Backsplash costs

cocori wrote: ↑Hi everyone
We just bought a new home which is to be built soon. Now we're trying to decide whether we should get the backsplash done by the builder or go elsewhere or even try to do it ourselves. The builder is charging $900-2000 depending on the tiles. Is this the normal costs or should we just get it done elsewhere?
Thanks

Get it done elsewhere, consider doing it yourselves as well. You will save a good chunk of money if you do it yourself. Tools can be rented at home depot.

This is one of the easiest upgrades you can do yourself

What is the size of the surface to be tiled ?

We just did our own backsplash. My wife and I are NOT handy, but she didn't want to pay anyone else to do it. We bought our tile and supplies at Home Depot.

The tile we picked was a glass and stone mosaic. They were 5/8" squares on a 1 sq/ft sheet. They were $16.99 per sq foot (we paid $15 with 10% off)

33 sq feet

Tile - $495
Brutus Tile Nipper - $15
Trowel - $4
OmniGrip - $30
grout sponge - $2
Grout - $36
Grout Float - $20
Bucket for grout $1 @ Dollar Store

I think this was about it.

Putting up the tile wasn't bad at all. I found grouting to be a pain in the ass.

How did you worked around Electrical Outlets & cutting of tiles

Thanks

Same here, we chose to do it ourselves, total cost of all materials (honed and filled travertine 2x2 tiles, grout, sealer, etc.) for 350$. You can buy a small tile saw from CT. It will do the job just fine. They are very inexpensive.

jaggars wrote: ↑How did you worked around Electrical Outlets & cutting of tiles

Thanks

Poster said he bought tile nippers.

I did two bathroom reno's with the CTC tile saw I bought on sale and although it's not a great saw it did the job and was even able to do 45 degree mitre cuts. I'd say it's probably the best saw for the $40.00 price point I got it on sale for.

cocori wrote: ↑Hi everyone
We just bought a new home which is to be built soon. Now we're trying to decide whether we should get the backsplash done by the builder or go elsewhere or even try to do it ourselves. The builder is charging $900-2000 depending on the tiles. Is this the normal costs or should we just get it done elsewhere?
Thanks

$900 would be normal for most tiles (including mosaic) including labour (assuming $15 or so per sq ft for tiles). With marble and granite tile, it can get more expensive to both install and buy (we got marble mosaic back-splash installed by contractor, and it still cost us under $900 including labour).

Thanks for all the input

I'm not quite sure of the area as of yet.
I'm also wondering about the ledge they put on the wall for protection which is continuous with the counter. Is this difficult to remove because the backsplash does look better without the ledge which the builder said they would no put in if we go with them on getting the backsplash done.

cocori wrote: ↑Thanks for all the input

I'm not quite sure of the area as of yet.
I'm also wondering about the ledge they put on the wall for protection which is continuous with the counter. Is this difficult to remove because the backsplash does look better without the ledge which the builder said they would no put in if we go with them on getting the backsplash done.

If you mean the rear lip that they use with laminate countertops (where the countertop and the kitchen wall meet), you can pay an extra fee to have the counter without. Do not accept that they will not do it, everyone we know that bought brand new home from builders (mattamy, minto, etc) are able to provide this, sometimes free of charge. You can't remove it later as that would entail cutting the laminate, then attempting to put a laminate strip over top that matches your counter without a seam (practically impossible)

Yup that is what I was talking about. Thanks for the tip.

goofball wrote: ↑If you mean the rear lip that they use with laminate countertops (where the countertop and the kitchen wall meet), you can pay an extra fee to have the counter without. Do not accept that they will not do it, everyone we know that bought brand new home from builders (mattamy, minto, etc) are able to provide this, sometimes free of charge. You can't remove it later as that would entail cutting the laminate, then attempting to put a laminate strip over top that matches your counter without a seam (practically impossible)