It can if it is not sealed. Seal before grouting, keep a cloth nearby for splashes of oil and wine, and use a pH neutral cleaner. Honed stone forgives far more than polished.
What size stone tile suits a backsplash?+
Anything from a 1x1 mosaic up to a 6x12 field tile. The standard gap between counter and cabinets is around 18 inches, so a 4x12 or 6x12 covers it in two or three courses with clean lines.
Can I put stone behind a gas range?+
Yes, with the clearance the range manufacturer specifies. Stone handles heat well; what it does not like is standing grease, so wipe it down and keep the sealer current.
Do I need to seal the grout too?+
Yes. Grout is more absorbent than the stone around it. A grout sealer, or an epoxy grout from the start, keeps the joints from darkening behind a cooktop.
Stone Backsplash Tile
Natural stone cut for the wall behind a counter: mostly honed and polished marble, with limestone through the middle of the range. Mosaics on mesh make up much of it, alongside 4x12 and 6x12 field tiles for a simpler run.
A stone backsplash sits right where cooking happens, so finish matters. Honed marble hides the small etches that come from lemon juice and vinegar; polished stone shows them. Seal the stone before grouting, and again once a year.
If the counter is already busy, a plain honed field in one tone calms the room down. If the counter is quiet, a waterjet or herringbone mosaic in the same stone family gives the kitchen its detail.
