Replace 4" granite backsplash with tile backsplash

[Anonymous]

When we renovated our kitchen as part of a whole house addition around 8 years ago, we added the 4" granite backsplash and painted the walls above the granite backsplash - not because of a design choice but because we were out of money and tired of making decisions. I would like to remove the 4" granite and install a tile backsplash. (Not DIY; I'd hire a professional.)

My friend says that it will be a challenge to remove the 4" granite backsplash. Is she right? It is not the same piece of granite. The backsplash and counter are separate pieces.

[Anonymous]

Not hard.

[Anonymous]

Worst case is that you have to replace the drywall behind the backsplash. That shouldn't add much to the cost at all.

[Anonymous]

Not hard but you might have to drywall

[Anonymous]

Why not just tile above the 4" backsplash? Unless the patterns are clashing.

As for removing the backsplash, it depends on how it was glued down and where.
To the countertop - easy, wedge a putty knife between countertop and backsplash to loosen the glue, or you might have to smash the backsplash to small pieces. Scrape the glue on countertop residue down with a blade.

To the wall - more troublesome as it will probably tear the paper off the wallboard material. Maybe just use a putty knife to wedge between the wall and the backsplash and see what it does. Hopefully a clean separation.
Vinegar really helps with silicones and epoxy.

In the worst case scenario, you'll have to replace the damaged wallboard behind the backsplash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why not just tile above the 4" backsplash? Unless the patterns are clashing.

As for removing the backsplash, it depends on how it was glued down and where.
To the countertop - easy, wedge a putty knife between countertop and backsplash to loosen the glue, or you might have to smash the backsplash to small pieces. Scrape the glue on countertop residue down with a blade.

To the wall - more troublesome as it will probably tear the paper off the wallboard material. Maybe just use a putty knife to wedge between the wall and the backsplash and see what it does. Hopefully a clean separation.
Vinegar really helps with silicones and epoxy.

In the worst case scenario, you'll have to replace the damaged wallboard behind the backsplash.

Follow up to the above, I would do a probe in a discreet area to see if the countertop does in fact hit the back wall. Nothing worse than chopping out that backsplash only to find that it hid a huge or non-linear gap between countertop and wall.

[Anonymous]

We did this and had to use wall putty to patch a couple of spots where the glue ripped out some of the drywall, but nothing crazy. I think countertops look much better without the 4 inch backsplash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why not just tile above the 4" backsplash? Unless the patterns are clashing.

As for removing the backsplash, it depends on how it was glued down and where.
To the countertop - easy, wedge a putty knife between countertop and backsplash to loosen the glue, or you might have to smash the backsplash to small pieces. Scrape the glue on countertop residue down with a blade.

To the wall - more troublesome as it will probably tear the paper off the wallboard material. Maybe just use a putty knife to wedge between the wall and the backsplash and see what it does. Hopefully a clean separation.
Vinegar really helps with silicones and epoxy.

In the worst case scenario, you'll have to replace the damaged wallboard behind the backsplash.

Follow up to the above, I would do a probe in a discreet area to see if the countertop does in fact hit the back wall. Nothing worse than chopping out that backsplash only to find that it hid a huge or non-linear gap between countertop and wall.

+1

When we had our countertops replaced, they asked us whether we ever wanted to install a tile backsplash instead of the 4” granite they were putting in. Apparently if we said yes, the countertop would touch the wall and if we said no, there would be a gap.

[Anonymous]

We removed a 4" backsplash from a bathroom counter and it did remove some pieces of the counter top with it where they were glued together. Looks like big shallow chips toward the back of the counter.
Wall damage is extremely easy to repair, counter damage not so much.
So just know that's a risk!