Here's the next remodel due for Forrest...the Galley Backsplash. I purchased two boxes of one step tiles from Costco. Here's the brand:
StoneSkin - Sleek Solutions in Natural Stone - 100% Natural Stone 2.5 Times More (http://www.stonexpress-usa.com/product-line/stoneskin)
BTW, Lowes sells the backing, so regular tiles can also be used. We just thought the Costco price could not be beat.
Here's before. I'll post after installation is completed.
Great idea :) Had to add this to my "I-want-to-do" list as well.
"I like it" I am going to test this product out. Looks like a great look. tks looking forward to seeing the finish product. DAN
Okay...It was as easy as advertised. Had to remove the existing laminate as it did not go up 18" as I wanted to do with the tiles. I cleaned the surfaces real well and went over it with alcohol for a last wipe-down. You do have to be careful with the tile placement as you get only one try at it. The instructions do say that it is hard to remove the tile once it is in place. I bought some trim tiles at Lowes and glued them with epoxy. The grout is already premixed for use. I had to add a bit of water to make it go on easier. Done from start to finish in 4 hours which included a lot of expletives while removing the laminate from the wall which took out some of the oak panelling veneer. Had to use some bondo to fill and even out the contact surface... :o
And... now, since it so good looking that Beth will want to spend many more hours a day in there, you expect the quality of food from that galley to go:
UP
WAY UP
GOURMET
ALREADY GOURMET (right answer if you want to continue to sleep indoors)
No question that the chief cook is very happy. She was very helpful during installation, and is the indoor cook (breakfasts, rainy day dinners), and I do the dirty, smokey wood fire stuff... ;D
Hi Peter & Beth,
That looks great. Thanks for the info, and pictures.
Raymond
Very nice and looks good 2
Hi Peter and Beth
The backsplash looks great! I went to the website but couldn't find much information about the different styles. I also did a search on Costco's site but came up empty handed. Did you purchase your tile in the warehouse? Bob and I have been thinking about doing our backsplash as well and need a thin tile for the project. This seems like a good option. Faith
Faith,
We purchased the tiles at the warehouse in Cincinnati. Unfortunately, some special purchase warehouse items are not available online. You can Google the brand name and get some web sites that sell this brand.
Another route you can take which may be a bit more labor (but not by much) is to buy the sticky backing at Lowes & buy the stone or glass tiles you like along with the grout color you desire.
We just bought the Costco carried inventory because it matched perfectly with our coach color scheme, and the total price was not high ($80) for the convenience. You can probably do it for about the same cost with individually purchased items. Also, I did not know that you could buy the sticky backing at Lowes...I might have gone that route instead.
Peter
Thanks! I will continue to do some research and see what I can find that will work with our space.
well Dave K you got Ruth asking me why I have not done this backsplash esp' as we bought the tile over a year ago on our way thru' Boston. So today I started the job and took off the Silica panels that were around the kitchen. Here are a few pics to show where I am at moment. I put edge trim in place first so the tiles will have a smooth edge and will wait till the morning to change out the elec' plug and fill the oversize hole left. I am using glass mosiac with Acrylic mortar. Will post pics of completed job in a few days.
John h
well it is done and while I had a mess in the kitchen I added an LED puck light under the right cabinet(rt side of window) now it looks even when the lights are on!
Happy with the look as I added some small white tiles as accent.
John H
Nice work John. You can do ours next year. My shoulder hurts.
Just call me Huck Speers.
So now we have John Haygarth's Great White North LED lighting, Resonators, Solar, Refrigerator, Pantry, and Backsplash services.
Did I miss anything? (I'm sure I did) :D
Looks gorgeous!
Michelle
Wowee zowee!! You are an artiste!! You stored up some serious brownie points with Ruth, after the completion of this job. Looks wonderful!
Hi John,
That sure looks good. Another job well done.
Raymond
Do you think with tile on the sidewall under the microwave that the microwave may be difficult to remove?
The microwave tilts down in front to lift off the back wall bracket. Because the microwave is against the cabinet on the right, it can't be shifted away from the thicker wall on the left side.
I had already figured that one out Barry and it would not be a problem as the microwave is not against the left side wall as there is a 5/16th piece of panelling(same thickness as tile) between microwave and wall. This way it still can drop at the angle to remove off the bracket at back.
If you look back at the original set up there was a piece of silica 1/4" thick on that wall so when they built the cabinets this was obviously figured into the equation.
John h
John H.,
Nice job!!! I like the detail abount the window arcs...Well done!
Oh man! You guys both did great jobs. Very impressive stuff. :)
Craig
Thank you all. Luckily I have many years in the reno's having had my own business for quite a while at the same time being a Realtor. It gives you an in when you sell a home and the buyers want to change it all around, so you pull on the other hat so to speak!!
I had a few years doing major Trade Show design and set up and have a few of the top restaurants/Hotels in Vancouver under my belt for various work. I enjoy it and the challenge to change something. Keeps life interesting I guess.
John H
Barry,
The total thickness of this application is about 3/8", and this is because of the moulding piece I added for detail. The tile by itself is only 1/4" when applied.
Thanks for the clarification on the side wall tile thickness with regard to removing microwave. What a great way to update your interior. Way to go... Don't know how you cut tiles to follow the radius of the kitchen window frame corners, but that adds to the professional look.
Peter, I used a different mosaic than you as these were applied with Acrylic based thinset (which I have a big container of) to adhere to wood used around the counter. I use this stuff when the substrate is of questionable quality.
Barry, I use a tile cutter to score the glass and then snap it, easy (when you are used to it)!!
I have a 10" and a smaller wet saw but did not need them with this. A bit finacky with the smaller 1/8th wide bits I needed in a few places. I did not want to have little sections that are not done as it ruins the effect IMHO.
John H
Now you two have gone and shown Dolly what new tile back splashes do to upgrade our coach. Darn, she is asking if our wet saw would help, and if she picks out some tile, can't we do it too?
Will this upgrading never end? (Of course not!) Getting all the windows re-tinted tomorrow. Found out there is a new windshield tint for heat, going to do the whole entire windshields this time as well.
Costco in Southlake has a couple of the stone mosaics like Peter used. The ones I saw were linear design, maybe 1/2 wide by 3 inch long different stone, glass, and ceramic pieces. If you're members, you might check out their home improvement aisle.
Michelle
Dave, I want to know more about the windshield tint. Please post more when you get the info.