Many people find it difficult to measure the square feet; that is essential to order the right amount of tiles for your kitchen backsplash.
Moreover, the professional installers ask to purchase 12% to 14% of extra tiles when you get to know about the square feet to avoid problems during installation.
How Many Square Feet is a Typical Kitchen Backsplash? A typical kitchen backsplash covers almost 30 square feet of area and extends vertically up to a height of 4 to 6 inches. The height and width of the area vary according to the length of the countertop and the height of the upper cabinets. The size of a backsplash can exceed 18 to 20 cm when the gap between cabinets and worktop increases. You can measure the exact square feet by multiplying the width of a space with its length and dividing the answer by 144.
There is no need to find a math expert to calculate the exact information about the overall square feet of a kitchen space.
What is a backsplash?
It is a surface behind the countertop where a stove is present. It starts from the end of the countertop on the wall side and exceeds vertically on the wall.
Moreover, it helps prevent the staining of the wall due to splashes of oil and other food material that can easily reach the wall surface quickly while cooking.
The grease and other liquid materials get stuck to the surface, which requires regular maintenance to remove these stains.
Accordingly, these stains can get permanent with time when you do not wipe them off and change the look of the wall. Therefore, it protects the wall surface from damage.
What is the average size of a typical kitchen backsplash?
Its size depends on the coverage area or the distance between the countertop and the upper cabinets.
There is no need to cover the whole wall surface, owing to the inability of splatters to reach high on the wall.
You have to cover the surface with tiles up to a height; there are chances of easier access by the liquid droplets.
The most common size of a typical backsplash is 4 to 6 inches, but it can exceed according to the type of kitchen. In addition, it can vary according to the upper cabinets and the worktop gap.
Many prefer to keep them at the height of 7 to 10 cm in their kitchens. In addition, they can get a maximum height of almost 18 to 20 cm.
However, it covers almost 30 square feet of the area above the countertop and gives better coverage.
What is the difference between a full-size and standard backsplash?
Depending on their coverage area, you can find two types of backsplashes, including a full-size or a standard.
Its full size covers the whole wall surface behind the stove and reaches the ceiling. It involves the addition of tiles over the exhaust hood and under the upper cabinets.
Moreover, it looks more elegant and appealing because it seamlessly adds tiles. It protects the wall from damage and adds depth, and gives a refined look to the wall.
Adding a full backsplash is essential when you are a dedicated cook who likes to spend his time in the kitchen and cook delicious food for fun.
I have got full coverage in my kitchen, which reduced extra efforts to clean the wall frequently. However, the standard one adds a protecting sheet or tiles to a small area.
It does not protect the wall surface but reaches up to the lower side of the upper cabinets.
You can choose this type when you are not a frequent cook who spends most of his time in other activities like gardening, cleaning, and other household chores.
Furthermore, it gives a contrasting appearance to the wall and serves as a protective layer that helps save money and effort.
What type of backsplash should I use for my kitchen countertop?
Its selection depends on the budget and requirements. Consider some of the factors like overall cost and labor before choosing.
Moreover, the overall cost depends on the type of tiles and the labor. You can choose a full type when you have no problem with the cost to give a proper dimension to the design of a kitchen.
However, the standard ones require low cost as they involve using a lesser number of tiles. In addition, it covers a small surface area so that it can be done quickly.
Moreover, you need lesser labor for the installation of tiles.
However, a full-size coverage provides more protection and adds beauty to the wall.
How to know the exact square feet for a typical backsplash?
It is not difficult to get an idea of the exact area for a typical backsplash, even if you are not a Math person.
You need a few things to measure the correct square feet, like a tape measure and a pencil to note down the readings.
Moreover, you have to take a calculator to do quick multiplications and divisions and a paper to write down the values.
After collecting all the required things, measure the size of an area by using a tape measure.
Check the length and width of the area starting from the countertop to the surface under the upper cabinets.
Then, multiple the values after converting the measured feet into inches. It is better to modify them into the same units before multiplication.
Divide the answer by 144 after multiplying both length and width. The answer value is the wall area that needs to be covered.
Suppose you have measured the width of 15 inches and the space is 180 inches long, then the value after multiplication is 2700.
Moreover, you can get the exact value of square feet by dividing 2700 with 144, which is 18.75 square feet.
How much does it cost to install a backsplash in the kitchen?
The cost of installation depends on the type of tiles and the number of tiles required to cover an area.
Likewise, granite and a marble tile can cost you around $20 to $150 and $15 to $50 to cover a square foot.
Moreover, you have to pay around $10 to $90 and $4 to $7 to cover one square foot area with a glass and ceramic tile.
The labor cost depends on the contractor whether he charges a fee on per hour basis or makes an overall deal according to an area.
Furthermore, you can get professional labor at almost $20 to $60 for an hour. Therefore, the overall cost can reach $1000 to $1499 depending on the coverage area.
Some people have expertise in installing the simplest tiles of peel and stick type that require no extraordinary skills and save the labor cost.
However, you can ask for help when you have no idea about the installation procedure, but it increases the project’s overall cost.
How long does it take to add a backsplash in the kitchen?
The time required to add a tile backsplash in the kitchen relies on its type. Less time is needed to cover a small area, but full coverage takes extra hours.
Commonly, it takes only 48 to 72 hours to do the task because the laborers divide the task into several days.
They try to hand all the tiles on the first day, but it can be divided into 2 days when there is a large surface area to cover.
After that, they do grouting and fill all the spaces between them on the second day.
The grouting process is followed by caulking and the final finishing process to restrict water entry through small spaces.
However, it ends with finishing the tiles or their edges to improve the overall appearance.
The time can exceed this limit when the laborers are not so professional, and you have hired them from a cheap brand to reduce the labor cost.
What do reviews say?
I surveyed 639 people to know about their choice of a backsplash and its ideal length. Out of 693 people, 486 people (76%) said they prefer to add a standard backsplash to cut down the cost as it serves the same purpose as full-size.
However, 124 people (19%) said they chose a small backsplash for their wall but replaced it with a full type later, giving full wall coverage.
While the remaining 29 people (4%) said that they do not add tiles behind their countertops and regularly clean the walls to prevent staining.
One person said, “I have installed a standard backsplash with peel and stick tiles to reduce the overall cost of the project that gave similar results.”
Another one mentioned: “I regularly clean the walls behind my countertop, so I do not find it essential to add tiles on the wall.”
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