Need help calculating backsplash tile

[scottie]

So for this fine holiday season I may just break down and buy my DW some granite countertops she’s been begging for. That being said, I know she will remind me how I now need to put a tile backsplash up!
I think I would like to go with the mosaic tile in the 12x12 sheets you can buy at Home Depot/Lowes. Can any experts out there help me calculate how many 12x12 tiles sheets I should buy for the backsplash?
Here are some measurements I grabbed tonight for the two cabinet walls I would like to apply tile to:

Wall 1:
132” long, with a 40” wide window towards middle. From countertop to bottom of upper cabinets is 18”. The window has about 4” wide dry walled area on either side between the window molding and the upper cabinet on either side.
Wall 2:
101” long, same 18” to bottom of upper cabinets. There is a stove on this wall so probably would like to fill in the whole area behind it, which would be an extra area of 30” wide by 5” high, beyond the 18” height mentioned.

* I presume it is a good idea (nicer looking?) to tile from countertop to at least the bottom of upper cabinets? At first I thought just one mosaic sheet high along the wall so 12” then paint the remaining 6 or so inches then began to reconsider to the 18” height?

I know this probably isn’t every bit of info you need, sorry.

Thanks!

 

[dfchelbay]

So for this fine holiday season I may just break down and buy my DW some granite countertops she’s been begging for. That being said, I know she will remind me how I now need to put a tile backsplash up!
I think I would like to go with the mosaic title in the 12x12 sheets you can buy at Home Depot/Lowes. Can any experts out there help me calculate how many 12x12 tiles sheets I should buy for the backsplash?
Here are some measurements I grabbed tonight for the two cabinet walls I would like to apply tile to:

Wall 1:
132” long, with a 40” wide window towards middle. From countertop to bottom of upper cabinets is 18”. The window has about 4” wide dry walled area on either side between the window molding and the upper cabinet on either side.
Wall 2:
101” long, same 18” to bottom of upper cabinets. There is a stove on this wall so probably would like to fill in the whole area behind it, which would be an extra area of 30” wide by 5” high, beyond the 18” height mentioned.

* I presume it is a good idea (nicer looking?) to tile from countertop to at least the bottom of upper cabinets? At first I thought just one mosaic sheet high along the wall so 12” then paint the remaining 6 or so inches then began to reconsider to the 18” height?

I know this probably isn’t every bit of info you need, sorry.

Thanks!

Wall #1 backsplash - 17 sheets of tile
Wall #2 - backsplash - 13 sheets of tile
Stove - 3 sheets

I don't quite understand the drywall area by the window as described, so I did not add any sheets of tile for that area. Maybe a picture would help.

If I were buying the tiles for this project, I would buy about 40 (12x12) sheets. Better to have a little extra. You can always return what you do not use if you don't cut them up.

 

[scottie]

I don't quite understand the drywall area by the window as described, so I did not add any sheets of tile for that area. Maybe a picture would help.

Thanks for the info... very much appreciated! I have attached a pic to this showing the window area. I am unclear is if it proper to just tile up the same 18" on either side of the window or if should go higher, say all the way up and around the window frame or some amount above the 18“?

 

[dfchelbay]

Thanks for the info... very much appreciated! I have attached a pic to this showing the window area. I am unclear is if it proper to just tile up the same 18" on either side of the window or if should go higher, say all the way up and around the window frame or some amount above the 18“?

My first inclination would be not to tile up the sides of the window. You will have leftover tiles and you can hold them up to see if it's a look you and your wife would like. Hold them up there (maybe duct tape some up) and take a look at it, take a few photos and look at them...see what you think of it. You can always add to your backsplash if it's to your tastes. Just do a dry run and see if it looks good or if it looks funky.

 

[ChristmasElf]

Thanks for the info... very much appreciated! I have attached a pic to this showing the window area. I am unclear is if it proper to just tile up the same 18" on either side of the window or if should go higher, say all the way up and around the window frame or some amount above the 18“?

Normally, you would have tile from the countertop up to the bottom of the cabinets, but in your case I would carry the tile up around the window to make it all tie together. I think it would look better versus stopping half way up the window frame.

 

[clh2]

Can I ask a really dumb question? Have you seen back-splashes with this size tile? My personal opinion - this would look better with a smaller tile - maybe a 6x6.

 

[scottie]

Wall #1 backsplash - 17 sheets of tile
Wall #2 - backsplash - 13 sheets of tile
Stove - 3 sheets

If I were buying the tiles for this project, I would buy about 40 (12x12) sheets. Better to have a little extra. You can always return what you do not use if you don't cut them up.

Just ran across a newer product that is a self adhesive gel tile, called Smart Tiles that looks pretty cool and easy to do. These tiles measure out at 9 5/8" x 9 5/8" or 10"x10" depending on which one. Would you be so kind as to give me your suggestion on how many tiles to buy for the job if I went with this option?

My first inclination would be not to tile up the sides of the window. You will have leftover tiles and you can hold them up to see if it's a look you and your wife would like. Hold them up there (maybe duct tape some up) and take a look at it, take a few photos and look at them...see what you think of it. You can always add to your backsplash if it's to your tastes. Just do a dry run and see if it looks good or if it looks funky.

Normally, you would have tile from the countertop up to the bottom of the cabinets, but in your case I would carry the tile up around the window to make it all tie together. I think it would look better versus stopping half way up the window frame.

Thank you both for your points of view on the window area!

