Kitchen backsplash in Redwood City, CA

Picking a material

Glazed ceramic and porcelain are durable and easy to clean. Handmade tile varies in shape and needs wider grout joints. Glass tile shows the wall behind it, so the wall has to be flat. A full-height slab that matches the counter avoids grout entirely.

Getting the layout right

A careful installer centers the pattern on the range or sink and plans so cut pieces land at the ends rather than in the middle. Outlets and switches need box extenders so the covers sit flush.

Tile terms

Thinset: the cement-based adhesive tile is set in. Metal edge trim: a strip that finishes an exposed tile edge. Sanded and unsanded grout: grout with or without sand, chosen by joint width. Epoxy grout: a stain-resistant grout useful behind a range. Running bond: tiles offset by half a length, like brick.

Permits in Redwood City

Redwood City requires a building permit for any work that section 105.2 of the California Building Code does not exempt; the City's FAQ names painting, flooring and similar finish work as typical exempt residential items.
Applications are filed online through the City's eTRAKiT portal. Residential interior remodels can qualify for One-Stop plan review, in which Building Division staff review the plans with the applicant at City Hall.
The City says plan review takes 6 to 24 weeks depending on scope. A permit is valid for 365 days from issuance, and each passed inspection extends it another 365 days.

City of Redwood City Building Division · (650) 780-7350, [email protected]

Common questions

Does a backsplash need a permit?

Tile on its own is finish work. Moving or adding outlets is electrical work that does need one.

How high should a backsplash go?

Commonly up to the bottom of the upper cabinets. Behind a range hood, or on walls without uppers, many run it to the ceiling.