Window or range hood in the middle
A window over the sink and a hood over the range break up the wall. We plan the layout around both so the pattern lines up on each side.
Serving Crystal Lake & nearby Lake Zurich, Elgin
Kitchen Backsplash Installation in Crystal Lake, IL
Tile backsplashes set straight, grouted clean and finished around every outlet in Crystal Lake kitchens.
- Crews working in Crystal Lake ZIP 60014, 60012, 60098
- Most jobs done in days, with your kitchen still usable
- Samples and a written quote before we start
Backsplash problems we solve in Crystal Lake
We install kitchen backsplashes in Crystal Lake from start to finish: old tile or laminate off, wall repaired, layout centered on the range or sink, tile set and grouted, and the joint at the counter sealed with caulk.
Awkward edges and ends
Raw tile edges at the ends look unfinished. Trim pieces or a slim metal profile give the backsplash a clean stop.
Grease-prone spot behind the range
Behind the range we often suggest a full-height feature, a larger tile or a slab panel with fewer grout lines to clean.
Bare wall behind the counters
If the wall above the counter is just paint, every spatter shows. Tile gives it a surface you can scrub.
Tile that ends in the wrong place
A backsplash that ends in a tiny strip by the window looks off. We lay it out first and center the pattern where your eye lands.
Dated or cracked tile
Old tile in a color you don't like, with cracked pieces and stained grout, is removed and the wall repaired before new tile goes up.
Peel-and-stick that didn't last
Vinyl stick-on panels don't like heat and steam. We pull them, repair the paint and drywall face and tile the wall.
Outlets sunk behind the tile
When tile adds thickness, the outlet box needs an extender ring. Our outlets end up flush, not buried.
What the work covers
- Layout and tile selectionWe pick the pattern and the starting point with you before ordering material.
- Protection and removalWe protect the counters, cut power to the outlets and take down the old backsplash.
- Wall repair and prepThe wall is repaired, leveled out and primed so the tile bonds.
- Setting the tileTile set level from a straight starting line, with spacers for even joints.
- Edges and trimFinished ends at open walls, cabinet sides and the ceiling line.
- Caulk at the counterThe counter joint and inside corners sealed with caulk, not grout.
- Sealing and cleanupNatural stone and cement-based grout sealed when needed; the kitchen cleaned.
Options to choose from
Natural stoneStone tile looks rich and needs a sealer to resist stains.
Mosaic and glassMosaics add texture; glass tile reflects light and shows thin-set through if set poorly.
Handmade-look and zelligeIrregular tile with depth and shine, set with care for its varying thickness.
Ceramic and porcelain tileGlazed ceramic and porcelain hold up to heat and grease and come in endless colors.
Grout typesUnsanded for narrow joints, sanded for wider ones, epoxy where stain resistance matters most.
Kitchens like yours in Crystal Lake: before and after
Before
In progress
After
DetailCrystal Lake kitchen, two-story colonial from the 1990s: kitchen backsplash installation
A two-story colonial from the 1990s near The Villages, a typical kitchen for Crystal Lake. Before: white ceramic tile with dark stained grout lines. The main complaint was a backsplash that looked its age. Finished kitchen: a gray beveled subway tile backsplash with clean edges and outlets set flush. On site this meant layout and tile selection, edges and trim, plus caulk at the counter.
Before
AfterKitchen Backsplash Installation in a 1990s two-story colonial, Lake Zurich
The site: a 1990s two-story colonial in Lake Zurich. The kitchen as it was: almond laminate with a backsplash lip. The main complaint was a laminate backsplash that dated the kitchen. After: a terracotta-look square tile backsplash with clean edges and outlets set flush. The job covered layout and tile selection, setting the tile, plus sealing and cleanup.
Kitchen Backsplash Installation in Lake Zurich →
Before
AfterKitchen Backsplash Installation in a 1970s tract home, Hoffman Estates
A 1970s tract home in Hoffman Estates, a typical kitchen for Hoffman Estates. Before: patterned wallpaper and harvest-gold laminate. The reason for the call: grease spots on the wall behind the range. Finished kitchen: a white 3x12 tile in a stacked pattern backsplash with clean edges and outlets set flush. The job covered layout and tile selection, caulk at the counter, plus sealing and cleanup.
Kitchen Backsplash Installation in Hoffman Estates →
Before
AfterCountertop Fabrication & Installation in a 1990s two-story colonial, Crystal Lake
Finished: warm walnut butcher block countertops with a tight seam, an undermount sink and a new faucet.
Countertop Fabrication & Installation in Crystal Lake →
Before
AfterCrystal Lake kitchen, 1980s two-story: kitchen flooring installation
Finished: hickory luxury vinyl plank flooring through the kitchen with clean transitions.
Kitchen Flooring Installation in Crystal Lake →How your backsplash installation goes
- Pick tile and patternChoose the tile and how it's laid; we figure out the quantity.
- Measure and planWe measure the wall, mark outlets and windows and plan where the cuts fall.
- Prep and setWall repaired, outlets extended and tile set — often in a day or two for a typical kitchen.
- Grout and finishGrout, caulk, trim, cover plates and cleanup, usually the next day.
Kitchen Backsplash Installation questions from Crystal Lake homeowners
Which grout should I use?
Unsanded for joints under about an eighth of an inch, sanded for wider ones and epoxy where you want maximum stain resistance.
Can you tile over my existing backsplash?
Occasionally. If the old tile is loose or uneven, it has to come off first.
How high should the backsplash go?
Under the cabinets, the full gap. Behind a range hood or on open shelving walls, often all the way up.
Can tile go over drywall?
Usually. Painted drywall is cleaned and scuffed or primed; soft or water-damaged spots are cut out and replaced.
Do you move outlets or add under-cabinet lighting?
We extend outlet boxes for the new tile. Relocating outlets or adding new circuits for lighting is wiring work we schedule before the tile goes up.
Which Crystal Lake homes do you most often see for backsplash installation?
In Crystal Lake we see Many older lakeshore homes varying in size and style and Downtown homes range in size and age. Each comes with its own walls, wiring and plumbing, and we plan the job around them.
Do I need a permit for backsplash installation in Crystal Lake?
It depends on the scope. Crystal Lake's rule in short: Kitchen alteration handout (Nov 2019) requires a contractor list and two sets of plans showing floor plans, electrical layout, structure and plumbing changes; inspections for rough electrical, plumbing, framing, insulation and final. We handle the permit when one is needed with City of Crystal Lake Community Development - Building Division.
Do you work in my part of Crystal Lake?
Yes. Our crews work across Crystal Lake, including Downtown, Coventry, Four Colonies, The Villages — ZIP 60014, 60012, 60098 — and nearby Lake Zurich, Elgin, Hoffman Estates.
Working in Crystal Lake
- A lot of Crystal Lake kitchens date from the 1990s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Crystal Lake homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- Live in a historic district? Interior kitchen work is usually not reviewed. We check before anything touches the exterior.
DowntownCoventryFour ColoniesThe VillagesWedgewoodBurtons Bridge
ZIP 60014ZIP 60012ZIP 60098
Kitchen Backsplash Installation nearby
Other kitchen services in Crystal Lake
Countertop Fabrication & InstallationQuartz, granite and butcher block, templated and installed.
Kitchen Tile & Grout RepairCracked tiles swapped, loose tiles reset and tired grout redone.
Kitchen Flooring InstallationKitchen flooring: LVP, tile and hardwood.
Kitchen RemodelingFull kitchen remodels, from layout to last cabinet pull.
Kitchen Cabinet PaintingFactory-smooth painted cabinets without replacing them.