I'm in a bit of a dilemma about laying Saltillo tile in my kitchen. If I put the tile around the cabinets, it would make it really tricky to tile under the dishwasher due to the thickness of the tiles. Plus, my cabinets have a lot of beveled edges that would need careful cutting by my contractor. On the flip side, if I tile under the cabinets, I'm concerned it may complicate leveling the cabinets later since the tiles aren't uniform. Also, I'd have less space between my upper and lower cabinets, which is an issue for appliances like my air fryer that need clearance. Any suggestions on how to approach this?
2 Answers
It sounds like there wasn't enough planning going into this! What thickness are those tiles? If they're around 5/8" or 1", keep in mind that many dishwashers can adjust to fit under a 36" cabinet. Consider these options: shim the lower cabinets to add height without tiling, install the dishwasher first, or raise your upper cabinets. If all your materials were decided before installation, it might be on your contractor to resolve this. Don't hesitate to push for changes if you feel they dropped the ball!
It's probably not the best idea to use Saltillo tiles in the kitchen since they’re soft and porous, which means they can wear out quickly and stain easily. You’d have to keep up with a lot of maintenance to protect them. If you don't tile under the cabinets, be prepared for a headache when replacing your dishwasher later, as the tile thickness might prevent it from being easily pulled out. You may want to consider raising both your base and wall cabinets to account for the tile thickness if your wall cabinets don’t run all the way to the ceiling. Just some food for thought!
Thanks for the tips! Sadly, the upper cabinets can't be raised easily since they're right against a furdown—that would require more adjustments. I take responsibility for the tile decision, but I’m open to making it work if it means getting the right look!