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any pix of 4'' backsplash from soapstone?

16 years ago

I've convinced my DH to do a DIY soapstone counter--(thanks to all the detailed hard work posted by don_chuwish). He's already started buying the diamond blades and we're nearly ready to put in our order with M.Teixiera in NJ. I'm having a hard time deciding about a 4" backsplash from the stone or just a tile one. I only have 6' of wall along the the sink run that will need a treatment (the stove is in an island). Design-wise, everything else in the kitchen is fairly simple (white painted shaker cabs, wood floor, etc.)

Any opinions and photos of a 4" backsplash would be great. I've seen the photos of don_chuwish's, of course, and they look gorgeous with that sill treatment. We can't do that...it would just be a straight piece. One benefit for us of a 4" is since this is DIY, then DH won't be so stressed to scribe the counter against the wall.

Thanks.

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Comments (5)

don_chuwish
16 years ago
Funny, about 30 mins before you posted this I emailed your poor DH with some additional thoughts on backsplash 'gotchas'. I'll put it here as well, for future searchers. When we planned the 4" soapstone backsplash it wasn't very well thought out - just doing the same as what was there in Formica. When we pulled the old Formica backsplash off the wall, it did some damage to the drywall. I wasn't worried, it'll be covered up, right?

Well, the Formica counter was 1.5" thick, soapstone is about 1.25" thick. So a 4" backsplash left .25" of the damaged wall showing. I had to repair and repaint before I could put it in place. If I hadn't done the sill treatment I also think a taller backsplash (5-6" maybe) would have been more attractive.

Good luck with it!

- Don
luckyj
Original Author
16 years ago
Don, that is funny about the timing.... Good thinking to consider about the backsplash and the actual stone thickness. I can just imagine being hit by that kind of "gotcha." Luckily for us, that detail won't affect us since we had to put all new drywall in along that sink wall when we took out the old cabinets (poor DH again), so it's nice and flat (at least it should be!). But I am going to go and mock up a 5-6" backsplash to see how I like that. Thanks for the suggestion!
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I'm almost finished with a kitchen remodel due to a water leak. I got new cabinets and appliances, the granite was reused. I didn't care whether or not I kept the same backsplash but the insurance said it wasn't necessary to have it replaced. So when they installed my new cabinets, to make them level, they were running higher (above the bottom of the lowest tile) so they took off the lowest row of tile. They explained that once the granite was reinstalled, it wouldn't look right to put something back in that area because you'd see how it runs uphill (or downhill) so we tore off the entire backsplash. I just had the cheap white 3"x6" subway tile from lowes, and I like it so that's what I'm having done again. But I'm soooooo glad that we tore it all out and re-tiling the backsplash. It will look so much better. It's getting done tomorrow. I personally would rather have the backsplash redone than to go with the 3" piece. JMHO BTW the insurance paid for a new backsplash since the granite couldn't be installed exactly where it was before and I got $1100.00 for a $300 backsplash :)
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Bill has posted some pictures of this before. I found some in what I believe to be a portfolio of his. Personally I believe it can work, but I much prefer to tile the whole backsplash and did just that in our remodel. My contractor tried to get me to do the 4 inch only or tile above it, but I didn't like the look. There is one advantage to the 4" backsplash. Granite/quartz creates a very tight dirt and liquid (essentially) impervious corner where the wall and counter meet. If you use tile that corner won't be quite as straight, neat or "impervious", but I don't think it's much of an issue. - Jim Here is a link that might be useful: Some 4
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nskylark
16 years ago
Here is a pic of my alost finished kitchen - soapstone counters and sink with 4" soapstone backsplash.

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}
luckyj
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for the photos, nskylark. Beautiful kitchen. This is very helpful.
twoyur
16 years ago
Here are pictures of our kitchen

as i recall the first few are the pantry but there are pics of the counters going in as well as the back splash being installed and after it is oiled

Here is a link that might be useful: kitchen pics

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