Backsplash installation · Davie, FL
Backsplash Installation Davie, FL: Tile That Goes In Last and Stays
Backsplash installation Davie kitchens get right comes last in the order of work, after the cabinets and the countertop are fixed in place, so the tile ends cleanly against both and never has to come off again.
- Estimate
- Free, at your house
- Outlets
- Planned before tile
- Changes
- Approved by you, in writing
- Your contact
- One person, named
- Part of Gaven Constructions
- Free on-site estimates
- Written 1-year workmanship warranty
- Dedicated project contact
The Last Surface in the Kitchen
A backsplash is the smallest surface in the kitchen and the one people look at most. It sits at eye level, between the counter and the cabinets, and every cut around an outlet or a window shows.
It is also the surface that depends on everything else. The tile stops against the countertop at the bottom and against the upper cabinets or the hood at the top. If either of those moves later, the backsplash comes off with it. That is why it goes in last, and why the real question is less about which tile and more about whether the kitchen is ready for it.
What we do is make it ready. We check that the counter and the cabinets are where they will stay, that the wall behind them is sound, that outlets sit where the tile layout needs them, and that the wall behind the sink is protected from water. Then the tile setter works on a wall that is ready for tile, not one that still needs fixing.
When a New Backsplash Makes Sense
A new backsplash makes sense when the rest of the kitchen is settled and the wall is what bothers you.
The counters and cabinets are staying. If you like the layout and the counters are in good shape, a new backsplash changes the look of the kitchen without touching anything else.
The countertop was just replaced. A new top often leaves a gap or an old tile line that no longer matches. A backsplash finishes the job and covers the wall where the old one ended.
The old one is failing. Cracked tile, grout that keeps staining, or a joint at the counter that keeps opening are signs the backsplash is due. When the trouble is behind the sink, it is worth finding out why before tiling over it.
The wall behind the range is hard to clean. Painted drywall behind a stove takes grease and heat badly. Tile up to the hood gives that wall a surface you can wipe.
You want more outlets on the counter. A backsplash project is a good moment to add or move outlets, because the wall is open to the tile setter anyway.
When the Backsplash Should Wait
If you plan to change the cabinets or the countertop soon, putting the backsplash in first can mean tearing it out later. The tile has to meet both where they will finally sit. In that case it makes sense to coordinate the backsplash with the final position of the cabinets and the counter, and to tile once. We say so at the visit, before you pick a tile.
Height, Material and the Joints Between
Three choices shape a backsplash: how high it goes, what it is made of, and how its joints are finished.
Height. A short strip along the counter protects the wall and costs the least. Tile up to the bottom of the upper cabinets is the most common choice and closes the wall completely. Full height behind the range, up to the hood, protects the wall that takes the most heat and grease. In kitchens with open shelving or no uppers, tile can run to the ceiling, which means more tile and more cuts.
Material. Ceramic and porcelain tile are the usual choice: easy to clean, available in nearly any size and color. Glass tile reflects light and shows every flaw in the wall behind it. Natural stone, including a slab cut from the same stone as the counter, needs sealing like the counter does. Peel-and-stick panels are a different product with a different life span, and we tell you plainly what they are and are not.
The joints. Grout lines are part of the look, and their width depends on the tile. The joint where the tile meets the counter is different: it should be sealant, not grout. The Tile Council of North America's grout FAQ says caulk belongs in place of grout wherever the backing surface changes, because those surfaces move independently. A counter and a wall are two surfaces, and grout there tends to crack. The same goes for inside corners.
Whichever combination fits, the written scope lists the tile, the height, the area, the outlets that move and who supplies the tile.
The Outlets Behind a Backsplash in Davie
A backsplash changes the wall where most kitchen outlets live, and a new layout often asks for one more outlet or for an existing one to move. That is electrical work, and in Davie it has a faster lane than most homeowners know about.
The Town's Building Division publishes its walk-through permit requirements: on Wednesdays from 8:00 to 10:30 a.m., in person, it accepts walk-through permits limited to a single trade, with no more than 2 applications per person. Among the electrical types on that list are miscellaneous added outlets and a change of service. Each application gets one review. If it is rejected, it goes back into the normal review process.
So when the tile layout needs an added outlet, we decide that at the visit, and the electrical permit can go through that Wednesday lane. That is not a promise that the permit leaves with you that morning: the single review can turn it down, and then it waits like any other. It does mean the outlet question is answered before the tile setter arrives.
We operate from 4491 S State Road 7, 3rd Floor, Ste PH16, Davie, FL 33314, serving Davie and 19 more cities in Broward.
How a Backsplash Goes In
- The visit. We look at the counter, the cabinets and the wall between them. We check the outlets, the window trim, the wall behind the sink and what is behind the range.
- The written scope. Tile, height, area, outlets to add or move, whether the old backsplash comes off, and what is not included.
