Tile Backsplash with Uneven Cabinets...?

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

I bought subway tile to install as a backsplash above over 40 feet of new granite counter. The problem I've discovered is that the cabinets are not a consistent height above the new counter, although they are contiguous. In some places it's about 18" between counter and cupboard (as I've read is typical), and other places it's up to an inch less. I have no idea if this was the case before we had granite professionally installed several months ago, and it was not brought to our attention although we told the granite folks we planned to install subway tile after the counters were installed. I've also read that tiling should start at the top, and you should work your way down. Clearly this won't work because the bottom tiles will be all different sizes and the mismatch will be obvious. And, the change is gradual, so cutting the tiles properly (angled) does not seem feasible. I paid for all of this tile and we left the space between the counter and cupboards untextured (as opposed to the rest of the wall) when we had the wallpaper removed because we couldn't have texture where we planned on putting tile. I've never tiled anything, and I'm at a loss as to how to tackle this, but I need to find a way. Any suggestions from experienced tilers would be appreciated! Thanks.

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Comments (4)

User
8 years ago
The granite should be level. Put a level on it and see. If it’s not, call the granite people back. If it’s the cabinets below causing that, you’ve got issues. You’ve got more issues if it’s the wall cabinets that are not level.

It all has to be made level. A hacky tile job is the very last thing to happen here.
annied75
8 years ago
If the granite is level . . . Start the tile at the counter and go up with it. Keep it straight with the counter. When you reach under the cabinets, you can always tweak the cabinet unevenness by adding a thin trim piece at the bottom of the cabinets and paint it the same as the cabinets. Hope this makes sense.
Ann Hart thanked annied75
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natesg
8 years ago
Hoping your granite is level. In my last two kitchens the backsplash was always started at the counter and went up as Annie said.
stephanie crocker
4 years ago
I'm in the same boat. We just installed upper cabinets on our old house and soon discovered the ceiling is about 3" lower on a 12' span. We of course leveled the cabinets and plan on putting a custom cut trim piece at the top. It's not going to be perfect, but our cabinets and walls are all white so it won't look TOO bad.

Fast forward to the new problem. We installed 40" tall cabinets and in order to get our mixer under the run, we had to tweak the uppers to move them up a smidge. This is the fourth time we've rehung these cabinets!!! We thought about purchasing 3 new 30" tall boxes, but don't want to lose the storage space we desparately need!

Anyhow, we're planning a 1x1" small glass tile backsplash and there is now about 3/4" of height difference in the 8' run. We planned on starting on the counter (which is level) and then moving up so we could hide the slanted cut tiles under the cabinets. The problem is that will ALSO put those slanted tiles right under the vent hood, front and center and very visible.

Putting quarter round between the vent bottom and the backsplash is an option, but I think it will still be visible.

So now time to vote. Uneven at the bottom or uneven at the top? Or maybe a little at the top and a little at the bottom.

We have 15" deep upper cabinets with about 17" between the counter top and the bottom of the cabinets. (we have low ceilings in our house)

Any thoughts about possibly running the tile at a 45 degree angle?