You can remove the existing granite splash. The Schluter edging does not need to go under upper cabinets nor around the bottom. You use it where you have exposed sides.

And I hope you are planning on white schluter not metal. It’s not a feature to highlight

@HALLETT & Co.

Yes, white schluter. Does it really matter if it's aluminum or the cheaper PVC? The metal does look a little nicer!

@Skippack Tile & Stone

Just mentioned removing the 4" block to my wife and she said "I don't want to ruin the countertop"! It's just glued on the back with some construction adhesive, wouldn't you think? It might mess up the drywall, but that would be covered anyway.

What are your thoughts on pieces for those 2 inside corners? Add shluter or just leave it? Thx.

Do not put tile above a granite riser, it screams amateur. You can remove the granite in half an hour, it’s held on with silicone, videos are on YouTube. Yes the white painted looks better than the plastic and you probably only need one stick. The white plastic is fine.

You can carefully remove the 4” piece, but there is a possibility that the dry wall behind it will need repair before you install the new backsplash tiles. The two pieces of countertop usually have a silicone sealer between them you need to “break”.

@HALLETT & Co.

Thanks. Definitely don't want "amateur"!! This house is at the beach in FL and we'll actually be selling it to build "our house" on the lot we also own next door.

You are brave ... I would never do a flip, even if perfectly executed, and then plan to live in a house next door! The buyers will come to you with any/all after sale issues for years to come!

Remove the 4" riser. Do not tile above it. That will definitely look amateur and exactly what a flipper would do. I also agree that you are very brave building you long term home next to a flip that you flipped.

You need the J80BW for white subway tile, and only on an exposed edge. Be sure to leave the gap to the granite deck that is required to be caulked for the EJ171 industry standard. Use Mapei Frost grout in Flexcolor CQ and it will resist everything for years to come.

@chispa @millworkman I hear ya! And that's a possibility, but it's actually just a new build with the builder doing 90% of it. We just finish it out by painting, installing flooring, appliances, bath mirrors, towel bars & TP holders, and things like that. So, while it technically could be considered a "flip", it really isn't. It's just a new construction house!

As for the tile, I talked with my wife about it a couple times last night, and while she doesn't want that granite block in our next house, but she pulled up a number of homes for sale or sold in that same area, some for over $1M, that had tile on top of the granite block. I have no problems taking it off and patching any drywall as needed, I've flipped some houses or renovated some rental properties so that's easy stuff, but if the wife doesn't want to take it off then I guess we won't take it off!! I'll keep working on her though! :-) Thanks for the input.

@Minardi

Thank you! I'll jot that down and look those up!!

Of course you can find amateur work at any price point, but why would you want to do it? Do it once and do it right.

@HALLETT & Co.

I agree! I'm the anal one!!! I think her point though is that people are still buying the houses anyway that have the 4" block. We're talking an 1100 sf home at the beach. Overall, it will still be as good, if not better, than similar homes in the price point. I'm all for taking it off and will continue to bring it up, but it's not something I'm going to fall on my sword over! Say a prayer for me that I can get thru to her!! :-)

Why add tile at all? The 4” stone is the backsplash. Since you arent going to stay in this home, just paint above with the room. If a future owner wants it different then it will be much easier than demolish ing the whole backsplash.

@GreenThumb Gardens

Great question! And I don't have an answer for you other than that's what my wife wanted to do!!! I'm easy either way! 28 years in our current house and we don't have any tile backsplash! I guess maybe cuz that's what you're supposed to do??????

IMO you remove the 4" and fix the wall and add the tile with the schluter when the edge is exposed and remember that schluter goes on before the tile , For me a 4" granite backspalsh looks good works well and saves a ton of work . Move on to the rest of the house and sell it and let the next guy change it . I do not think this will make or break a sale .BTW the metal schluter is almost invisible and I much prefer the stainless one to the white always .

@Patricia Colwell Consulting

Thanks for your comments. I tend to agree with you and will let the wife know! And I agree with you as well about the schluter. Thx again. :-)

I wouldn't use Schluter edging at all with white subway tile.

Remove the 4" curb and get subway edge tiles for the edge tile.

1. If the house is going to sell anyway regardless of tile, save yourself the headache and skip the subway tile. The 4” strip IS the backsplash.

2. Tile above the 4” is tacky as hell. So is schluter edging on a backsplash. But, lots of people with poor taste will buy this home because they have the money to live near the beach. So dont drive yourself nut in any regard - that might mean saving yourself time and money or it might mean doing what your wife asks.

@Kendrah

Thank you!!! I can rethink the Schluter, but as I've been sharing all the comments with her, I believe we're at the point of your very last statement!!! :-)

If not Schluter, than what??

I think schluter edge is perfect with a imple subway tile I do it often

@Patricia Colwell Consulting

Do you typically do white on white? Or aluminum color? I've seen both and think both look good? Although it seems, in my simple mind, that white on white would be better. But what do I know!! :-)

@Patricia Colwell Consulting

Last question, I hope, as my wife is getting tired of me sharing everyone's ideas (thank you everyone) so I'm just going to go with what she wants and put the subway tile and LEAVE the 4" block. I just want this project done!! Anyway, on that right wall (by the sink), is it common to bring the tile all the way to the end of that wall or stop even with the edge of the countertop, leaving that last 2-3" to the corner as painted drywall? Thx. :-)

Because you are adding a second backsplash to the existing backsplash, you need to start and stop your tile where the existing backsplash stops and starts. The first backsplash is your template.

@Kendrah

Oh yeah! Makes sense. Thx 😊