- Getting the wall ready. The old tile is removed if it has to go, the drywall is repaired or replaced where it is damaged, and the wall behind the sink gets a waterproofing layer where it needs one. If an outlet moves, the electrician does it now and the box is set so the cover will sit flat over the tile.
- The layout. The tile setter finds the center, sets a level line and plans the cuts so you do not end up with thin slivers at the ends or around a window.
- Setting the tile. Tile goes on from the counter up, cut around every outlet, switch and window edge.
- Grout and sealant. Grout fills the joints between tiles. Sealant, not grout, goes along the counter and in the inside corners. Stone tile gets sealed.
- The walkthrough. We check the cuts, the joint lines, the outlet covers and the line along the counter with you.
What Drives the Cost of a Backsplash in Davie
There is no single price for a backsplash, because the same wall can cost very different amounts depending on a handful of decisions.
The tile. Plain ceramic costs less than glass, stone or handmade tile. Small mosaics and patterns take more time per square foot than larger tile.
The area and the height. A strip along the counter, tile to the upper cabinets and tile to the ceiling are three different jobs.
The cuts. Every outlet, switch, window edge and corner adds labor. A wall with a window and three outlets takes longer than a plain one of the same size.
The wall. Tiling onto sound, flat drywall is the simple case. Removing an old backsplash and repairing the wall behind it, or waterproofing behind the sink, adds steps before the first tile.
The electrical. Adding or moving an outlet means an electrician and, usually, a permit.
Who supplies the tile. If you buy it, we tell you how much to order with spare for cuts. If we supply it, it is a line in the proposal.
The visit and the written estimate are free. You get the price after we have seen the wall and you have chosen a tile, with each line listed, and nothing changes later without your written approval.
Why Homeowners Let Us Run the Backsplash
A backsplash looks like a small job, and most of what goes wrong with it happens before the first tile: a counter that is not final, an outlet in the wrong place, a wet wall behind the sink. We take care of those first.
One scope for the wall and what it touches. Tile, wall repair, outlets and the counter line in one document, so the tile setter and the electrician are not working from two different plans.
One project contact. You know who schedules the electrician and the tile setter, and who answers when you call.
Changes in writing first. If the old backsplash comes off and the wall behind it needs repair, you see the price before anything moves.
A written warranty. One year on our workmanship from the day we finish, plus what the manufacturers give you. General Contractor Davie is part of Gaven Constructions.
Permits
Permits and Inspections in Davie
Who signs your contract. The contract names the company doing the work and the license that covers it.
When the backsplash needs a permit. Adding outlets, moving them or changing the circuit behind the wall is electrical work, and it goes through the Town's Building Division. Whether the rest of your scope needs a permit too is something we confirm for your project, not something we assume, and any permit is listed in the proposal.
Your HOA. If you live in an HOA, the association may have its own rules about contractors and work hours. That is separate from the Town, and we check it before we schedule.
FAQ
Backsplash Questions From Davie Homeowners
How much does backsplash installation cost in Davie?
It depends on the tile, the height, how many outlets and windows the tile has to go around, and the state of the wall. We give you a written price after a free visit, with every line listed.
Should the backsplash go in before or after the countertop in my Davie kitchen?
After. The tile sits on top of the counter and stops against it, so the counter has to be installed first. The cabinets come before both.
Can a backsplash be installed directly on drywall in Davie?
On sound, flat, dry drywall, yes, for most tile. Behind the sink, the wall usually needs a waterproofing layer first. Damaged or soft drywall gets repaired before any tile goes on.
Can you tile over my old backsplash in Davie?
Sometimes, if the old tile is solid and flat and the extra thickness still lets the outlet covers and the edges finish cleanly. Often it is better to remove it and check the wall. We decide at the visit, after looking at it.
Do I need a permit for a backsplash in Davie?
Adding or moving outlets is electrical work and needs one. In Davie that kind of permit may qualify for the Town's Wednesday walk-through review, which can still be rejected. For the rest of the scope, we confirm it for your project and list it in the proposal.
What backsplash material should I avoid behind the range in my Davie kitchen?
Behind a stove, avoid anything that is not rated for heat near a cooktop; with peel-and-stick panels, check the manufacturer's instructions first. Ceramic, porcelain and properly sealed stone are easier to live with there.
How long does backsplash installation take in Davie?
It depends on the area, the tile and whether the wall or the outlets need work first. The written proposal gives you an estimated schedule that includes any permit, not only the tiling days.
Backsplash installation is one of our remodeler services in Davie, where the tile is planned after the cabinets and countertop it meets.
Tell us what is changing in the kitchen, and when.
We come to your address for free, look at the wall, the outlets and the counter the tile will meet, and write the scope before you pick a tile. Our office is at 4491 S State Road 7, 3rd Floor, Ste PH16, Davie, FL 33314.
