new quartz countertop install question

[DebF]

I would like to have installed a 4 inch black quartz backsplash along the sink cabinet run - then have the quartz countertop (contrasting color) installed last. There are 3 reasons for doing it this way in my mind - from least important to most -one is that I can achieve the shorter backsplash look that is popular now - then having the backsplash put on level first will allow me to have the subway tile put on the wall from the top of the quartz backsplash to the ceiling before the counter top is put on - then most important, if I want to change countertops down the road all that would need to be done ( I think) is break the calk seal between the backsplash and countertop to remove it (the countertop) I was thinking that this would keep the subway tile from having to be disturbed if I do switch out countertops. This is my first post - thanks in advance for your input

[cx]

Welcome, Deb.

And your question for us?

[DebF]

I just didn't know if this was an option - if it would work or am I missing something? I could not find anything about doing it this way online so I thought I would ask the experts

[advertguy2]

Just a couple things to think about:
1) the "backsplash" section matching the countertop isn't really "in" anymore, but if you like it, you like it. Its a personal preference.
2) Typically, quartz countertops are custom made, therefore, the backsplash piece can be made any height you want.
3) If you decide to remove the countertop for some reason, replacing some subway tiles will be a drop in the bucket. Just in case, buy an extra box of tile.
4) Asking a company that is set in their ways to change things up and install their product differently than they do 99.9% of the time might be asking for issues and will likely add an increased cost, just because.

[cx]

While it certainly can be done that way, Deb, I'd certainly not do it that way. In addition to Dan's point #4, it's also much easier for the stone company to scribe the countertop roughly to the wall and cover the joint with the backsplash piece than it would be to install the backsplash piece first, then accurately to that piece, leaving a nice, even caulk joint. Those companies do have some very sophisticated measuring and layout tools, but I wouldn't wanna test them to that degree unless it was an absolute necessity. And I would expect to pay a premium as Dan also suggests.

I would recommend you have your countertop installed, then either put a matching backsplash piece on top of that or/and a tile backsplash if you so choose. You could even ask that they use a minimum attachment of the backsplash piece to make removal easier at a later date. If the time comes you want a new countertop, you'll just need to remove the backsplash piece or first row of tiles to fit the new top and then replace whatever you removed or install a new splash to compliment your new countertop, which will almost certainly be what you want at the time.

My opinion; worth price charged.

[Tool Guy - Kg]

The relatively crude “scribing” that most fabricators engage in is what would eliminate your proposed install for me. I’ve had many hundreds of tops installed and most of them have big honking gaps that are covered by 2 or 3 cm matching backsplashes....or baaaaaaaaaaarley covered by a tiled backsplash.

[DebF]

Thanks for the insight. It sounds like the scribing is the main concern then and maybe the additional cost as I would think it would take 2 different trips to measure

[Tool Guy - Kg]

Two...trips to measure?

[cx]

Kurt, the two most recent companies I had do stone countertops for me both had a pretty sophisticated electronic measuring set up that I'm confident could let them do an acceptable job of what Deb wants. It takes them a while to get it set up, but once set up they mostly stand back and let it measure the entire top and while it's computing exactly what is necessary it is even transmitting that information back to the CNC machine that is going to do the cutting of all the pieces. The operators tell me that at least in theory they could order the slabs cut without ever having to return to the shop. Both said they were not yet confident enough with the equipment to actually try that.

The most recent one I did was a three-wall kitchen with a sink cutout and slide-in stove space. The two miters for the turns were as perfect as I've seen done and the rest of the fit was equally impressive. I'm figgerin' that layout system likely cost about as much as the CNC machine.

I still don't think installing the splash first and scribing to it is a good idea, but I do think it can be successfully done. Again, I expect even my guys would be inclined to charge a bit more, but that may be an incorrect assumption on my part.

I don't think it would take more than one trip to measure, but I gotta think it would take two trips on accounta I believe they would want to install the splash first and then do the measurement for the tops because the splash pieces would not be the same shape as would be the walls without the splash. And now that I think about it, I'm not entirely just how accurately they scribed the walls on accounta it didn't really matter much on my jobs. It sure knew where everything else was, though.

My opinion; worth price charged.

[Tool Guy - Kg]

Yeah, my fabricators have been measuring like that for 16-17 years. But none of them scribe to anything approaching precision.