Bob Vila Radio: Kitchen Backsplashes

If you’re looking for a kitchen upgrade on a budget, take a look at your backsplash. It’s easy to turn this unassuming strip of wall between your counters and upper cabinets into a design feature that will transform your whole kitchen.

Listen toBOB VILA ON KITCHEN BACKSPLASHES, or read text below:

“If you’re looking for a kitchen upgrade on a budget, take a look at your backsplash. It’s easy to turn this unassuming strip of wall between your counters and upper cabinets into a design feature that will transform your whole kitchen.

Tile is a great choice for backsplashes, and easy to do yourself if you’re willing to rent a tile saw for the weekend. Tile runs between two and twenty bucks a square foot. Because it’s a relatively small area, you can accent a backsplash with handmade tile, stone, marble, glass, or anything else you really like without breaking the bank. There are mesh tile adhesive systems on the market now that take a lot of the mess out of installing tile once you get the hang of using them. You’ll still need to grout the tile, of course, so be sure to choose a grout color that’s complementary to the rest of your kitchen and easy to keep clean.

Depending on what was there before, the hardest part about installing a tile backsplash could be getting the substrate, or the wall underneath, perfectly flat. If that’s a tall order, you might consider embossed metal ceiling panels instead to cover any irregularities.

Get more info at BobVila.com… and right here at home with me, Bob Vila!”

Bob Vila Radiois a newly launched daily radio spot carried on more than 60 stations around the country (and growing). You can get your daily dose here, by listening to—or reading—Bob’s 60-second home improvement radio tip of the day.

For more on kitchen backsplashes, consider:

The Backsplash: A Kitchen’s Most Underutilized Real Estate
5 Great Backsplash Ideas
Subway Tiles: The New Classics