tile backsplash | Home Makeover Diva

How To Measure For Tile Backsplash

06.20.2011 by Amanda Hartley //

Today Overwhelmed in Portland writes:

Dear Diva, I’m not that handy but I want to put up a tile backsplash. My main problem though is that I’m not sure how to measure for tile backsplash. I’ve read a bunch of how to’s but no one says how to measure. Please help!

Measuring for tile backsplash is easier than you might think. All you’ve got to do is break it down into little pieces and it won’t be so overwhelming. And no, you don’t literally break it down into little pieces. . .well you might be doing that with the tile, but we aren’t talking about that part! Below I’ve outlined the three things you’ll need to do in order to measure for tile backsplash. I’ve also listed the tools you’ll need and some tips to help make the whole process easier.

First of all, make sure you have all the right tools. You’ll need a pen or pencil, paper and a steel tape measure. Please don’t use a ruler or cloth measuring tape as this will only make the job more difficult and less accurate. Besides, if you don’t have already have a steel measuring tape, it might be a good idea to pick one up for future projects. You never know what else you’re going to want to make over when you get done with the tile backsplash!

The above mentioned tools work best for rectangular areas. If your backsplash is an odd shape or has any funky cut outs like electrical outlets and switches, you may want to consider additional tools. I’m specifically talking about tools such as: graph paper and a small straight edge. It also doesn’t hurt to have an additional person available just incase you need someone to hold the other end of the tape measure. This isn’t necessary but can come in “handy.”

Next, measure and record your results. If your backsplash is a rectangle then all you need to do is write down the width in inches and the length in inches. However if your measurements aren’t that straight forward, you’ll want to use the graph paper to sketch out a replica of your area. Let the size of your backsplash dictate what ratio you will use on the graph paper. Obviously if you’ve got a large space you’ll want to use a smaller ratio and the reverse if you’re space is small. Use pencil so you can erase any mistakes you make and make sure you record any electrical outlets and light switches.

Lastly, calculate the square footage and/or Lineal Footage. If your space is a rectangle, multiply the length in inches times the width in inches. Then take this number and divide it by 144. This will give you the square footage of your space. For example if your space is 80″ wide by 20″ long, when you multiple them it equals 1600 square inches. Now divide that by 144 and you get 11.11 square feet. Then add 10% for cutting waste. In this case, 10% is going to be just over one square foot, but I would round the number up to 13 square feet just to be safe.

Calculating for lineal foot is a little easier. You simply divide the length in inches by 12 to get the lineal footage. In the case above, 80/12=6.67LF. Remember to round-up to the nearest foot and give yourself at minimum 10% extra. Then do the same to get the lineal footage of the width. This number will come in handy if you are using any bullnose or trim tiles. In general the lineal footage is also nice to know if you are planning on adding any deco or liner tiles. And I would strongly recommend calculating these totals even if you don’t think you’ll need any of the previously mentioned speciality tiles. This way if you change you’re mind later on, you won’t have to remeasure.

Once you get started you’ll realize that it is not as overwhelming as you think! Just take it one step at a time and you’ll be ready to start your tile backsplash project in no time!

Do you have questions about the selecting or the installation of: tile, carpet or wall treatments (window blinds, etc)? Then email me your tale of woe (diva(at)homemakeoverdiva.com) and perhaps I will be able to answer your questions right here at the Home Makeover Diva Blog!

Picking Out The Best Glass Tile Backsplash Ideas

06.28.2010 by Amanda Hartley //

When it comes to picking out a glass tile backsplash, there are many options. In fact there are so many options it can be overwhelming at first. One trick to finding the perfect glass backsplash tile is to start by eliminating the colors you don’t like and the ones that won’t match your space. This will make your choices seem more narrowed down and not so endless!

Many websites let you browse by color choice alone, so you can ignore all of the colors that just won’t work for you. A great website that provides this is Glasstilestore.com.

Another way to narrow down your choice of glass tile for your backsplash is to narrow down by your budget. This is another reason I like the Glass Tile Store that it allows you to search just by price per square foot. So once you’ve figured out your budget, you can keep yourself out of trouble by searching only in the section for your budget!

If you are considering installing the glass tile backsplash yourself, check out this how to from the DIY network. It is informative and has step by step instructions for installing your glass tile backsplash. Don’t forget to check out our articles on SimpleMat and Bondera to find alternative ways of installing backsplash tile without the messy mortar or glue!

Check out this video from the DIY network that shows the steps of installing your backsplash and also talks about the process of creating recycled glass tiles.

No matter what your color, budget or skill level you can find a great glass tile for your backsplash! All it takes is a little research and patience! You just have to know where to look and how to do the work yourself!

Simple Kitchen Backsplash Ideas – How To Get Started

01.20.2010 by Amanda Hartley //

Just starting the process of adding a kitchen backsplash is rather overwhelming.

This video below demonstrates just how fast you can be over-run by simple kitchen backsplash idea overload. So while there’s easy to install backsplash concepts like SimpleMat, chances want to still explore the alternatives. That is where this article comes in. We hope to clear that up for you.

You can help yourself narrow your kitchen backsplash search by asking yourself a few questions:

#1 How much do you want to spend?
Set your backsplash budget. Your budget will help you decide what you should be looking at cost-wise. For example, if you have a modest budget, look for ceramic and porcelain backsplash tile and stay away from metal, glass and stone. You can still use them for accents, decos and liners but you would not want to use them as the main tile in your design.

#2 Which kitchen backsplash style do I really want?
If your kitchen has a traditional or modern feel, you’ll likely stick to the same for your backsplash. But if you don’t have a definite style or you don’t know what you like start out by looking at samples. A great place to start your search is online. There are thousands of manufacturers of tile for backsplash online. You are bound to find something you’ll love just by looking around.