 

[scottie]

Can I ask a really dumb question? Have you seen back-splashes with this size tile? My personal opinion - this would look better with a smaller tile - maybe a 6x6.

I think I understand your question... each tile is not actually 10x10 or 12x12 each, they are instead a sheet of much smaller tiles that are mounted to a backing that total out to the larger size. I have seen them used on several displays and they look very nice.

 

[scottie]

Just wanted to update... we went to look at the granite colors yersterday and we picked out a lighter color with lots of small design in it. DW said she is worried a mosaic tile backsplash will be "too busy" with the granite color we picked. So the granite place said they would install a matching backsplash of 18x18 tiles for about $100 more then we would have paid for mosaic tiles. Not a bad deal I guess since it will save me the work!

 

[clh2]

I think I understand your question... each tile is not actually 10x10 or 12x12 each, they are instead a sheet of much smaller tiles that are mounted to a backing that total out to the larger size. I have seen them used on several displays and they look very nice.

Thanks for explaining that! I love "tiny tiles" for a backsplash. We HAD 12x12 tiles on our fireplace surround when we moved into our house. They just looked odd - due to the cuts that needed to be made since the surround was 18" - it looked awful. We now have a 6x6 tile on our surround, and eveyrhting looks like it was designed properly.

I now see the other post that says you are going with a granite backsplash. Since you asked for help with this project - it will be mandatory that you post pics!

 

[scottie]

Thanks for explaining that! I love "tiny tiles" for a backsplash. We HAD 12x12 tiles on our fireplace surround when we moved into our house. They just looked odd - due to the cuts that needed to be made since the surround was 18" - it looked awful. We now have a 6x6 tile on our surround, and eveyrhting looks like it was designed properly.

I now see the other post that says you are going with a granite backsplash. Since you asked for help with this project - it will be mandatory that you post pics!

Yes.... about 99.9% sure at this point we will do the granite backsplash, just have to hit up homedepot one more time to make sure there isnt another tile that catches our eye. The tops are supposed to be installed on 12/28 so now I am in search of a great deal on an undermount double sink.
Will post pics for sure once all is done!

 

[clh2]

Yes.... about 99.9% sure at this point we will do the granite backsplash, just have to hit up homedepot one more time to make sure there isnt another tile that catches our eye. The tops are supposed to be installed on 12/28 so now I am in search of a great deal on an undermount double sink.
Will post pics for sure once all is done!

We had quartz counters installed in January, and got a wonderful Blanco double sink (one side is "1 3/4" and the other side is smaller. I LOVE this sink! Although - it was hard finding a dish drainer that would work.

While I can totally appreciate the needing to find a deal comment - please find the "right" sink for your project. It will be very difficult to replace the sink at a later date.

Also - coming from someone who had the LOUSIEST sink strainers for 17 years...don't skimp here either. I LOVE my new sink strainers...and they actually work with "no-effort"...the old ones needed to be "just right" for them to work. (And...I had no clue how expensive these suckers can be. We went to a kitchen design store...I tried the kitchen strainers in each of the kitchens in the store...picked the ones out that worked the best...then asked for the price. Don't get me wrong...in the whole scope of new counters, a cabinet "modification" done, a new fridge (since we could get a bigger one due to the little bit of cabinet rework), putting quartz on the window sill etc, the sink strainers were the "smallest line-item". But still...

Now...the faucet...we skimped here. (I 'let" DH win this one.) I figured if anything this would be easy enough to have replaced, I'm OK with what we picked out...I don't love it, and I am OK with that. He is the dish washer in the house anyway. So - he got to pick out the faucet.

Good Luck with the rest of the project!

 

[laughinplace199]

We just redid our kitchen with granite counter tops and tiny mosaic tile for backsplash. I love it! I was also worried that it would look too busy, but it doesn't.

 

[scottie]

While I can totally appreciate the needing to find a deal comment - please find the "right" sink for your project. It will be very difficult to replace the sink at a later date. Good Luck with the rest of the project!

Thanks for the tip, I will be sure we look into the details of the couple sinks that have caught our eye thus far

We just redid our kitchen with granite counter tops and tiny mosaic tile for backsplash. I love it! I was also worried that it would look too busy, but it doesn't.

Good to hear! I think she is also worried she wont find a color combo of backsplash tile that suits the countertop color(s) then will be upset. I have posted a link to a sample of the countertop I took a pic of today.
Any opinions out there on going with matching granite backsplash or a mosaic tile backsplash- based on the "busy factor" of the countertop and its colors??
http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/member-galleries/p71838-counter.html

 

[herdtoDisney]

I would do either a single-color mosiac tile (like black or glass) or match the granite for the backsplash. The granite is busy. I think multi-color tile would be too much. You also have to decide how you feel about the tile size-the little mosiacs are 1 inch and look very different than 18 in tiles, which is what the granite ones are. Both are nice, it's just a matter of what you and DW prefer.

As for the window-my mom has an identical window placement and she tiled at the same level-didn't go around the whole window. It looks very good IMO. She thought it would be visually too much to go around it all.

 

[laughinplace199]

I think the granite backsplash will look great, but there are mosaic tiles that are very plain - almost all one color - that might work if you're still considering that route. I'd bring the granite sample to a tile store (they'll have so much more than Home Depot does) and ask the people who work there what they would suggest.

 

[scottie]

update: DW picked out a single color tile that looks nice, only down size is its a subway type style (i think they call it) so the tiles are larger, which means more cuts to get around outlets etc. Havent purchased it yet, so not sure I will have to deal with that pain for sure yet.