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i should say that alot of homes down here in miami use the 4 inch granite backing, i hope to have the tumble marble someday.
Would love to see photos of people kitchens
You do know that you're not limited to a 4" tall granite backsplash. The reason that only 4" was used was because it saved money. Nothing says you can't use the same granite up the wall, all the way to the bottom of the cabinet, that you used on the countertops.
We did that in a previous house and it worked well. It didn't have any grout lines and cleaned up easily from any splashes.
The cleanup would be one reason to use the granite on the enitre backsplash. Things like tumbled marbled can be a little more problematic with their voids and grout lines.
With that being said, our new house has the solid granite countertops with a tumbled marble backsplash. The backsplash also has some accent pieces. We went with this setup because we no longer have lots of messy kitchen events that might dictate an easier-to-clean backsplash. The tumbled marble also adds more visual interest for us.
Considerations - there can be "too much going on" if you install a busy granite and a tile backsplash; you can detract from the beauty of the granite by introducing another element; you have to maintain the grout; you have fewer decisions if you go with a granite backsplash. Overall, it's a safer, easier solution. On the other hand, if you get the right tile with your granite, it can be beautiful. And, if you only do a 4" backsplash, make sure you use a good washable paint!
I used copper slate (12" tiles cut down) the north and west sides of the kitchen are open to the great room, and the backsplash is about 6" to the wooden top of the half wall that surround the open kitchen.
The bad part of copper slate is that it took a lot of culling for color and uniform thickness. Still, at $4.00 a square foot it was a deal and it looks good. I have knotty alder cabinets, a formica top (Wilsonart's High Definition Deepstar Mineral) and cork plank floors.
I went with formica because I didn't find a granite that I liked well enough to pay nearly 3x for, and my kitchen has 26' of counter (by whatever depth they are) + an island. That was enough money in fomica, let alone granite.
In Florida most granite companies use the same size(thickness) granite for the countertop and backsplash and it creates a major problem. 1 1/4" is the normal nowadays and it presents a problem with the deck space between the backsplash and sink for the faucet. Here we have the cabinet company hold the bases an inch out from the wall in order to make everything work.
BTW, in our kitchen we planned and went with full backsplashes to the bottom of the cabinets. We also went with quartz instead of granite, a little more cost but no yearly maintenance . Also a lot easier to keep clean.
A granite kitchen countertop with a tile backsplash is a wonderful combination. I see this thread started almost three years ago, and the combination is still just as popular. If anyone is still in need of some tile backsplash ideas follow the link.
In Florida most granite companies use the same size(thickness) granite for the countertop and backsplash and it creates a major problem. 1 1/4" is the normal nowadays and it presents a problem with the deck space between the backsplash and sink for the faucet. Here we have the cabinet company hold the bases an inch out from the wall in order to make everything work.
BTW, in our kitchen we planned and went with full backsplashes to the bottom of the cabinets. We also went with quartz instead of granite, a little more cost but no yearly maintenance . Also a lot easier to keep clean.
That's wise advice. Base cabinets are usually 24" deep. The undermount sink wants to take 20" of that and is held at least an inch off the front inside edge of the cabinet. The back of the sink is picking up another inch. We've run into conditions where we have to offset the faucet to the side in order to clear thick 3 cm backsplash.
3 cm granite measures about 1 1/4" and 2 cm is about 3/4" Only recently have I seen 1 cm granite. It's pretty handy for backsplashes or using as a laminate on wood backing.
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canine7 wants to see kitchens
