Yes, Yes, Yes. We’ve been “doing it” all over Cobb, Cherokee and Forsyth counties in these recent weeks. One kitchen backsplash transformation after another, tile going up gang busters! Not only that, we’re documenting it all for your viewing pleasure.

Many give me the side eye when I’m recording or photographing our excursions and work, or when I’m teaching others about the power of these mediums… I call them critics. Many talk about being great “builders” or “contractors” with little evidence other than the words that come out of their mouths and their blurry “finished” pictures. We call them talkers. Meanwhile, here we are “doing” it, photos and videos of your trusted partners during your next remodel, “doing” our craft and proudly displaying it to build up confidence in you. Cultivating faith in our competency and mastery of a dying ART FORM. This blog, with four years of documentation has surpassed my wildest expectations, but it’s not about me…it’s about you and a new way of doing business…past the “handshake” model, where you take our word for it…a model where we spout words like “quality” , “experience” and “professional” without any context as to to what that means TO YOU, but a model where we show you what those words mean by bringing you verifiable proof that “We are who we say we are and we do what we say we’ll do!’

What other remodeling company is demonstrating and exhibiting this kind of paper trail?

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Back splash number one in Cumming, GA!

This was the first tile that was chosen for this back splash in Cumming, GA. We tore the old back splash out, put up new board, got ready to set tile…started opening these packages of tile only to find out…EVERY SINGLE SHEET WAS SCRATCHED. $40 a square foot tile. We refused to reward Villazio Tile by re-ordering this tile. Our client was willing to change her selection. It’s the story of a tile guy’s life…manufacturer produces inferior products and ships the stuff…and it’s left to us to make the decision to send it back because we won’t install it in someones home. Their lack of quality control becomes OUR problem! No other trade has to deal with this problem to the extent that tile guys do.

WE’RE NOT MCDONALD’S!

McDonald’s would install this stuff! Defects and all!

Again, the metaphor works!

How would you like it if McDonald’s installed this in your home? That’s why you want to eat brisket.

Sparkle grout with the matching silicone (around the perimeter) is another example of a small detail that we recommended on this project, that most installers would never have thought of. This adds that “one of a kind” characteristic that makes this back splash a personalized expression of this homeowners’ personality.

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Next back splash in Kennesaw, GA! One of my favorites to date. I loved how this back splash complimented this homes existing kitchen decor! The homeowner definitely has an eye for design. We like all of our customers but these people were a couple of our recent favorites! Thanks for having us!

We edged this back splash with a black color match profile from Schluter Systems. These color match profiles are some of our most popular options for edging. Whatever color tile you have, you can get a profile to protect the edge that blends in seamlessly, almost like it’s not even there!

We also (like always) used 100% commercial silicone sealant to install a soft joint around the entire perimeter of this splash so, they will never have that unsightly cracked grout! A high quality 100% silicone is vastly easier to clean whatever cooking mess may arise and also lasts considerably longer than whatever “siliconized” junk they sell at Home Depot.

A side note: Home Depot has started to hear our message because they are now carrying *a limited supply of Custom’s 100% silicone sealant! Things CAN change!!!

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The third kitchen back splash in Woodstock, GA was a timeless classic: 4"x10” subway tile with a cleanable, color consistent, stain proof Mapei Flexcolor grout. It was a big one, but nothing we couldn’t handle.

Demolitions of old back splashes are the most nerve racking part of a kitchen splash remodel. It still amazes me that we’re able to get them put back together and that we’re able to get them looking magazine worthy again. It’s a skill and an art form, not for the weak of heart or mind! The dust, the debris and the trepidation about working in someone’s finished kitchen around appliances, counter tops and cabinets.

The most frequent response I get to my phone question “What qualities do you like to see in the people that work in your home?” revolves around respecting and keeping their property clean, tidy and protected. Have a look at the photos and video in this blog post. We are the company you can trust that will go above and beyond while working in your kitchen. To us, “Quality” means delivering everything that you see on this web site. What you see here is what you will get.

Not to mention, recently we’ve made a new purchase to improve our tile service. We made the purchase of a Build Clean air cleaner that will keep your home even CLEANER than any other time in the past. This purchase was made to better serve you and show that respect and cleanliness that you expect during your next remodel. This is the level of service you deserve. “Professional finish, Tidy Service” It means something to us.

Look at the glue on these tiles. THEY ARE BARELY STUCK to the wall. Many people use ‘mastic’ to install back splashes which is a completely amateur move. Mastic is glue that comes in a bucket, pre-mixed and people use it because it’s like McDonald’s, FAST AND EASY…but inferior quality! (The metaphor works!) Compare that to the tile we stick to the wall in the picture below. I would hate to tear out one of our back splashes!