Make a Splash: Backsplash Options for Your Kitchen and Bathroom

Enlarge Image Image Gallery The backsplash is a perfect area to add decorative touches such as iridescent tiles from Oceanside Glasstile, made with a percentage of recycled glass.

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A backsplash’s basic function is to protect your walls and cabinets from water, grease and spills. It’s sometimes treated as nothing more than an extension of the countertop, yet this decorative surface can set the tone for an entire room. When you enter a kitchen or bathroom or view it from afar, the backsplash is often the first thing you see.

A backsplash is a vertical surface set back from the main work area behind a sink or stove; it catches cooking and cleaning splatters, so unless you’re willing to clean after each use, you might want a surface that hides minor messes. In selecting backsplash materials, consider your cooking and cleaning habits, as well as the tasks you usually perform near the range or sink. Factor in durability and cost, and remember that the backsplash is the place to add personality, bold color accents, subtle glimmer or souvenirs from your travels.

Soapstone Slab or Tile
Smooth, soft, nonporous stone

Pros:
• Durable; won’t burn or stain
• Requires little maintenance
• Requires nontoxic sealant (mineral oil)
• Acids and alkalis won’t etch surface
• Nearly seamless joints possible
• Endures temperature changes

Cons:
• Nonrenewable material
• Monthly mineral-oil reapplications recommended to maintain luster and color
• Can look worn over time  
• Only available in light gray, which oxidizes to dark charcoal

Cost: Tile (12x12-inch)--$8 to $12 per tile; Slab--$70 to $85 per square foot

Installation:
• Install with conventional cutting and finishing tools
• Cut to size on job site

Care & Maintenance:
• Apply initial coat of mineral oil upon installation; reapply monthly
• Clean with damp sponge and cleanser
• Sand scratches out by hand
• Stains may dissipate and patina over time

Green Points:
• Natural, inert material
• Not polished or honed, so requires less off-site finishing, lowering embodied energy
• Nontoxic sealant

Find it:
• Green Mountain Soapstone; (802) 468-5636

Recycled-Glass Tile
Mosaic tiles containing a percentage of recycled glass

Pros:
• Adds light and beauty to a small space
• Reflective surface adds texture
• Wide variety of colors that blend well with many materials (granite, wood, concrete)
• Easy to clean and maintain; smaller tiles means less grout