Kitchen Backsplash layout questions

[jdburger]

Hello Everyone. I was on this board a few months ago with my bathroom tile floor and got some great advice. I am getting ready to begin tiling my Kitchen Backsplash and was hoping I could get some advice on laying out the tiles.

I have attached a picture below of a corner section of my kitchen countertop. Next week I am ripping out the white Formica countertops and having Corian installed with NO backsplash. I have the following questions:

- Looking at the picture and the reference from A to B. Where is the best place to start the pattern. I plan on using 4x4 tiles psitioned diagonally on the botton, then installing a decorative strip, then laying out the tiles straight at the top. Assuming I am going to have some small cut pieces to fill out the wall, where should they be? At the inside corner? or at the window. Should I start laying out the tiles from the middle or one of the two edges?

- Looking at reference A. Should I wrap the tile around the wall and into the window. There is at least 4" of wall around the corner in the window.

Any advice on this would be appreciated.

[ultamte]

I am certainly no pro, but on each of the tile jobs my husband and I have done, we purchase the tile ahead of time, and then spend time laying out the tiles in different patterns and taping them up. We then take pics of each way so that we can decide which we think looks best to us.

If you have the tiles already, you may want to try some test rows like:

1. Start your tiles from the center of A/B (full tile in center)
2. Start your tiles with a Full tile at B
3. Start your tiles with a Full tile at A

After taping up a few rows you should be able to determine which way looks best to you, and if not you could always post the pics here and we can help

Good Luck.
Kim

[jdburger]

Thanks for the reply.

I have another question. As said in a previous post, I plan on laying out the tile in a single row diamond pattern on the bottom, then a border, then stright tile on top. In the picture below I have an edge (A) that not be butted against a wall or corner.

My question is, I know I am going to have an exposed (Cut) edge on the diagonal portion on the bottom at point A. Is there something special I can do to this edge or cut corners in order to make them appear nice?

[jdburger]

Do they make a piece of trim that could be used on the edge. I could tile up to an 1/8" from the trim and grout between. What do you think?

[laniepoo7]

I know that Schluter makes trim pieces that would look nice on a transition like that. I would probably use the RONDEC they make in a coordinating finish. They have a lot of different finishes from colored pieces to aluminum and stainless steel. Check it out on the Schluter link on the right of the page.

[NCTILEMAN]

JD, does your tile have a bullnose available? Keep in mind that your diagonal cuts will need to meet one another in your corners. You can use mirror cuts there or let the cut fold in the corner. Gary

[Rd Tile]

What type of tile is it, glazed ceramic or stone?

[jdburger]

RD,

I just ordered Slate. I ended up ordering a border edging piece from tile shop that matches pretty well. I plan on using that to edge any exposed areas of the tile.

I have another question though. How much space should I leave between the Corian countertop and the tile. 1/8"??? Should I use grout or Calk to fill this gap?

As always, Thanks

Jeff

[Rd Tile]

1/16 to 1/8" is fine and use caulk.

[jdburger]

RD,

Thanks for the advice, one more quick one.. Is a 4" wet saw OK for cutting 4x4 slate?

[Rd Tile]

Might have to cut slow though, motor on those cheap saws not that strong, might bind up.

[jdburger]

Do you think a Scoring type cutter would be better?

[Rd Tile]

Nope, they don't work on stone.

[jdburger]

I see.. Thanks for the info. I'll just get a nice new blade for my saw and go from there.

Jeff

[jdburger]

OK, First of all I would like to thank everyone for their advice. It did help greatly.

Here are some pics of the completed job.