Backsplash should be installed after countertops, since tile installers use the finished countertop surface as the starting reference line for the first row of tile. Installing backsplash before countertops risks a gap or misalignment once the countertop is finally set in place.
Ready to Talk About Your Louisville Kitchen Project?
Visit our Louisville cabinet showroom or call us at (502) 690-9813. We are open Monday through Friday, 9AM to 4PM. Our team has been helping Louisville, Southern Indiana, and Central Kentucky homeowners design and select cabinets since 2011.
Call (502) 690-9813More Details
Countertops rarely sit perfectly level across their entire span due to normal wall and floor variations, so tile installers rely on the actual finished countertop edge as their reference point for starting the first tile row. Louisville homeowners throughout Beechmont and Fairdale should always sequence backsplash after countertop installation for this reason.
Installing backsplash first risks a small but visible gap or uneven line where the tile meets the countertop, since the countertop’s exact finished height was not yet established. Southern Indiana and Central Kentucky homeowners who have seen this mismatch in an older kitchen can attest to how noticeable it becomes over time.
This sequencing also allows backsplash installers to caulk a clean, tight seam between the tile and countertop, creating a finished, professional appearance that would be difficult to achieve working in the reverse order. Learn more about our kitchen design consultation service.
What Most People Get Wrong
Homeowners sometimes want backsplash finished quickly and consider doing it before countertops to save time, not realizing this reversed order risks a poor fit once the countertop is finally installed.
From Our Experience
We always sequence backsplash after countertops for Louisville customers, since this order consistently produces the cleanest, most professional finished result. Reach us at ecsoflouisville@gmail.com or visit our Louisville cabinet showroom.