Kitchen Backsplash Tile

Tile Options for Kitchen Backsplashes

Subway tile in a traditional brick bond or stacked layout is the most common request, but it is far from the only option. Hexagon formats work well behind open shelving or range hoods where a pattern can be appreciated. Zellige tile, with its slightly irregular handmade surface, adds character to a simple white kitchen. Large-format stone-look porcelain creates a seamless, spa-like feel with fewer grout lines. Mosaic tile sheets, whether glass, stone, or ceramic, are well suited to detailed areas like the space directly behind a range hood.

We work with whatever tile you have selected or can talk through options if you are still deciding. Bringing a cabinet door sample or a countertop chip to the estimate visit is helpful for talking through grout color.

Working Around the Kitchen That Exists

A kitchen backsplash is almost always installed with cabinets already in place, appliances already connected, and outlets active. That means every cut is a real cut against a fixed edge. We measure outlet locations precisely, scribe cuts to follow the underside of wall cabinets when they are not perfectly level, and handle inside and outside corners cleanly with appropriate trim tile or mitered edges depending on the tile material.

For range hood surrounds, the tile layout is planned so the pattern is symmetrical on the visible face. This sometimes means starting from the center of the hood and working outward, which affects where cuts fall at the sides. We plan this layout before anything is applied to the wall.

Grout Selection

Kitchen backsplash grout is almost always unsanded (for joints under 1/8 inch) or a very fine sanded product. For white subway tile with white grout, we recommend an epoxy or stain-resistant grout product because kitchen grease will stain standard cement grout over time regardless of sealing. For colored tile or darker grout, the color needs to be chosen dry because grout dries noticeably lighter than when wet.

Available in These Areas

Kitchen backsplash installation is available in Smyrna, Vinings, Mableton, and Cumberland.