Plaster walls in an older home
Old plaster can be wavy and patched many times. We test it, repair weak spots and flatten the surface so the tile lines stay straight.
Serving Evanston & nearby Skokie, Glenview
Kitchen Backsplash Installation in Evanston, IL
Tile backsplashes set straight, grouted clean and finished around every outlet in Evanston kitchens.
- Serving Evanston ZIP 60201, 60202, 60208
- A new look without tearing the kitchen out
- Clean, protected work area every day
Backsplash problems we solve in Evanston
Most of the work in a good backsplash happens before the first tile goes up. Our Evanston tile setters flatten the wall, extend the outlet boxes and lay out the pattern, then set and grout subway, mosaic, stone or porcelain tile.
Painted walls in a home built before 1978
Older paint can contain lead. Before demo on pre-1978 walls we set up containment and clean up with lead-safe methods.
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.
Awkward edges and ends
We decide early where the tile ends and how — to the cabinet, to the ceiling or to a trim line — so the edges look intentional.
Old 4-inch splash with nothing above
A short stone or laminate lip with bare wall above looks unfinished. We can tile over or above it, or remove it and run tile down to the counter.
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.
Grout stained or cracking
Cracked grout near the counter usually means the joint wasn't caulked. We use flexible caulk where tile meets the counter and grout everywhere else.
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.
What we do on the job
- Protection and removalCounters and cabinets covered, outlets shut off, old tile or splash removed.
- Wall repair and prepThe wall is repaired, leveled out and primed so the tile bonds.
- Outlet box extendersExtender rings so outlets and switches sit flush with the tile face.
- Setting the tileTile set level from a straight starting line, with spacers for even joints.
- GroutingJoints filled, tooled and cleaned so the tile face is free of haze.
- Caulk at the counterFlexible caulk where tile meets the counter and the cabinets.
- Sealing and cleanupStone and grout sealed if they call for it, then a full cleanup.
Finishes we offer
Handmade-look and zelligeIrregular tile with depth and shine, set with care for its varying thickness.
Ceramic and porcelain tileThe everyday choice: durable, easy to clean and available in every size, from subway to large panels.
Subway tileSimple rectangles that work in nearly any kitchen; the pattern changes the look.
Natural stoneStone tile looks rich and needs a sealer to resist stains.
Grout typesUnsanded for narrow joints, sanded for wider ones, epoxy where stain resistance matters most.
Before and after: kitchens near Evanston
Before
In progress
After
DetailBefore and after: a 1920s bungalow in Evanston
The site: a 1920s bungalow in Evanston. Before: 4-inch pink ceramic tile and worn beige laminate with a metal edge strip. What bothered the owners most: an old 4-inch tile strip that dated the room. After: a gray beveled subway tile backsplash with clean edges and outlets set flush. The job covered protection and removal, setting the tile, plus sealing and cleanup.
Before
AfterSkokie kitchen, postwar Cape Cod: kitchen backsplash installation
The site: a postwar Cape Cod in Skokie. The kitchen as it was: speckled laminate. The main complaint was a laminate backsplash that dated the kitchen. Finished kitchen: a white 3x12 tile in a stacked pattern backsplash with clean edges and outlets set flush. Work included wall repair and prep, outlet box extenders, plus caulk at the counter.
Kitchen Backsplash Installation in Skokie →
Before
AfterKitchen Backsplash Installation in a 1950s ranch, Glenview
A 1950s ranch in Glenview, a typical kitchen for Glenview. What we started with: mint-green 4-inch ceramic tile and laminate with an aluminum edge band. The reason for the call: a short 4-inch splash that looked unfinished. The result: a white subway tile backsplash with clean edges and outlets set flush. Work included outlet box extenders, setting the tile, plus grouting.
Kitchen Backsplash Installation in Glenview →
Before
AfterCountertop Fabrication & Installation in a prewar foursquare, Evanston
Black honed granite countertops with a tight seam, an undermount sink and a new faucet.
Countertop Fabrication & Installation in Evanston →
Before
AfterKitchen Flooring Installation in a 1920s bungalow, Evanston
What changed: black-and-white checkerboard tile flooring through the kitchen with clean transitions.
Kitchen Flooring Installation in Evanston →Day by day
- Pick tile and patternChoose the tile and how it's laid; we figure out the quantity.
- Measure and planA site visit to check the wall and lay out the pattern on paper.
- Prep and setOld splash off, wall flattened, tile on the wall.
- Grout and finishJoints filled, edges trimmed, counter line caulked and the room cleaned.
Kitchen Backsplash Installation questions from Evanston homeowners
Do I need to remove the 4-inch splash?
It's your call; removal looks more finished, keeping it is simpler. We may need to patch the wall behind it.
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.
Should I install the backsplash before or after the counters?
Counters first, then the backsplash, so the tile lands on the finished surface.
What is the easiest backsplash to keep clean?
Fewer joints and a glazed surface: big porcelain tile, a slab or subway with epoxy grout.
Can you tile over my existing backsplash?
Sometimes, if the old tile is solid and flat and the added thickness works with the outlets and the trim. Often removing it gives a better result.
Evanston contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
All contractors working in city limits must register with the City; annual fee General Contractor $150, Trade Contractor $125. We take care of that before work starts.
Can you do backsplash installation in an Evanston condo?
Associations usually set rules for work hours, elevators, deliveries and insurance, and many require approval for plumbing, electrical or structural changes. We provide the certificate of insurance and follow the building's rules.
Do I need a permit for backsplash installation in Evanston?
It depends on the scope. Evanston's rule in short: Residential permit applications go through the Citizen Portal; City worksheets signed by the contractors are required for any electrical, plumbing or HVAC work. We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Department, Building & Development Services (Building & Inspection Services).
Do you work in my part of Evanston?
Yes. Our crews work across Evanston — ZIP 60201, 60202, 60208 — and nearby Skokie, Glenview, Park Ridge.
Working in Evanston
- Most Evanston homes are prewar. We work around plaster walls, radiators and out-of-square rooms every week.
- Condo or townhome? We follow association rules on work hours and elevators and bring the insurance certificate your board asks for.
- Live in a historic district? Interior kitchen work is usually not reviewed. We check before anything touches the exterior.
ZIP 60201ZIP 60202ZIP 60208
Kitchen Backsplash Installation nearby
Other kitchen services in Evanston
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.