Kitchen backsplash installation in Metro Detroit
Subway, herringbone, glass, or marble — precisely installed backsplashes for Metro Detroit kitchens, most done in a day or two.
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- Most Jobs Done in 1–2 Days
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Patterns
Subway (straight, offset, vertical)
The classic 3x6 brick tile — laid straight, offset in a running bond, or stacked vertically for something a little more current. Works in almost any kitchen; offset reads traditional, straight or vertical reads more modern.
Herringbone
Tile set in a 45- or 90-degree zigzag for real visual movement without changing material. Reads high-end in a kitchen that's otherwise fairly simple, which is part of why it gets requested so often.
Stacked
A straight grid with no offset — the cleanest, most minimal grout pattern there is. Fits a modern or contemporary kitchen where you want the wall to stay quiet, not busy.
Chevron
Like herringbone, but the tile ends are mitered to a point so the pattern forms a continuous V instead of a zigzag. More labor to cut correctly, and it shows on a kitchen built around one strong focal wall.
Picket
Tall, narrow tile set standing on end, usually in a running or stacked pattern. Adds height and texture behind a range or on an accent section without covering the whole wall in pattern.
Mosaic sheets
Small-format tile pre-mounted on mesh — glass, marble, or a mix of both. Common where the backsplash is doing more decorative work than any other single choice in the kitchen.
Materials
Ceramic
Affordable, wide color and pattern range, easiest to cut — the default choice for most straightforward backsplash jobs.
Porcelain
Denser and more durable than ceramic, handles heat near the range better, costs a bit more installed.
Glass
Reflects light, common behind a range or sink for shine — the least forgiving material to install, since it shows every imperfection behind it.
Marble
Natural stone that needs sealing and careful veining match across pieces — a step up in both look and installation care.
Quartzite
Natural stone, harder and less porous than marble, often chosen to match a quartzite or granite countertop.
Zellige
Handmade Moroccan tile with an intentionally uneven face and thickness. Real texture and variation, but it takes a more careful hand to set evenly since no two tiles are quite the same size.
Height and edge detail
Full-height behind the range vs. standard height
Standard height runs from the counter to the bottom of the upper cabinets. Full-height carries the tile all the way up to the hood or ceiling behind the range — more tile, more cost, and a real focal-point look. Either can work in the same kitchen; it's a decision about budget and how much of a statement you want that wall to make.
Outlet cuts and edge treatment
Outlets and switches get cut around precisely, not covered by an oversized plate to hide a rough edge. And every backsplash ends somewhere — at a window, a cabinet, an open wall — and that edge gets finished with a Schluter metal profile, a rounded bullnose tile, or a 45-degree miter. This is the detail that's easiest to rush and the easiest place to spot a cheap installation: a raw, chipped tile edge left exposed instead of properly finished. It's a small piece of the job and it's the first thing your eye catches.
Timeline
Most backsplashes are a one- to two-day job, start to finish. A kitchen isn't out of commission for a week over a backsplash — it's a weekend-scale project, not a remodel.
What does a backsplash cost?
A backsplash is one of the more affordable tile jobs in the house, and the price mostly comes down to four things. {{PLACEHOLDER: price range}}.
- Linear feet — More wall means more tile and more labor — the base driver of the price.
- Tile size — Small-format tile and mosaic sheets take longer to set than large-format tile, which shows up in labor cost.
- Pattern complexity — Straight-set tile is fastest; herringbone, chevron, and picket take more cutting and more time to keep lines straight.
- Material — Ceramic and porcelain cost less installed than glass, marble, or zellige.
The only way to get a real number is a free, in-person estimate — Dervin measures the actual wall and prices it, not a phone-call guess.
Backsplash jobs: before & after
Real before-and-after photos from finished backsplash jobs go here as they're added — the kind of proof worth asking to see before hiring anyone.
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Backsplash questions homeowners ask
How much does a backsplash cost?
Cost comes down to linear feet, tile size, pattern, and material more than anything else — a straight-set ceramic backsplash costs a lot less than a herringbone marble one. {{PLACEHOLDER: price range}}. A free, in-person estimate gets you a real number.
How long does it take?
Most backsplashes are a one- to two-day job — a day to prep and set the tile, sometimes a second day for grout depending on when the tile was set. Full-height or complex-pattern jobs can run a bit longer.
Can you install over drywall or an existing backsplash?
Drywall is a normal surface to tile over as long as it's sound and properly prepped. Tiling over an existing backsplash is usually not recommended — it adds thickness at outlets and edges — so DGJ typically removes the old one first.
Do I need to remove the countertop?
No, in most cases — the backsplash tile sets on the wall above the counter, and the counter itself stays in place and gets protected during the job. Your estimate will flag it if your specific setup needs anything different.
What grout color should I pick?
A grout close to the tile color keeps the wall looking like one continuous surface; a contrasting grout makes the pattern itself the focal point — which matters more on herringbone or chevron than on a simple straight-set tile. DGJ can show you both during your estimate.
Do you seal marble backsplashes?
Marble is porous and needs sealing to resist staining from cooking splatter and daily use, especially behind a range. Sealing is part of finishing a marble backsplash correctly, not an optional add-on.
Do you supply the tile?
{{PLACEHOLDER: tile supply policy}} Either way, you choose the tile — pattern and material are half the look of a backsplash, so that decision happens before installation is scheduled.
Related tile work
Backsplash installation near you
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