Kitchen Backsplash in Maplewood, Minnesota

Kitchen Backsplash in Maplewood homes

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The backsplash protects the wall between the counter and the upper cabinets from water, grease and steam. It comes up as the finishing step of a counter or cabinet project, or on its own when a dated tile, a painted wall or a short four-inch splash no longer suits the kitchen.

Garrett Kitchen Remodeling has carried out this work across Maplewood and the surrounding Ramsey County area. It is often done alongside kitchen design and kitchen cabinetry as part of a larger kitchen update.

What the work includes

The work starts after the countertops are installed, because the counter is the level reference the first course of tile sits on. The wall is checked for flat and any loose paint or old adhesive is removed; outlets along the backsplash are reset forward with box extenders so cover plates sit flush over the finished tile. Layout is planned so cut tiles fall at the ends and under the cabinets rather than at focal points, and so grout lines align with the range and hood. Tile is set in thinset — subway, mosaic, porcelain or natural stone — with spacers holding consistent joints; natural stone is sealed before grouting so grout does not stain it. After the thinset cures, the joints are grouted, cleaned and, where the material needs it, sealed, and a flexible sealant is run where the tile meets the countertop so that joint can move without cracking. Because the backsplash ties the counter and cabinets together visually, the cut lines and the transition at the counter are where careful work shows.

The full scope, materials and process are described on the kitchen backsplash service page, which applies to every city Garrett Kitchen Remodeling serves; this page focuses on how the work applies to Maplewood.

Permits and inspection in Maplewood

Kitchen work in Maplewood is permitted and inspected by the City of Maplewood building department under the Minnesota State Building Code. Replacing kitchen backsplash within the existing footprint is often cosmetic and may not require a permit on its own, but any change to plumbing, wiring or structure that the work touches does. Garrett Kitchen Remodeling pulls the required permits, schedules each inspection, and carries Minnesota contractor license #BC785223 and general liability insurance.

Cost factors

The price of kitchen backsplash in Maplewood depends mainly on the following, and a written quote itemizes each one rather than using a single allowance:

• Tile material — ceramic, porcelain, glass or natural stone
• The area covered and whether it runs to the ceiling behind the range
• Pattern complexity — straight-set versus herringbone, mosaic or mixed materials
• Resetting outlets and switches to sit flush with the finished tile

Common questions

Can a backsplash be added without new countertops in Maplewood?

Yes. A backsplash can be installed over an existing counter as long as the counter is sound, since the first course of tile rests on it as the level reference.

Does natural stone tile need sealing?

Yes. Natural stone is sealed before grouting so the grout does not stain it, and periodically afterward depending on the stone.

See also

• Other kitchen services in Maplewood: Kitchen Design, Kitchen Cabinetry, Kitchen Countertops, Full Kitchen Remodel, Kitchen Flooring
• Kitchen Backsplash in nearby cities: Saint Paul, Oakdale
• Kitchen Backsplash (all service areas) and the Maplewood kitchen remodeling hub

References

1. Maplewood, Minnesota — Wikipedia
2. Tile — Wikipedia