Our kitchen remodeling work in Wilmington, DE, centers on tile: backsplashes, floors and feature walls. That includes herringbone range walls, stacked and offset subway, hexagon mosaics and large-format porcelain floors. Tile is the trade our crew came up in, first as F Tile and now as F2 Home Improvement, with more than ten years of hands-on work behind it.
A lot of Wilmington kitchens don't need a full gut to feel new. New counters with a fresh backsplash, or a tile floor that replaces two layers of peeling sheet vinyl, changes how the room works day to day. When the project is bigger, we handle the tile and floor scope and the demolition that comes before it, and we plan around the cabinet and countertop schedule so each trade has a clean surface to work on.
Kitchens in Wilmington rowhomes and twins
The galley kitchen at the back of a rowhome is the classic Wilmington layout in neighborhoods like Trolley Square, Cool Spring and Browntown. Walls run long and narrow, windows are small, and there are often more doorways than cabinets. That makes the backsplash one of the most visible surfaces in the house, and it also means the tile has to deal with old plaster walls that are rarely flat or square.
We check the wall with a straightedge before choosing a pattern. A herringbone or a large tile shows every dip in a wavy plaster wall, while a smaller subway or mosaic can follow it more forgivingly. Sometimes the right answer is skim-coating or replacing a section of wall before any tile goes up. Our post on backsplashes in Wilmington rowhomes goes into this in more detail.
In the post-war ranches and split-levels of north Wilmington and Brandywine Hundred, kitchens are more open, and the common request is a continuous tile or luxury vinyl plank floor running from the kitchen into the dining area. Those jobs are more about subfloor prep and transitions than wall conditions.
What we handle
Tile backsplashes
Subway, herringbone, hexagon, zellige-style and mosaic sheets, with outlet boxes extended, edges finished and grout matched to the counter.
Range and hood walls
Full-height tile behind the range, including herringbone and chevron patterns centered on the hood.
Kitchen tile floors
Porcelain and ceramic floors over a properly prepared subfloor, with an uncoupling membrane where the structure calls for it.
Luxury vinyl plank
Water-resistant LVP for kitchens that open into living areas, installed with transitions planned at every doorway.
Kitchen demolition
Removing old backsplash tile, flooring layers and damaged wall sections before new work starts.
Wall prep and repair
Patching plaster, replacing drywall sections and flattening walls so the tile lies true.
How the project runs
Walkthrough & estimate
We measure the walls and floor, check how flat and level they are, and talk through tile options. The estimate is free.
Layout and ordering
We plan the tile layout around windows, outlets and cabinet ends, and confirm quantities including overage for cuts.
Prep
Old materials come out, walls are repaired and floors are leveled or reinforced as needed.
Installation
Tile is set, grouted and sealed if the material requires it; outlets and trim are reset.
Final walkthrough
We clean up, review the finished kitchen with you and go over grout care.
Planning notes for a Wilmington kitchen
Order of work matters. A backsplash goes in after countertops are installed, and floors usually go in before cabinets unless you are keeping the existing boxes. If you are replacing counters, tell us the fabricator's schedule early so we are not waiting on each other.
Moving a sink, adding circuits or changing gas lines is licensed trade work, and permits for those changes in Delaware are confirmed with the City of Wilmington or New Castle County for your address. F2 is registered as a home improvement contractor in Pennsylvania; for Delaware projects we confirm permit and licensing requirements per project with the local jurisdiction. Tile, floors and cosmetic updates are the core of what we do.
Areas we cover around Wilmington
- Trolley Square
- Cool Spring
- Browntown
- Hedgeville
- Forty Acres
- Bayard Square
- Brandywine Hundred
- Claymont
- Newport
- Hockessin
Kitchen Remodeling in Wilmington: FAQ
Can you tile a backsplash on old plaster walls?
Often, yes, if the plaster is sound and bonded to the lath. We tap and check it first. Loose or crumbling sections get cut out and patched, and very wavy walls may need skim coating or a new layer of board so the tile can sit flat.
Should the backsplash go all the way to the ceiling?
In a small rowhome kitchen with short upper cabinets or open shelving, taking tile to the ceiling on one wall can make the room feel taller and cleaner. On walls with full upper cabinets, stopping at the cabinet bottoms is standard. We sketch both options when it's close.
Can you install a kitchen floor without removing the cabinets?
Yes, and it is common. We cut the old floor at the cabinet toe kick and tile up to it. The catch is height: a thicker new floor can trap the dishwasher, so we check appliance clearances before choosing materials.
Do you install cabinets and countertops?
Our kitchen work focuses on tile, flooring, demolition and wall prep. We coordinate the schedule with your cabinet and countertop suppliers so the surfaces are ready at the right time.
Related reading
Kitchen Backsplash Ideas for Wilmington Rowhomes
Rowhome kitchens are narrow, the walls are rarely flat, and the backsplash is on full display. Here's how to pick tile and a layout that suit them.
Interior Demolition Before a Remodel in Wilmington
Demolition sets up every step that follows. Here's what to decide, test and protect before the first wall comes down in an older Wilmington home.
Kitchen Remodel Timeline: What to Expect, Step by Step
Most kitchen delays come from sequence and lead times, not the work itself. Here is the usual order of a kitchen remodel and where time goes.