A DIYer shares her solution for a dated kitchen refresh on a budget

A tile backsplash is a little tradition that many of us take for granted without question. Thinking differently about these kinds of things is usually facilitated by necessity, and @sashablvc The tenant of his apartment appears to have had an opportunity for inventiveness in the damages provisions. When she got tired of her tile backsplash, she installed a few sheets of it Formica laminate over existing tile temporarily — and she says she did it for less than $200.

Laminate sheets are commonly used on countertops, but @sashablvc’s idea of ​​using them as a backsplash isn’t entirely novel. Formica mentions backsplash as a possible use, although in my history as a remodeler and occasional homebuilder, I haven’t seen much of this in the wild. Granted, some metal laminates are specifically designed for vertical surfaces. And from a cost perspective it’s a perfectly sensible thing to do; You can usually find 4×8-foot Formica sheets for around $100 or less.

There are many design options, and if you include beadboard and other paneling in the pool of possibilities, you can have almost any backsplash look, from faux brick to shiplap. For my money, it’s easy for these paneling, laminates and metal sheets to get a bit sterile when used as a backsplash. One gets the impression of a hospital breakroom or, with stainless sheets, perhaps some sort of lab. The best-looking laminate sheet and paneling backsplash I’ve seen avoids this problem by providing high contrast with the cabinets — such as pure and richly colored wood patterns against light, neutral cabinets.

You would typically use contact cement for permanent laminate installation, which is obviously not a cost-effective solution. @sashablvc says she used heavy-duty double sided tape, and she makes good sense. Thinner is better, but be careful with tapes designed for permanent installation of things like carpet tape and vinyl flooring. They can mostly peel off, but you’ll have to deal with using solvents to remove the tape residue. Removing double-sided tape from the wallMounting tapes, such as Gorilla tape and Scotch mounts in particular, can result in similar residue problems. A nano-grip tape like Alien tape will work and clean up well. It is relatively thick, but may be your best option.

@sashablvc says in the comments that the outlet cover plates help hold the laminate in place. If possible, instead of measuring, mark the locations of your electrical boxes while holding the laminate against the actual wall. Imperfectly transferring measurements is easier than you might imagine. She also noted that she cut the laminate herself “with a small drill.” I’m guessing he means something like a rotary tool or a spiral cutter like a zip saw, which definitely works. If you can, trim the material with a trim router — just as you cut off the excess When cutting laminate countertops – and use a straight edge. Using a saw blade, even if you use a fine-toothed blade and taper the cut properly, will likely result in an imperfect edge that you can’t leave exposed. Which leads me to the big challenge: working with edges and seams.

The real difficulty is cutting laminate sheets so they look finished without trim or caulk, which is somewhere between difficult and impossible. Visible edges should be factory edges whenever possible. As straight as you can cut isn’t always straight enough, and in a rental situation you may not have access to trim, caulk, or even grout lines. Where edges bump against other surfaces such as countertops are potential trouble spots. Tuck your curb behind objects whenever possible, such as stoves, microwaves, and upper cabinets. Don’t try to butt your cut edges against your other edges if you can avoid it.

Edges are tough, but seams can be a big hassle. It depends on the laminate design, of course, but I’d say you should think twice before using laminate sheets on runs longer than eight feet (or however long your sheets are). Any seams will be visible, and there aren’t many renter-friendly options for hiding them. Your instinct might be to glue on a thin piece of PVC or MDF trim, but it easily looks like mobile home paneling. I see this in bathrooms from time to time, and it emphasizes the cheapness of the solution rather than the great patterns and textures that these laminates usually have. If you’re forced to, say, have an awkward corner seam, camouflage it with some sort of countertop decoration. A vase of flowers is always a nice addition.