Backsplashes
One of the most popular elements of any home is often the kitchen backsplash. Backsplashes are practical and desirable because they protect the walls from stains and water damage.
But the benefits of a tiled backsplash don’t stop there. Installing a kitchen or bathroom backsplash can make a real impact on the look and feel of your home, here are several things to consider when shopping for a tile backsplash.
A backsplash adds a personal touch to the room’s style
Your walls are open canvases and you can add your style to them with paint but nothing adds a stylish and personal touch like installing a backsplash with unique tile that speaks to you and your personality. There are endless tile choices, let your imagination and creativity be your guide and you can have something truly unique to you and your home.
Not all tiles will eliminate stain risks or be easy to maintain
If you love to cook and hate to clean be careful which tiles you choose for your kitchen backsplash. Not all tiles are great at reducing maintenance and certain tile choices could actually add to your maintenance workload and schedule instead of reducing it.
For instance, while we love the look of natural stone, stone and marble are naturally porous materials so they are susceptible to staining and require scheduled maintenance with specialty cleaners and sealers. Small tiles may also end up needing more maintenance because they will have more grout joints and that’s where grease and dirt like to take up residence.
If maintenance is a high priority for you, we recommend ceramic, porcelain glass or even metal tile. Because these materials are non-porous, stains will not be able to penetrate the surface of the tile. We also recommend an upgraded grout for backsplashes, one that has stain-resistant technology built-in. One last thing to consider if you are concerned with less maintenance, the larger the tile the less grout joints and therefore the less maintenance needed.
Think long term
Whenever you are investing in your most valuable asset (your home) you should make sure you are considering the long term impact. For example, if you plan to live in your home for a very long time you most likely do not want to be remodeling every few years due to rushing a decision as large as tile selection or which tile contractor you hire. It would be a shame to choose something just because it is on sale only to later find out there was a reason it was on sale or you really did not like it and are now either stuck with it or have to spend more money to change it out to something you will truly enjoy.
On the other hand, if your home is temporary and you plan on putting it on the market within a few years, tile choices should be less about what you want and more for the general public. Choose neutral colors and tile that appeal to a larger group of people, think subway tile instead of mosaics. Subway tile is a classic look that has stood the test of time and is always in style.
When considering a tile contractor to install your backsplash, do not rush to make your decision or choose based solely on something as fleeting as price. We understand HGTV makes it appear as if something like a kitchen backsplash can be installed, grouted and ready for action in just a couple hours, but that is not the case! They call that TV Magic in Hollywood but in the real world there is a lot more involved in producing quality work that will last for generations to come.
Ask contractors what methods and materials they will be using. What grout and why? How about silicone caulking, will they use it in between the wall and the countertop? Or will they be grouting that joint? If they are removing an old backsplash, how will they protect the cabinets and countertops? How about protecting the rest of the home from fine dust? These are all valuable points to consider and make sure you get the answers you need.
Recent Tile Backsplash Projects
Rating
If you’re in need of tile installation services, look no further than Heritage Tile & Stone. From beginning to end, Irving’s communication, respect and attention to detail went above and beyond my expectations. My project was to take the existing tile in my bathrooms to the ceiling and the matching add on was seamless. Can’t thank them enough!
Irving did a wonderful job on our master bath shower and tub! Throughout the whole process everyone was so wonderful to work with and they kept the bathroom clean so we didn't feel like we were living in the middle of a construction zone. These guys are great to work with and definitely trustworthy, they make sure to get the job done right!
Drue and Heritage Tile were so easy to work with. From the moment Drue returned our call and came to our house for an estimate we knew we didn’t need to talk to another company. They were very professional and timely and their tile work and expertise speaks for itself. Our 50 year kitchen looks amazing because of them!
Drue and his team were amazing. We had them do our kitchen backsplash with Zellige tile. Very professional and respectful. They listened to all of our neurotic requests and the project looks great. 100% recommend! We will be using them again in the future.
