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leslies1952

Wall cabinet distance from counter to avoid cutting backsplash tiles?

7 years ago

Is it possible to figure out how high above my counters to mount my wall cabinets to avoid having to cut a row of tiles when installing my backsplash? In other words, to have exactly enough vertical space for whole tiles? Any guidelines for estimating or figuring that out would be great.


It's a new build so we have the flexibility, and I'd hate to be an inch off!

Comments (27)

  • PRO
    7 years ago

    Adjust your grout lines, not your cabinet height, please.

  • 7 years ago
    18" is standard between counter and uppers. Altjough I have seen 16". You can choose what you prefer, but let me ask: Why would you work around backsplash size? Just curious. When I started remodel all was overwhelming but reasearch & drawing things out to scale helped.
    leslies1952 thanked Nira Juso
  • PRO
    7 years ago

    Measure your tile. Allow for grout lines.

    leslies1952 thanked PPF.
  • 7 years ago

    Nira, I want to be able to have full tiles and not have to cut a row. I was just looking for some guidelines. I know 18" is standard, having worked for a cabinet manufacturer years ago, but if I use 4" tile I will have to have thick grout lines. Ick. Just looking for suggestions from people who have been there before.

  • PRO
    7 years ago

    IMO 18” is the minimum and I prefer higher so take your tiles measure how many to fill a space also allowing for grout .I would suggest not 4” square tiles .

    leslies1952 thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
  • 7 years ago

    leslies1952, I'm in your same position and like you I don't want thick grout lines. We are thinking of doing a solid sheet to avoid that issue. Will be interested to hear all the suggestions.


    leslies1952 thanked lindacottonwood
  • 7 years ago

    Since we already had our tiles purchased we were in this same dilemma and wanted to install the uppers so we wouldn't have to cut a tile.

    Even though it was a pain, we installed the lower cabs first, found out the thickness of our granite then laid our tile with the spacers we were going to use on the floor and measured. I think it came out to just under 18 inches with the granite. We installed the uppers at the correct measurement (taking into account the granite) and when we installed the tile, it fit perfectly with no cut tiles.

    One other tip, make sure the lower cabinets and granite are installed completely level.

    leslies1952 thanked Suru
  • 7 years ago

    Consider using a single 4" bold solid color tile as your backsplash and paint the remainder of the area between countertop and overhead cabinets

    That would make it easier to hang a shallow spice cabinet,

    colorful/useful trivets, a rack for hooks for measuring cups/spoons, etc., that you've set out for the food you're about to cook (and/or leave some of them hanging if you use them regularly)

    https://www.etsy.com/listing/247246436/walnut-wooden-spice-rack-modern-design?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_a-home_and_living-kitchen_and_dining-kitchen_storage-spice_racks&utm_custom1=510c3e39-2ce1-4b57-b5fa-28eb727e12c7&gclid=Cj0KCQjwzcbWBRDmARIsAM6uChVbeyv-tl50ccIiyT4Up8bgb-V6mQ42XHNXVlw8au7Tegtn6VtFZS0aAp3kEALw_wcB

    or a magnetic bar for the knives you use most,

    https://www.pinterest.com/pin/458382068306516424/

    a small floating shelf or two for your S&P and/or cream & sugar -- floating shelves you can actually reach!

    or even a place for your grocery list -- blackboard paint on a wooden cutting board you no longer use, a white board or cork board or clip board for your grocery list )perhaps even a note and pencil holder) -- whatever you need and use most often.

    You can use your backsplash to put what you need close to where you need it and, importantly, you can change your mind and change what you have hung on your backsplash much more easily than with tile.

  • 7 years ago

    Thank you, everyone. Just the guidance I was hoping for!

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    If you change the height of the upper alignment, then they will no longer line up with your tall cabinets. And it will look way goofy.

    There is zero issue with cutting any tile. You’re going through an entire yoga class of bending over backwards to solve a problem that doesn’t exist.

    leslies1952 thanked User
  • PRO
    7 years ago

    Show off your skills and craftsmanship a little and cut the tiles.

    leslies1952 thanked Mark Bischak, Architect
  • 7 years ago

    Like Sophie says, it's a non issue. How do I know?

    At the header height of my windows and doors, I have a "hatband" detail running around all the walls. That detail was supposed to start 96" from my finished floor. Well guess what? When they did the block foundation and put in the headers for the windows, they put them in 2" too low so now my windows are only 94" off the floor.

