I'm just thinking of the nightmare that would be GROUTING them!

ha! I didn't even think of that! (tells you what a newbie I am to tiling) Can't find a photo on line, as I have no idea what to call this type of tile (maybe I should search under impossible to clean and nightmare to grout)

It doesn't sound crazy if it works for you. My SIL just installed a stone/quartz backsplash that sounds similar. It's stunning and has been installed about six months and doesn't seem to be too much work even with three teenagers in the house. A backsplash called "Fire and Ice" is very popular on this site so check that out.

Also try searching "marble mosaic."

Marble is porous and easily picks up stains. If you really love it and are concerned about cleaning, consider it as a small inset so you don't have as much to clean.

Love the Fire and Ice! Gives me a new direction - thanks!

The one that I was looking at was reversed - wavy/woven glass, with small pieces (like .5 x .5 inch) marble. And the glass is much more undulated (sticking out, dip and curves....). I've left a message with the sales person, trying to find out the name or style of the tile.

If you have a really powerful vaccum, that is a great solution. Just keep in mind typically even if the vaccum does great on floors, sometimes the attachments for walls or furniture don't work as well.
Since I bought a really nice vaccum that does have great attachment suction, I regularly vaccum our brick facade wall on the fireplace - and I get up a lot of yuck.
So, yeah, you just have to watch the splatters, but that is the case with any backsplash.

I've seen tile with uneven surfaces and "ledges". Gorgeous stuff. Yet my immediate thought was always, "what a nightmare to clean". Vacuuming is fine if it's just dust you're worried about - but on a backsplash you've got grease and splatters. A splatter can get deep into the crevices. It just seems really impractical to me.

Of course, I hate cleaning. :-)

I can't imagine that vacuuming a backsplash would do any good for the things I need to clean off backsplash...Unless it can suck off grease, smoothie or cookie dough spatters, or spaghetti sauce, it does me no good! LOL

The undulating glass doesn't sound bad to clean, but 'series of ledges' does sound difficult. And if it scares Bill... Yikes.

I did 3 backsplashes in my kitchen. I put in a slate backsplash behind our rangetop that has rough faces as well as irregular edges, so different thicknesses at grout seams. Not anything I'd call ledges though, I don't think. I can tell you that grouting it was NOT fun. I love how it looks now that it's finished, but would never choose to do it again. I sealed it and it's not terrible to clean off, but certainly more work than wiping something smooth. I think it helps that we pulled out our rangetop a few inches because of deeper counters on that run, so a lot of the splatters fall short of the backsplash.

I also did a marble mosaic that I put together myself, and because of the variety of stones, there were varying thicknesses here, too. Better than the slate, but not really a fun grouting project either. The last one I did had some variety of stone types, but that time all were the same height/thickness, and I'm glad I saved it for last, because it was comparatively a breeze to do.

Here is the slate and the irregular mosaic:

Here's the tile - still don't know what to call it

Here is a link that might be useful: wavy tile

There IS a name for it-- Basket something or other (not basketweave). One way or the other, that wouldn't be too bad to grout. Not easy, but not like I expected, either.

Pretty tile. BUT - whatever grouting issues there are, grouting happens *once*. Cleaning happens frequently (or at least on an ongoing basis ;-)). That tile doesn't look as bad to clean as some I've seen, but it *does* look like stuff could get caught on the parts that stick out. Much easier to clean a smooth surface.

I'm guessing there must be some interesting-looking backsplash tiles that still have a smooth surface. :-)

Here's another photo, same style of tile, different colour. It is the bottom right tile, on their home page.

Bill, I'm still wondering about the grouting issue - would this tile work out for a novice tiler (me)? I'm thinking that it would take forever to wipe grout out between the pieces.

Speaking of wiping the tile, how does one go about cleaning any tile over granite or marble countertop? Presumably spraying the backsplash with great abandon, with a chemical solution or even vinegar and water solution, is a thing of the past?

Here is a link that might be useful: another photo, wavy tile

Presumably spraying the backsplash with great abandon, with a chemical solution or even vinegar and water solution, is a thing of the past?

You betcha. I can't remember, though, the last time I grouted a job that had to have the haze cleaned with anything other than water... WITHOUT the vinegar. You just need to take your time. I KNOW you can afford your own labor fees! :-) As for a newbie grouting it, It's not going to be easy to get nice clean lines, even for a pro, but if you take your time, mixing just a little bit of grout at a time so it doesn't "go off" on you, you should be fine. It's not impossible for someone like yourself to grout tile like that.

Sorry - the vinegar and water part was for cleaning the tiles on a day to day basis (post grouting) - Bill, you must have thought me quite nutty.

I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to get the grout between the tiles at all, let alone in nice clean lines.

With luck, tiling (w whichever tiles win the day) will go better than my foray into wallpapering....

I watched Lauren Lake put exterior grade stacked-stone-look tiles on a guy's backsplash on Spice up my Kitchen, and thought "She has LOST her mind!"

http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2008/08/28/hsumk306-after-ss_lg.jpg

Here is a link that might be useful:

i have a raised basketweave and i haven't had a problem cleaning it. also, i didn't install myself so i'm not sure about the grouting. i say go for it. it is really a focal point in my kitchen.....

Sorry - the vinegar and water part was for cleaning the tiles on a day to day basis (post grouting)

I didn't even consider it, because this is as bad a practice, under ANY circumstances, as you could ever get into the habit of.

When it comes to tile, vinegar has one use, and one use only, and it's a one TIME use, as well, and that's cleaning grout haze immediately after grouting. Even then, that's only IF NECESSARY.

Okay - I think that I get it now. I will go and hide my bottle of vinegar (vinegar, water and lavendar oil - smells nice, but I digress) before my granite (and to-be-chosen tile) even enters the house!! Soap and water, soap and water, soap and water.....

ummmm...maybe not even the soap part....did some more reading, now I'm struck with fear on using the wrong stuff.....back to the board to read more.....

I was all set to correct you again!! LOL

Water should be all you need for the most part. For times when water's not enough, mix up some Oxyclean (as in the alundry detergent). Some of the best stuff I've seen for cleaning tile and grout-- better than bleach or vinegar, and won't hurt the grout like either of those two.

does all this apply to floor tiles (and grout) too? I've tended to use my steam mop (no chemicals) on my tiles, but in the past have been vinegar crazy....

It applies to ALL tile and grout. Vinegar is an acid, which attacks the lime in the cement, which over time, will deteriorate the grout. Also, most tile manufacturers request that you don't use any acids on their tiles, especially with regard to glazed tiles, because acid has been known to ruin the glaze on tiles, as well.

Steam mop, on the other hand, isn't a bad idea.