Pros The purpose of the 4-inch backsplash is to protect cooking spills from leaking behind the cabinets and potentially ruining the wall, floor, and kitchen cabinets. Imagine how quickly a forgotten sink that's filling up with water could destroy drywall or become a nest for black mold.
Standard Backsplash. A standard backsplash continues from the kitchen countertops to approximately three to six inches up the wall, with four inches typically being the most common height.
Standard backsplashes are typically 4 inches but you can make them taller, even double the height up to 8 inches. You have full control over how you want it to look.
Removing a 4-inch Granite Backsplash
You'll know that the knife has penetrated the caulk if it sinks more than about 3/4 inches behind the backsplash. Once the caulk bond has been severed, get a 2- or 4-inch rigid metal putty knife. Slip it between the backsplash and the wall and tap it sharply with a hammer.
Insert a small, flat, pry bar between the wall and top edge of the backsplash on the stud nearest the open end of the splash. Tap the pry bar gently with a hammer until it is approximately 1 to 1 1/2 inches deep.
A 4-inch granite backsplash is a classic choice. One of the major advantages to this lower height is that it offers you plenty of room to work with above the backsplash. This can, of course, just be a bare wall that's painted for a little extra flair or it can be something even more creative.
A 4" splash can be removed without damaging a quartz countertop, but that doesn't mean the top fits to the wall nicely.
While you might want a backsplash to match your counter (and there are many custom, lovely ways to do that), don't be tempted to tile above a 4” granite, or stone, slab backsplash. Instead, before you tile that area, take the 4” slab backsplash off.
Granite and other natural stone countertop sales are projected to grow into 2025, according to economists. Consumers and homeowners have fallen in love with granite over the last twenty years, and that's not ending anytime soon!
Granite has been used on kitchen countertops and backsplashes for decades now. Unlike glass tiles and subway tile backsplash, this timeless material still has a fresh look.
If you like having a short backsplash, consider using a 1 inch, 2 inch, or 3 inch backsplash instead of the standard 4 inch. The shorter backsplash will make the backsplash nearly disappear yet still protect the wall at the back side of the countertop.
Standard Backsplash Height
In general, the backsplash is installed to the height of four inches from the surface of the countertop. These backsplashes can be of any material or color, but we suggest that it compliments the cabinets and the countertops.
Space For Your Kitchen Backsplash
Measurements for a typical backsplash are--16 to 18 inches--between the countertop and kitchen cabinets.
A standard backsplash measures 4 inches from the top of the countertop surface. Full-height backsplashes, also called slab or panel backsplashes, can stretch from the top of the countertop to the bottom of upper cabinets or all the way to the ceiling.
In terms of how high your kitchen backsplash should be, that's up to you. Many homeowners stop their backsplash level with the bottom of their upper cabinets. However, some choose to take the tile all the way up the ceiling. This can make the kitchen feel taller, drawing the eye up the wall.
Backsplash height should be all the way from the Countertop to the bottom of upper cabinets. I strongly suggest designing it like this, otherwise, it will look outdated like on the bottom image. Also, it protects water spillage much better if it is made all the way up to upper cabinets.
Clorox, whether it is Clorox wipes or the Multi-Purpose cleaning fluid, is not safe to use for cleaning and disinfecting your granite. The multi-purpose cleaner contains bleach, which is extremely harmful for granite and many other natural stones.
The most popular granite colors in 2021 continue to dominate 2022 design trends; white granite countertops and neutral finishes or warm wooden cupboards, and black granite kitchen countertops complimented by gold fittings for the bold.
When you coordinate your design elements and architectural features, colors don't have to match, but they should coordinate. Your backsplash tile doesn't have to mirror the color of your countertops, but it should blend, harmonize and support the rest of the features in the room.
Porcelain, ceramic, metal, and glass tile top the easy-care list because they resist staining, are naturally nonporous, and don't require any special cleansers to do the job.
Quartz offers a number of benefits that are ideal for backsplashes. Not only does the larger piece do a better job at protecting the wall from moisture, but this man-made, non-porous material also is stain resistant, doesn't require sealing, and cleans easily.
The short-and-fast answer to the question, “Do I need a kitchen backsplash?” is: No. You don't need one. Strictly, speaking, at least. You don't need a backsplash in the same way you need a sink or a countertop in your kitchen.
Clear the counter so you will have easy access to the backsplash. Remove outlet covers and cut the electricity to the area where you will be removing the tiles. Carefully use the hammer and putty knife to chisel off the tiles without gouging the drywall.
Granite backsplash sits on top of the counter and is attached to the wall with silicone. A thin line of clear caulk is used to seal the right angles where the backsplash meets and wall and where it meets the counters so that no crumbs or dust gets stuck in small spaces.