In our years of home ownership we have NEVER hired such a talented, kind, respectful, clean, on time, patient and skilled group! Irving, Gabriel and Drue transformed the ugliest bathroom into something magical! They were so easy to have around, hardest workers and just truly nice guys! I kinda miss their company! Our project was difficult, but they did it. I will tack on before and after pictures when the room is done. We also fully intend on having them here for our next project….the kitchen!
The crew from Heritage was polite, timely, and did a fantastic job on our bathroom floor. We asked them for a herringbone pattern and they took their time to ensure the pattern was beautiful. We HIGHLY recommend them and will use them again in the future. Thanks again guys!
Amazing work! Very professional, great communication and timely work. Highly recommend! They were also phenomenal with my four kids who had lots of questions and were always trying to chat them up. 😆
Irving did a fantastic job on our tile backsplash! The process was very easy and quick responses from both Irving and Drue. We love it!
Drue is seriously the best! He answered my call immediately and got me a quote back same day. He was up front about the timeframe which I appreciated. My backsplash was demolished and installed within 3 days. Eric was amazing to work with and was able to complete my job effortlessly. I can’t recommend Drue and his team enough!!!
Fabulous work on a very difficult job--nobody else would touch it. The guys are skilled, hard working, friendly, and dedicated.
The guys at Heritage Tile were great. We had a small bathroom project but they treated us like their #1 customer. Service was great, communication was was awesome and the finished product is exactly what we were looking for. Highly recommend Drue and Irvin for your project!
Wow! Heritage tile just finished up my new house and I have never been more pleased with any contractor in my life! Irving and Drue were respectful, honest and communicative through the entire process. Can’t thank these young guys enough for their hard work and great attitudes!
I was having a new bar in a highly visible area of the house. The project was underway, and I needed to have everything completed by Thanksgiving which was only a few weeks away. I reached out to Dru and his team at Heritage and they swiftly responded to my request. They were able to complete the backsplash installation within a really tight timeframe while also working with a really challenging tile selection. Their work on the tile backsplash really put the perfect finishing touches on this new addition to our home. Heritage did a fantastic job throughout, with an impeccable attention to detail and professionalism. They were incredibly responsive and paid strong attention to job site cleanup and limiting any impacts to other areas of the house. Will be looking for them to take on our next tiling job.
Drue and his team are not just skilled craftsmen; they are true artisans who take pride in their work. It's evident that they have a genuine passion for what they do, and this enthusiasm translates into the exceptional quality of their projects. Their attention to detail and commitment to excellence in both Traditional tile and Porcelain Slab Installation, set them apart from many other "Tile" companies in Kansas City! If you're looking for a team that combines skill, passion, and a dedication to exceeding expectations, Heritage Tile and Stone is the way to go. I highly recommend Drue and his team for any tile or porcelain slab installation project. They truly find pleasure in their work, and it shows in the results. A solid 5-star recommendation!
Drue, Irving, and their team did a fabulous job on my master bathroom remodel. They took over from a different contractor after all the tile had been ordered. They were responsive, professional, courteous, adaptable, and focused on education and innovation in their field (and proud of it!). They listened patiently to what I wanted and offered very helpful suggestions without being pushy. Thanks to them I have a much more functional master bathroom with the most cleverly hidden niches. The heated floor is amazing and undoubtedly a worthwhile extra expense. The marble and limestone mosaic shower floor makes me smile daily, and Drue happily worked with it without trying to discourage me from using natural stone like others before him. He was also very helpful with product recommendations to clean and seal the stone.
I was very impressed with Heritage Tile. They did a fabulous job on our kitchen backsplash. They were professional, timely and always cleaned up at the end of the day. I would not hesitate to recommend them to others or use them again for another project.
Drue, Irving and their team did an awesome job ripping up old tile that was improperly installed and cracking. They properly installed a new sub floor along with our handmade tile. They were the only installers that seemed to care about the tile and correct installation process when providing a bid. I would highly recommend them, they have a great attention to detail and truly care about their craft.