    Not only did it screw up my door heights but it also screwed up my kitchen tile since I used a 3" tile on my backsplash. My counters are 36" off the floor leaving me what should have been 60" to the top of the header. Nope. It's only 58.5" because as I said, they put the headers in too low. (They were able to fudge it about 1/2" in the kitchen area.) So my top tile is not a full tile like I had wanted or expected. Additionally the windows created a situation where there's a 1" sliver underneath instead of 2 full tiles underneath. Again a problem with the headers being lower than expected.

    But guess what? If I hadn't told you, I'm guessing you and anyone else coming into my kitchen would have never ever noticed it. Of course now that you know it is there, you can't not see it.

    Worry more about the overall look and feel of the space than whether or not a tile is a perfect fit.

    leslies1952 thanked cpartist
  • 7 years ago

    LOL Mark Bischak! In my case we had just spent a solid week tiling 3 bathrooms and a laundry room and I was sick of cutting tiles! Of course we still had to cut some tiles on the edges.

    I agree cpartist, probably no one would notice if a row of tiles had been cut. And, I probably wouldn't have cared if someone else was installing the tile. But, since it fell to me, the less to cut the better :-)

    leslies1952 thanked Suru
  • 7 years ago

    BTW cpartist - Your kitchen is GORGEOUS!

  • 7 years ago

    But, since it fell to me, the less to cut the better :-)

    Well first I agree with you. If I were doing the tiling myself (I have in the past), I too would try to avoid cutting tiles as much as possible. LOL. However my comment wasn't directed to you but to the OP. :)

    Trust me I did agonize about this snafu. (One of hundreds as you know)

    BTW cpartist - Your kitchen is GORGEOUS!

    Thank you. It's not done yet, like everything else in the house I should have already been in. LOL.

    leslies1952 thanked cpartist
  • PRO
    7 years ago

    Do a solid surface backsplash with inlaid "tile" and they will fit perfectly no matter the size. And no grout.

    leslies1952 thanked Joseph Corlett, LLC
  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    I have posted a picture that shows the layout, and sorry I didn't think of that earlier. The picture shows why I asked the question.

    I have 9' ceilings, with nothing at the top to align anything with. The kitchen is a U and the stove is centered on the "bottom" of the U. The wall cabinets do not go over to the hood on the back wall. I am not sure yet how high the tiles will go by the stove, but I want them to line up all the way around. So if I can adjust the height by an inch or so, I am good with that!

    Thanks to everyone who graciously took of their valuable time to give me such good suggestions.

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    We used subway tiles and 6 fit perfectly stacked without needing a cut. However, on the tile behind the range between the 2 cabinets, 2 tiles needed to 1/2" longer. Thank goodness we used fairly cheap tiles from Menards, because they had some that were 3" X 9" and he could cut two of those to fit. The color is off just a smidge, different lot numbers, but it is in the shadow of the hood and no one notices it but us!!

    leslies1952 thanked Kathi Steele
  • 7 years ago

    Get rid of those blind corner base cabnets in that design! Super Susan’s rock. And add more drawers. You might want to post the rest of the design in the overhead measurement view. I’ll bet there are other changes that could make it even more functional than ditching those black hole cabinets.

    leslies1952 thanked User
  • 7 years ago

    I love my lazy susans. I had a helluva time convincing the cabinet maker to build them!!

  • PRO
    7 years ago

    You have not taken into account the tile bullnoses; they are part of the whole design. Unless the tile is already selected and you know the trim sizes. How will you finish the tile work on the stove wall? at the sink window? I would not worry about tile cuts; good installers know what to do.

    leslies1952 thanked Skippack Tile & Stone
  • 7 years ago

    Yes if you want this to work as shown you would need bullnose the same size as the tile

    To add another complexity, you may want to plan your outlet locations to fall within whole tiles.

    leslies1952 thanked palimpsest
  • 7 years ago

    May be a stupid question, but if you move the cabinets up wouldn't it make it more difficult to reach the shelves in the cupboard? I guess it would be ok if you were a tall person, but a short one, not so much.

    leslies1952 thanked Angel 18432
  • 7 years ago

    An inch or two in one direction or other does not usually make a significant difference.

    leslies1952 thanked palimpsest
  • PRO
    7 years ago
    In your case, an inch or two either direction wouldn't matter as long as the uppers maintain proper clearance from the cooktop.

    For those recomending anything less than 18" above the counter... make sure and check manufacturer's specs regarding clearances 2-6" to the side 18" tall for many gas cooktops and ranges. Do it right and avoid the inspector telling you to rip it out.
    leslies1952 thanked Jeffrey R. Grenz, General Contractor
  • 7 years ago

    Skippack, I used pencil tile to border the edges for a different look.