Kitchens
Kitchen Tile and Backsplash Installation in San Diego
Subway, glass, mosaic, handmade-look and slab-look porcelain backsplashes for kitchens across San Diego County, set by our own licensed crew with a written price up front.
A small wall with a lot of cuts
A backsplash is usually the smallest tile job in the house and one of the most looked at. It sits at eye level, right above the counter, so a crooked line or a chipped cut around an outlet is something you notice every time you cook.
Most of the work is in the layout. We decide where the pattern starts so the small cut pieces end up under the upper cabinets or in an inside corner, not in the middle of the wall. When the range or a window is the focal point, we center the tile on it. We also plan where the tile stops, so the edge gets a clean finish instead of a raw cut.
Outlet covers should sit flat on the finished tile and the grout lines should line up with the counter, so both get planned before the first piece goes up.
Kitchen Floor and Wall Tile
Many kitchen projects are more than a backsplash. When the floor is being redone at the same time, we plan both together: the floor tile goes in first, the backsplash lines up with the finished counters, and the grout colors are chosen so the two read as one kitchen instead of two separate jobs.
For kitchen floors, porcelain is the usual pick because it takes dropped pans, water at the sink and sand tracked in from outside. More on sizes and prep on our tile flooring page.
On the walls, tile can run past the standard backsplash height: a full wall behind the range, tile up to the ceiling where there are no upper cabinets, or a feature panel above the cooktop. Each of those changes where the tile stops and how the edges are finished, so we mark it out with you at the estimate visit.
How a Backsplash Job Goes
- 1Visit and estimateWe look at the wall, the counters and the tile you like, and note outlets, windows and where the tile will stop.
- 2Protect and prepCounters and the range get covered. The old backsplash comes off if there is one, and the wall is patched and flattened.
- 3Layout and settingWe mark center lines and set the tile from there, cutting around outlets, windows and trim.
- 4Grout and finishGrout, a flexible joint where the tile meets the counter, cleanup and a final look with you.
Backsplash Tile We Install
Bring the tile you picked, or ask us what works behind your range and sink.
Ceramic subway
Still the most requested backsplash. Plain white stays in style, and handmade-look subway with wavy edges adds character.
Glass
Reflects light and wipes clean. Glass shows every flaw behind it, so it needs a flat wall and white setting material. See our glass tile guide.
Mosaic
Sheets of small tile in hexagon, herringbone or mixed patterns. A good choice for a feature panel behind the range.
Slab-look porcelain
Large porcelain pieces that look like marble or stone with very few grout lines, and easier to keep clean than real marble behind a stove.
Natural stone
Marble or travertine for a classic look. It needs sealing, especially around the stove and the sink.
Common Questions
Should the backsplash go in before or after new counters?
After. If new counters are coming, they go in first so the tile sits on the final surface and the bottom row lines up with it.
How high should a backsplash go?
Most run from the counter to the bottom of the upper cabinets. Behind a range hood, or on a wall with no upper cabinets, many people take the tile to the ceiling or to a set height. We can show you where each option would stop at the estimate visit.
Can you install tile I bought online?
Yes. Have it delivered before the job date and order roughly 10 percent extra for cuts and breakage. Patterned and mosaic tile can need a bit more.
Where We Work
We are based at 2712 Transportation Ave. in National City and work across San Diego County, including:
Not sure we cover your area? Call (619) 259-2291 and ask.
Ready for a New Backsplash?
Tell us about your kitchen and the tile you like. We will measure and give you a written estimate at no charge.