Kitchen Backsplash in Round Rock

Kitchen backsplash work in Round Rock homes built in the 1990s and 2000s

Many kitchens in Round Rock sit in dense suburban subdivisions put up in the 1990s and 2000s. The original builder tile on the backsplash is often a small ceramic piece set in a simple pattern or sometimes just a short run of tile with painted wall above it. Grout has stained behind the cooktop. A few tiles may have popped near the sink from water. When a homeowner puts in a new counter the old tile looks out of place. Genaro Merlan of Merlan's Tile drives from Killeen to see the space in person. He measures the counters, counts the outlets and switch boxes, and looks at the range wall and the hood.

The wall behind original builder tile is usually drywall. Sound drywall lets us set the new tile after cleaning and a skim if needed. Damage from moisture means extra prep that is quoted after we look at the room. In most Round Rock kitchens from that period the substrate holds up. Layout begins at the counter. An unlevel counter forces scribing on the first row or grout joints start to look drunk as they climb the wall. Every outlet and switch box needs a clean cut so the plate sits flat. A ragged opening around a receptacle is something you see every day.

Dry layout off the counter, outlet cuts, and the range wall in Round Rock

Setting starts with a dry layout on the counter so you see how the pattern falls before anything is stuck to the wall. Full tiles look better centered on the range or on a window if there is one. Cuts get pushed to the ends or into corners. The range wall often needs a different treatment because of the hood. Tile can run full height to the hood or stop at standard backsplash height. Outlets that sit in the field have to be marked exactly so the tile hole matches the box.

• Dry layout on the counter so the pattern is visible before thinset
• Full tiles centered on the cooktop or window when possible
• Precise openings at every outlet and switch box
• Edge profile in brass or satin where a run ends

Full height on the range wall versus a standard field and grout at the cooktop

Full height tile on the range wall goes up to the bottom of the hood. A standard field usually finishes four to six inches above the countertop and gets an edge profile or a pencil liner. Choosing full height means more surface to set and more cuts if there is a window on that wall or if the hood is not centered. Merlan's Tile still does the kitchen backsplash for $1,000 flat, labor. The customer picks the material at the Temple supply house or brings their own. Marble and zellige show their color variation more when the field is tall.

Grout choice matters most behind the cooktop. Grease and heat hit that area every day. A sanded grout in a mid tone hides better than bright white. After the joints are packed the haze gets wiped and the grout is left to cure. Then the grout gets sealed so spills wipe off instead of soaking in. Sealing is part of the job. Cleanup happens the same visit most of the time. Mosaic or small tile has more grout lines so the color you pick shows more. Large format porcelain has fewer joints and a cleaner look if that is what you want. Working around a window means matching the grout lines to the window trim so nothing looks crooked.

Choosing tile at the Temple supply house and setting it in the kitchen

Once the room has been measured the next step is choosing the tile. You can bring your own boxes or ride along to the Temple supply house. Porcelain, ceramic, marble, zellige, terrazzo and mosaic are all options, along with brass and satin edge profiles. What sits on the shelf or in the special order is what will be on your wall. No bait and switch. Genaro or whoever looked at the kitchen is the person who sets the tile. That keeps the layout decisions consistent from the first visit to the last cut.

The tile is set in thinset chosen for the body of the material. Porcelain wants a different mix than a soft marble. Back buttering large pieces keeps air pockets from hiding behind the tile. That prevents a hollow sound later. Window returns get mitered or an edge profile depending on the look you want. Outlet cuts are test fitted dry before the thinset. Grout is packed after the thinset has taken its initial set, which on a job like this tends to allow grouting later the same day most of the time. Sealer follows on the grout joints. The floor and counters get cleaned and everything we brought in goes back out.

Written one-year limited labor warranty and reaching Merlan's Tile for a Round Rock kitchen

Every kitchen backsplash we set comes with a written one-year limited labor warranty dated from completion. It covers problems that come from the way the tile was installed. Loose tiles, grout that fails because it was packed wrong, or an edge that lets go would fall under it. The tile itself and the grout material stay under the maker's warranty. If someone later cuts a new hole or hangs a heavy rack that pulls tiles off, that is not covered. The same person who measured the Round Rock kitchen is usually the one who stands behind the work.

Call (512) 297-7493 or email info@merlanstile.com. The person who will do the work looks at the Round Rock kitchen and measures. Layout, the range wall, the hood, and grout color get discussed then. Scheduling is arranged during that conversation. Merlan's Tile operates from Killeen. Round Rock sits in the service area along with Georgetown and Austin. Any work besides the kitchen backsplash is handled with a straight quote after the room is seen. The same installer returns to set, grout, seal and leave the kitchen clean. Questions about full height versus a standard field belong on that first look.