Painted walls in a home built before 1978
If we remove old tile or disturb painted walls in a home built before 1978, we follow EPA lead-safe work practices: containment, dust control and cleanup.
Serving Palatine & nearby Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove
Kitchen Backsplash Installation in Palatine, IL
Tile backsplashes set straight, grouted clean and finished around every outlet in Palatine kitchens.
- Serving Palatine ZIP 60067, 60074
- A new look without tearing the kitchen out
- Clean, protected work area every day
Backsplash problems we solve in Palatine
Most of the work in a good backsplash happens before the first tile goes up. Our Palatine tile setters flatten the wall, extend the outlet boxes and lay out the pattern, then set and grout subway, mosaic, stone or porcelain tile.
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.
Uneven wall surface
Wavy walls make tile edges catch the light unevenly. We skim or patch the wall flat before setting, especially for large-format tile.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Old 4-inch splash with nothing above
The narrow splash that came with the counters can stay as a base for tile or come off for a full-height look.
What we do on the job
- 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.
- 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.
- GroutingSanded, unsanded or epoxy grout chosen for the tile and joint width.
- Edges and trimBullnose, pencil liner or a metal profile where the tile ends.
- Sealing and cleanupStone and grout sealed if they call for it, then a full cleanup.
Options to choose from
Subway tileClassic 3x6 or longer rectangles in a running bond, stacked or herringbone layout.
Ceramic and porcelain tileGlazed ceramic and porcelain hold up to heat and grease and come in endless colors.
Handmade-look and zelligeUneven edges and glaze give a hand-crafted look; the layout needs a little more patience.
Slab backsplashA full-height sheet of quartz, stone or porcelain matching the counters, with no grout lines.
Natural stoneMarble, travertine and slate tiles bring natural variation; they need sealing.
Kitchen Backsplash Installation before and after — Palatine homes
Before
In progress
After
DetailBefore and after: a 1990s two-story colonial in Palatine
This one is a 1990s two-story colonial in Palatine. Before: white ceramic tile with dark stained grout lines. The reason for the call: a backsplash that looked its age. The result: a gray beveled subway tile backsplash with clean edges and outlets set flush. Work included outlet box extenders, edges and trim, plus sealing and cleanup.
Before
AfterAn Arlington Heights 1950s ranch: before and after
The site: a 1950s ranch in Arlington Heights. The kitchen as it was: 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 layout and tile selection, protection and removal, plus outlet box extenders.
Kitchen Backsplash Installation in Arlington Heights →
Before
AfterLake Zurich kitchen, 1990s two-story colonial: kitchen backsplash installation
The site: a 1990s two-story colonial in Lake Zurich. The kitchen as it was: almond laminate with a backsplash lip. What bothered the owners most: the old laminate lip and bare wall above it. After: a terracotta-look square tile backsplash with clean edges and outlets set flush. The job covered layout and tile selection, protection and removal, plus setting the tile.
Kitchen Backsplash Installation in Lake Zurich →
Before
AfterCountertop Fabrication & Installation in a two-story colonial from the 1990s, Palatine
Black honed granite countertops with a tight seam, an undermount sink and a new faucet.
Countertop Fabrication & Installation in Palatine →
Before
AfterKitchen Flooring Installation in a 1990s two-story colonial, Palatine
What changed: warm oak luxury vinyl plank flooring through the kitchen with clean transitions.
Kitchen Flooring Installation in Palatine →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 finishGrout, caulk, trim, cover plates and cleanup, usually the next day.
Kitchen Backsplash Installation questions from Palatine 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.
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 install a backsplash in the bathroom too?
We do. Adding a bathroom vanity backsplash during the kitchen job is common.
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.
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 you do backsplash installation in a Palatine 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 Palatine-registered contractor for backsplash installation?
Contractors must be registered and bonded with the Village before a permit is issued. Registration is online and expires Dec 31 each year. We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for backsplash installation in Palatine?
It depends on the scope. Palatine's rule in short: A permit is required to remodel a kitchen or to add/alter the electrical system. We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Department - Building Permits & Inspections.
Do you work in my part of Palatine?
Yes. Our crews work across Palatine — ZIP 60067, 60074 — and nearby Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Lake Zurich.
Working in Palatine
- A lot of Palatine kitchens date from the 1970s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Condo or townhome? We follow association rules on work hours and elevators and bring the insurance certificate your board asks for.
- We know how Community Development Department - Building Permits & Inspections handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60067ZIP 60074
Kitchen Backsplash Installation nearby
Other kitchen services in Palatine
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.