PSA: My contractor friend said my kitchen backsplash plan was a bad idea for Edmonton winters

I was set on a full tile backsplash behind my stove in my 1978 bungalow, but my friend who works on old houses here pointed out that the constant freeze-thaw cycle can crack the grout behind a heat source. I switched to a metal sheet for that section instead. Has anyone else had to change a reno plan because of our specific climate?

2 comments

2 Comments

spencerw721mo ago

What about using a flexible grout instead?

jason_fisher41mo ago

Glad you caught that before it was too late, my own kitchen reno taught me the hard way about Edmonton winters. I went with a fancy tile behind my cooktop and the grout looked like a spiderweb after one season, so now I just tell people it's a custom crackle finish. A metal sheet is a smart fix, and honestly, it probably cleans up easier than tile anyway when you get grease splatter.