Tile Conundrum - Raised Border Subway Tile and Backsplash Outlets
Hello Houzzers! I am getting the last GC bids for my kitchen/laundry/powder room renovation and have come across what appears to be a big backsplash stumbling block. It took forever to get hubby to agree to anything other than a smooth glossy 3x6 subway tile but I'm having an issue with the selection of choice. We both agreed to Imperial Blanco Frame Gloss Ceramic Subway Tile in the 4x12 inch (L O V E the 4x24 but not enough uninterrupted wall space for that). I'd like to lay this in a third offset instead of a half offset.
Cue the electrician and one GC who said that we can't use this tile because of the raised frame (the reason that I love it). They said that it would create issues with the outlet covers being raised far above the outlet or alternately cut ends of the frames being exposed to sink covers. I called the tile shop to cancel my order but the manager told me that they've had this installed in a number of kitchens without problem and launched into an explanation of how to do it that immediately slipped away after I finished with the conversation.
Has anyone used this type of tile in their kitchen? If so, how did you get around the whole cut end/outlet cover issue? I found a wavy surface gloss white 3x12 subway that is ok and have a sample of the same type in a 4x12 (MSI) arriving this week. I still like the raised frame tile best though. This is my one shot at having a nice kitchen. If install is truly going to be a problem then I'll have to let this tile go but if it can reasonably be installed I'd like to use it. Thanks in advance for any advice, I really appreciate it.
I've posted some pics of the tile and CAD drawings of the sink and range walls (markups were for GCs). The sink wall will have open shelving on either side of the window to open up the feel of the kitchen. Also planning on using can lighting throughout and 2 pendants over the island.
Comments (11)
Related Discussions
more countertop/backsplash conundrums- mixing quartz w/ marble bs
Comments (29)Fwiw, I just mixed faux-marble quartz (Lagoon) with a Carrera backsplash and at least in it's pre-grouted state, I'm really happy. It was hard for me to find a backsplash that worked well with the grey-ish tones of the Lagoon, mostly because my cabinets are painted taupe. Anything that "matched" the cabinets seemed too brownish for the counters. The Carrera blends the two perfectly. I think it also works because I wound up using a very small-scale herringbone pattern, so the patterns in the marble tiles are less pronounced. Fwiw, I don't see the calacutta tiles that the OP posted working with a greyish quartz that's similar to Lagoon, and I'd also be concerned about pattern overload with a subway tile. But having worried about the fake-next-to-real problem, I wanted to at least add my experience that it can be done. One of the prettiest kitchens on here, done by a pro, is GW user @kompy, who used a different marble subway with Lagoon counters, and it looks stunning....See MoreBacksplash pencil liner runs into outlet help
Comments (8)I will try to get a picture up tomorrow. I can't move the outlets - that part of the project is done. The pencil liner can stop at the outlet cover, so it won't interfere with the outlet cover - it just might look odd in that the rail projects out from the wall more than the tile. I can't get the rail to go both below the outlets, and then above the outlets because that would make the glass mosaic huge, and I just want it as a little interest border. Let me work on the pic - thanks for all your help and ideas!!...See MoreShow Me Your Subway Tile Backsplashes
Comments (19)RICH - your kitchen is gorgeous! Im sitting here agonizing over tiles to use for backsplash and floor - saw yours, and sent them off to our tile guy! I never would have picked the flooring, but seeing it in your kitchen - I just LOVE it!! We also have a dark green granite countertop, our cabinets are almost identical in design - except just a shade lighter. Is slate more expensive than porcelin tiles? We are rapidly going over budget and want to try to save a little.........See MoreTile or granite little backsplash between levels of peninsula?
Comments (7)Another vote for granite. I have something similar but I'm using Caesarstone. I thought about using the tile for our bs but decided to run the CS along the 4" (6"?) or so that we have as the space was too small for the bs tile to look right. Though I really wanted the tile to work there! And I'm not sure what you should do re: the cabinet. I understand what you're asking but not sure what would look best....See MoreRelated Professionals
Camarillo Furniture & Accessories · Kirkland Furniture & Accessories · Dumont Furniture & Accessories · Hoffman Estates Furniture & Accessories · Anchorage General Contractors · Chillicothe General Contractors · Grand Junction General Contractors · Hamilton Square General Contractors · Covington Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Glen Carbon Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · Jacksonville Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · Key Biscayne Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · Oklahoma City Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · Warren Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · Short Hills Cabinets & Cabinetry- 4 years ago
4 years ago- 4 years ago
- 4 years ago
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoYou have the same gapping issue with beveled tiles. The ”solution” is backer rod and color matching caulk. Or learn to love the gap. Or do plug mold.
eaw 513 thanked User- 4 years ago
tsjmjh