14 years ago
Sara,

I don't recall how much fabricators want to cut down a backsplash. The fabricator I did end up using did not have an additional charge. As a matter of fact the estimator suggested it to me when he did the template on the bathroom I completed recently.

Shop around for more fabricators. I found there are significant price differences of what people are charging in the central New Jersey area.
Sara_in_philly
Original Author
14 years ago
Just an update.

We have decided to cut off the strip of dry wall (1/2" thick) for the 2 long backsplash (82", 62") so part of the 1 1/4 " thick backsplash sits inside the wall, with 3/4" stickingout, the overall effect is having a 3/4 " backsplash. Mirrors sit on the entire length of the long backsplashes, so even if there is any imperfection at where backsplash and drywall meet, it shouldn't show.

I have the fabricator to cut down the side backsplash (22") to 3/4 " .

Fabricator said cutting down the long backsplash is very time consuming, it breaks easily. They have to try several times to get a good one. He did lower his price, but we felt it's still too high. So we choose to cut down the dry wall instead.

Will let you know how it looks when it's done.

Thanks for all your help!

Help! Faucet too close to backsplash?

niffy

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