I recently got a quote on installing a ceramic tile backsplash, which included purchasing the tile. My backsplash is 55 sq. feet, and the tile person said I needed 55 square feet of tile, plus 54 pieces of the 4" by 4" bullnose tiles, which cost twice as much as the regular 4x4 tiles I wanted to use. My question is, why do I need so many bullnose tiles? The backsplash goes up to the cabinets and down to the counters, and I only have one 15 inch exposed edge. Is it normal to use bullnose tiles around the edge of the backsplash against the counters? It seems unecessary to me and expensive. Also, the quote included 55 sq. feet of the regular tile, without any adjustment for the bullnose tiles. If I'm getting 54 bullnose tiles (which works out to 6 square feet of tile), and my backsplash is only 55 sq. feet, shouldn't I buy less of the regular tiles, like 49 square feet? I'm thinking of buying the tile and installing it myself (since the installer wants $12 per square foot, just to install), but I'm not sure how to figure out how many trim pieces I need. I know I need 55 square feet of tile, but do I really need 54 bullnose tiles? Any advice would be appreciated.

 

all depends on your layout - if he is telling you you need all this bullnose ask him to show you why - how does it layout etc etc. Normally you order a little extra for cuts mistakes etc. also good to keep few spares. normally 10-15% more is a rule.

 

On the layout, the backsplash goes from the counter all the way up to the cabinets. It's a u-shape counter, so there are only 2 edges. On one side, the edge is against the double oven, so it is not exposed. On the opposite side, I do have an exposed edge, but it is only 15 inches tall. Anyway, there is no way I could use 54 bullnoses, unless you are supposed to put bullnose tiles along the edge where the counter meets the backsplash, or where the backsplash meets the cabinets. You aren't normally supposed to do that are you?

 

you can do what you want - its more of a style thing. my point was have him show you where you are going to use the 54 bullnose pieces - if he won't even do that they say goodby to him. if he tells you that the backsplash needs to have bullnose on the bottom - take him to any kitchen design store and show him otherwise. it maybe he is planning a design that you are not familiar with - in that case you better make sure he shows you what he envisions before you buy all this extra material

 

Okay, thanks for the advice, diemeto. I pretty much decided not to use this store to install the backsplash, because of the price, $12/sq. foot is just too high in this area, but I may have to buy the tile from them because I can't find it anywhere else. It's the American Olean Palladio collection, and it's been discontinued. I'm a little leery of even buying the tile from them, though, because I don't think I need what they told me I needed. I may just start calling around again and see if I can find the tile somewhere else.