Can I add a black splash to my kitchen wall and then replace the countertops at a later date?
by
Deborah C
+9
I have laminate now and had no choice b/c I had to stay within the church's budget when they rebuilt my home from the ground up from the Great Georgia Flood that hit my subdivision in Sept. 2009. I do not want GRANITE but corian. Should I wait?
12 answers
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It is possible to do this Deborah, we recently did it successfully in my clients home at Chateau Elan. We removed the Corian counter tops & put in granite without disturbing the 4"x4" tumbled marble. But this is not recommended it is difficult to do without breaking the back splash tile. Also the corian & laminate counter tops may not be the same thickness, etc.
Culpepper Carpets and Interiors, Inc.
on Jul 20, 2011
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That was not the answer I was seeking LeeAnn. If I use tile rather than another material for the black splash, could it work?
Deborah C
on Jul 20, 2011
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Planning on replacing them within 8-9 months.
Deborah C
on Jul 20, 2011
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Yes Deborah, it is possible even with something as simple as wallpaper. You do run the risks that I named above.
Culpepper Carpets and Interiors, Inc.
on Jul 20, 2011
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I have actually done this for one of my clients.In my case the dimensions of the counter tops were almost identical. It could pose a problem as LeeAnn said if thickness is an issue. Just dont grout the bottom joint of the tile next to the counter, instead use a grout caulk that matches your grout color.
Renovations
on Jul 20, 2011
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Great questions Deborah. If you design the back-splash were the bottom piece of tile can be replaced or cut to match the new thickness of the counter-top that would be ideal. Mosaic tiles are pretty dimension friendly. I just install a back-splash at my house and the only cutting tool I had to use was a utility knife.
SawHorse Design Build
on Jul 20, 2011
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Wonderful suggestions Renovations and SawHorse. I really want to get this done and replace countertops at a later date. They are only 1 year old and they look very nice still. Now that I know it can be done -- but can be a challenge, at least I can take that risk. Any suggestions on what black splash I should install. Thinking of tavertine, but I know it is my personal choice. The glass back splash tiles are way too expensive for me.
Deborah C
on Jul 20, 2011
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travertine is more porous and I think it's harder to clean in a kitchen or bathroom. For my backsplash, I stuck with ceramic because it's easier to clean. But if you don't have young kids, or a husband who makes a mess, then that might not be an issue for you :)
Jenni H
on Jul 20, 2011
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Thank you Jenn - letting me know that - I had no clue. And no, I do not have a hubby or any young children in my household -- 2 senior female labs but the counter tops are too high for them. May go with ceramic only b/c I love to cook and bake. Thank you again.
Deborah C
on Jul 20, 2011
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You may want to consider other types of materials that can be replaced at a very low cost but will work great until you decide to change the tops. Metal ceiling tiles can be easily cut and glued onto the walls and offer all sorts of textures and design patterns. Also simple bath wall tiles work well. They are very cheep and easy to work with. You can get them in the subway tile stye and now with the recent introduction of the adhesive systems you simply stick the tiles to the wall and grout. Its fast, easy and not very expensive as compared to the thin set systems used to install tile. And if your a do it yourself type or willing to give it a try, you will be pleased at the results.
Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com
on Jul 20, 2011
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If your new countertop isn't as thick as the laminate you have now, and you're afraid of coming up short, you can also install a thicker sub-top under the new countertop to raise it to the correct height of your backsplash, and have the stone manufactured with a thicker front/side edge, giving your new countertop the appearance of being a thicker slab, which is the way a lot of high end homes are going now, anyway.
Leslie D
on Jul 20, 2011
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I tiled my backsplash with ceramic tiles years before I replaced my laminate countertop. I just had the people who measured for the countertop take into account where my tile ended. They cut it to match perfectly.
Jane
on Oct 22, 2014
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