#3 What backsplash color(s), pattern(s) or texture(s) do you want to use?
If you have a color, pattern or texture backsplash idea in mind, go ahead start out in that general direction. If you aren’t sure however, look for tile from the same color palette as the rest of your kitchen. If you prefer, simply select backsplash shades darker or lighter than your existing countertop. And of course if you have a “busy” countertop in appearance, try going with a solid color backsplash or vice versa.

There is no wrong or right color choice for your kitchen backsplash, so just what you like. If however, you are not sure what you like, then just start by looking at tile samples for your kitchen backsplash. It’s a fantastic way to get the ball rolling with colors and textures. Best of all, you can do this online! Just remember your PC’s monitor does not always show an exact color. So ordering backsplash tile samples is advised as you will want to look at the real deal before you make the final decision. The smart money is on having tile samples mailed to you directly.

And there you have it! Now that you’ve got some of the basic’s answered nothing is stopping you from finding the perfect kitchen backsplash! Remember, many kitchen backsplash ideas can be done in under an hour.

Vinyl Tile As A Backsplash

09.09.2009 by Amanda Hartley //

In a previous article, I touched a bit on the value of considering backsplash ideas that can be done start to finish in under an hour. And among those ideas, was vinyl tile as a backsplash. While seeming rather “blah” at first pass, the truth of the matter is that this is both a time saver and a very effective means of giving your kitchen a makeover for much less money than you might spend using other backsplash ideas. Allow me to elaborate a bit with two real world examples where using vinyl tile makes a lot of sense.

Selling your home without spending a fortune

Let’s say for instance you are trying to sell your home. And while upgrading your window treatments can accomplish tremendous things from a first impression perspective, it should also be noted that everyone knows that it is the kitchen that sells the house. With the economy all over the place these days, this translates into you using your available dollars as wisely as possible.

Some folks might be tempted to take their remodeling budget and spend it on hardwood floors. A great idea for the entire home, but perhaps not the best place to spend money if for the kitchen only. Well, at least not if you are planning to sell the home. No, you need a wow factor that both produces interested buyers for the house in addition to keeping things on budget. This is where sticking to good quality vinyl flooring bundled with vinyl tile as a backsplash can really pay off.

Both of these products can be installed quickly and easily. And did I mention that it will also allow you to stay on budget?

Perfect for the frustrated renter

This article illustrates just how great using vinyl tile as a backsplash can work out if you are renting a home rather than having the good fortune to simply own your home. A couple looking to give their kitchen a badly needed upgrade, head over to the local big box store and ended up with some fantastic vinyl tiles that could be the perfect fit for their new backsplash needs. Even though the couple ended up going with cheaper vinyl tiles from another outlet, the mission remained clear. Stunning, eye catching vinyl tile backsplash will happen no matter what.

Despite the clear vision however, being a renter does present issues due to not wanting to actually stick the vinyl tiles to the wall itself. After all, they are not the owners of the home. Based on what I was reading, it sounds like this person was going to end up working with some sort of extra backing to act as a barrier between the wall.

I am a bit skeptical as to how well this will work due to the fact that something has to attach itself to the wall somehow, but there is no question that if this is the path you are taking, going with a vinyl tile for your backsplash is going to be the best bet.

Keeping installation down to a minimum

Whether you are a home owner or a renter, the success with vinyl tile for your backsplash comes down to its ease of installation. Assuming you are using vinyl tile with an adhesive backing, all that is left is measuring, cutting and installing. There is really not all that much to it.

New Kitchen Tile Backsplash Design Ideas

08.03.2009 by Amanda Hartley //

Like so many things with kitchen backsplash design ideas, trying to choose the best kitchen tile backsplash ought to amount to a full time job. It’s not easy, so don’t let it overwhelm you when you find it takes longer than you anticipated to create your own masterpiece. Besides, if you are a frequent reader, you already know that you can choose a kitchen tile backsplash on a tight budget. So now that you have the economic side behind you, let’s move into the selection side of things.

Perhaps the best way to help you along this journey is to explore what works best for me when trying to select the kitchen backsplash I wanted for my own home. Here is a break down of what I found to be the most helpful 1-2-3 approach.

Textures and colors are your friends. Realize it, accept it and understand that you are not always trying to match texture to color or vice versa when doing this. Sometimes it means that it is alright to mix things up a little. A great example is to consider using a combination of stone and glass to bring out your walls.

Samples, samples and more samples.

Before even considering the idea of putting up a kitchen tile backsplash, start off by slowing down a bit with some samples. Most big box stores like Lowes and The Home Depot have samples and books you can borrow to help you with your decision. The myth that looking at a bunch of pictures alone is somehow going to magically give you all the ideas you need is utter nonsense. You need to have real stone and glass samples available to you to overlap and combine. By being able to see these samples in your home, with your existing kitchen scheme, you will be in a much stronger position to find the perfect match. Remember, explore combinations all of all sorts of shapes, sizes, textures and colors. Overlap them at home, with samples and only then will you be able to begin to come to some idea of what you are looking for.

Update! Be sure to check out Backsplash Ideas Start To Finish In Under An Hour!

Going for a unique kitchen backsplash. Everyone and their mother is looking to have the ultimate, unique kitchen backsplash. This is hardly news. But what is news is that the best approach to this is to do some serious shopping around for hand painted tiles. I cannot express this enough. Not only can you often find the perfect match as hand painted tiles will give you a lot more color “flavor” to work with, but you can pretty much bet that no one else is going to have anything quite like it.