Backsplash
The backsplash is the surface between the counter and the wall cabinets, and behind the range. It takes splashes, grease and heat, and it is the quickest way to change the character of a kitchen.
- Height. A backsplash can stop under the wall cabinets or run to the ceiling behind the range. Decide before the tile is ordered.
- Material. Ceramic and porcelain tile are easy to keep clean. Glass tile reflects light. Natural stone needs sealing. A slab of the countertop material is seamless but costs more fabrication.
- Outlets and switches. Moving them is electrical work. If you want them relocated, say so before the tile goes up.
- Grout. The grout is what stains. Ask about the product, the joint width and the sealing.
Flooring
- Water. A kitchen floor meets spills, dishwasher leaks and wet feet. Tile, vinyl plank and some engineered products handle it well. Solid wood needs more care.
- Underfoot comfort. Hard tile is cold and tiring to stand on for long. Wood and vinyl are softer.
- The subfloor. Old floors can be uneven, soft or squeaky. A new surface shows what is underneath, so the preparation is the job.
- Under the cabinets or not. Some installers run the floor under existing cabinets, others stop at the cabinet line. The choice affects future changes. Settle it in writing.
- Older floors. In older houses, old flooring and the adhesive under it can contain materials that should not be sanded or torn up carelessly. If the house is old, ask about testing before work begins.
Lighting
Kitchens need light in layers: general light for the room, task light on the counters and the range, and, if you like, a little accent light. Most kitchens that feel dim have only the first layer.
- Under-cabinet lighting puts light where you chop and read recipes. Plug-in strips are simple. Hardwired lighting is electrical work.
- Ceiling fixtures. Swapping one fixture for another in the same place is simple. Adding new ones or moving them means new wiring.
- Color temperature. Pick one and use it everywhere in the room, so the cabinets, counters and tile look the same under every light.
- Dimmers let one room work for cooking, homework and a quiet evening.
Permits and licensed work
Tiling, painting, flooring and similar finish work that does not involve structural changes is exempt from permits in the state building code, and town guides such as East Haven’s list flooring, counters and electrical fixtures among work that needs none. New or moved wiring is different: town guides list it as permit work, and Connecticut requires a licensed electrician. See permits in New Haven, and older house kitchens if your house was built before 1978.
Common questions
Can I do tile and lighting without touching the cabinets?
Yes. Finish-level updates are meant for kitchens where the layout and cabinets are staying. Order the tile before the work starts so the install is not waiting on the material.
Do I need an electrician for under-cabinet lights?
Plug-in lights do not need one. Hardwired lights do, because new wiring is electrical work that Connecticut reserves for licensed electricians.
Should the new floor go under the cabinets?
It depends on whether you may change the cabinets later and on the installer’s method. Ask for the choice and the reason in writing.