Jacquela wanted a red glass backsplash behind the cooktop. We researched and priced a sheet of red back-painted glass, four feet wide by five feet tall. The estimates came in at more than $2,000 and the installer refused to warranty the glass against breakage, because we are mounting a pot-filler spigot above the cooktop, and the exhaust fan above that — and every hole in the sheet of glass compromises its integrity.
Plan B is red glass tiles, four inches tall by 12 inches wide.
Julian and Ernesto today installed the tile.
Ernesto starts by troweling on white mastic, using the grooved end of the trowel to set the depth of the mastic, flipping the trowel around to the straight edge to smooth the grooves out of the mastic, because the grooves would be visible through the glass tile.The first rows go up swiftly, with 1/16th inch spacers for the red grout that will be installed later.Ernesto, right, and Julian, at back, plan ahead for the next rows of tile. They have already made small cuts in two tiles for the pipe where the pot filler will be installed — partly obscured here by the yellow electrical cable.Atop a ladder — no one is permitted to stand on the countertop! — Ernesto begins working around and toward the fittings for the exhaust fan and the electrical outlet that will power the exhaust fan.Julian works the glass tile around the exhaust fan and power outlet.And he walks away with the tiling done. Can’t wait to see this in bright daylight — instead of an overcast day — and with the kitchen lights switched on.
