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nikosmom · Mar 26, 2008, 04:20 PM

Hi, I just recently had granite countertops installed. I decided to tile the backsplash on my own. I was advised that I wouldn't need a backerboard since it's such a small area. I'm using 1X1" tiles and only planning to extend it 4-6" up the wall. I've used silicone kitchen caulk to seal the areas where the countertop butts against the wall... However, one wall has a gap of ~3/8". So it's just barely too wide to be able to fill it with the silicone. So what's the best way for me to proceed and fill in the space. I'm almost sure if I go with the backerboard it'd fill the space, but why do that if I don't need that step otherwise?? I'm so ready to get on with my project that I almost want to cram paper towels in the gap and put silicone over it! Not seriously, but what should I do so I can finish up my kitchen?:confused:

rtw_travel · Mar 26, 2008, 09:34 PM

Who measured & installed the granite countertop? You would have spent thousands of dollars, and it has not been done right. 3/8" is an unacceptable gap - call them back and have them fix it.

hkstroud · Mar 26, 2008, 10:11 PM

Well, I wouldn't go that far rtw.
It's almost a certainty that the wall is not straight. A granite counter top is not going to be scribed to fit the wall. The remedy for this is to straighten the wall.

Nikosmom,
If you are going to tile up the cabinets such that you do not have problem finishing the top edge, why not install the backer board. That's the easiest way to straighten the wall. If however you will have any of the top edge exposed you will have a problem finishing that edge. If you are not tiling up to the upper cabinets or any of the top edge of the tiles are going to be exposed the best way is to straighten the wall by filling the low areas with drywall joint compound. This is not that difficult but does require some skill. You can get the wall straight by filling in the low area with the joint compound and striking it off with a straight edge. The skill will come into play up above the area that is to be tiled. You must then begin to taper or feather it out to meet existing surface such that it is not noticeable to the eye. This can be done by applying multiple thin coats and sanding. The joint compound then must be painted with at least two coats of paint to seal it.

If you tile it with out straightening the wall its going to show in the tile.

nikosmom · Mar 26, 2008, 10:13 PM

RTW, I've heard that a gap that size is very common when dealing with granite or other natural stones because it is installed in one single piece. If it fit exactly then there wouldn't be any "wiggle" room to fit the stone into the space. 1/4"- 3/8" is not a gaping hole. Just big enough that I wanted to know the best way to seal it. Oh yeah, there is not way to "fix" a granite slab.

nikosmom · Mar 26, 2008, 10:22 PM

Thanks Harold; it wasn't just me that thought that response was a little out there, lol. **just poking fun, RTW** I'm not going to tile up to the cabinets. I'm only going 4-6 inches up the wall; basically the same height as the previous laminate backsplash. The wall is level, it was the space where the countertop ends just before meeting the wall that was my concern. See, I opted to get flat countertops with no backsplash at all. So it's not that things aren't level, I just wanted to make sure I was careful in dealing with this space. Want to make sure I'm going everything right just like you pros!

the1unv · Mar 27, 2008, 04:32 AM

Well I somewhat agree with RTW. I know that granite tops do not always fit perfect to the wall, however It is the responsibility of the installer to seal around it. NIKOSMOM should not have to be trying to do this herself. I have never and would never install ANY type of counter top and not seal ALL the edges before I collected a check. RTW is correct in saying the installers never did their job.

Now if you have to do it yourself I would simply put some 3/8" rod stock in the bigger gaps and seal them. I would use a 1/4" hardi-backer behind the tile and then use a tile-to-wall transition tile around the edges. That would make a nice flow into your wall and hide the hardi-backer with no problems.
Mike

rtw_travel · Mar 27, 2008, 10:02 AM

Thanks the 1unv.

They should have realized that the wall was out when they came to measure - and it should have been dealt with then. However, hindsight is 20/20.

Of course they can fix it. They won't want to replace it but one easy fix is to have them give you a matching granite backsplash. The 3/4" will more than cover the gap. They may have other suggestions too.

The average cost of kitchen granite on the work we've done has been $6000. Mind you, we've done large kitchens. For that price I am not willing to accept anything less than perfection. You shouldn't either.

nikosmom · Mar 27, 2008, 04:01 PM

All right, RTW and Mike, I'm calling now to see what they can do. I've heard that a small space is common but if you say it's unacceptable then I'm going to listen to you since you obviously deal with this more than me! :o Boy, oh boy, this backsplash thing is turning into a headache... I'll let u know what the resolution is.

ballengerb1 · Mar 27, 2008, 09:02 PM

Nik, I think most of us do not appreciate getting bad rating and guys saying LOL and just poking fun. We are here trying to help folks who do not know what to do. What RTW means by "fix" is to correct the error. Granite is cut following a template made on site and it will follow slight variations, usually to within 1/16" Your granite guy screwed up and should be responsible for rectifying (fix) the problem. If I were you I'd shoot for a free granite backsplash to cover their error.

nikosmom · Mar 28, 2008, 05:30 PM

I gave the answer a bad rating for a reason... if you notice he didn't clarify his meaning of "fix" until (not including my responses) 3 responses down. It wasn't a bad rating to HIM specifically, the rating was to the RESPONSE. That's what the option states it is for- to rate the RESPONSE, not the USER. Once RTW clarified what he was suggesting, I acknowledged that I would look into that possibility (of receiving a free backsplash). I also acknowleged that he [more than likely] has more expertise than me. However, if you only read his response (before reading the ones after), it DIDN'T make sense. I am aware of the meaning of "fix", which is why the intention in the answer was initially unclear. There was no way that a novice (again, acknowledging my level of expertise- or lack thereof) would have deduced that he meant to call asking for a backsplash. I poked fun in a later post, so that it was understood that [again] I was not rating HIM, but the RESPONSE.

Not NIK, it's nikosmom. You probably should read things more thoroughly.

tileguy17 · Mar 30, 2008, 09:30 AM

Originally Posted by ballengerb1

Nik, I think most of us do not appreciate getting bad rating and guys saying LOL and just poking fun. We are here trying to help folks who do not know what to do. What RTW means by "fix" is to correct the error. Granite is cut following a template made on site and it will follow slight variations, usually to within 1/16" Your granite guy screwed up and should be responsible for rectifying (fix) the problem. If I were you I'd shoot for a free granite backsplash to cover their error.

AMEN!. 6" granite splash will take care of the gap