Are you planning a kitchen renovation that will involve covering your kitchen backsplash? These practical tips and guidelines will help you complete the project without much effort!
When choosing materials with which to cover a kitchen back wall, the main consideration is practicality. Like the shower area in the bathroom, the cooking area in the kitchen is an intensively used place. Both the kitchen worktops and the back walls have to withstand grease splashes, steam and other influencing factors on a daily basis. Therefore, before installing such wall coverings, it would make sense to find out about the material properties in order to avoid any mistakes. Find out below what you need to pay attention to and what important steps you need to follow for trouble-free installation.
Why cover a kitchen back wall with modern materials?
Today, there are cladding materials specifically designed for cooking areas that are both heat and moisture resistant. Instead of choosing classic wall tiles, you can opt formodern laminate panels, acrylic, sheet metal, stainless steel, or glass. Many people even used to put wallpaper behind kitchen sinks and stovetops. However, in most cases these become susceptible to dirt and damage that is difficult to remove. However, there are modern variants that are coated with vinyl and are more suitable for this.
In addition, everyone is trying to design a contemporary kitchen where one can cook comfortably and feel comfortable. The modern cladding materials for the kitchen back wall enable such a design and can be stylishly adapted to various kitchen designs. Fully clad kitchen back walls are also low-maintenance and can give any cooking area a uniform look. There is a wide selection of designs and colors available, and installation is usually quick and inexpensive.
What should you consider before installing the cladding material?
Whether you want to cover the entire wall surface or just parts of it, you should protect the areas behind kitchen sinks and stovetops. As you already know, these are the most susceptible to contamination. This is mainly due to the constantsplashing of hot oilsimportant as this leaves stubborn stains. Seamless installation of such cladding materials is another important factor as joints and cracks usually make cleaning the cooking area difficult. Here are some more factors to consider:
- Be sure to carefully read the manufacturer's instructions before assembly to familiarize yourself with the actual process. This means you will be well prepared and can also get all the tools you need in advance.
- Make sure your chosen cladding material is suitable for the location where you plan to install it. For example, some variants are not designed for direct installation behind a gas stove. It is therefore worthwhile to be better informed about individual details and to avoid complex repairs or unnecessary costs.
What advantages or disadvantages should you consider when choosing a material?
- Laminate– Choosing this material would be a very practical and affordable option if you want to decorate a kitchen backsplash. The continuous panels are advantageous because they do not trap dirt in cracks. You can also visually imitate a variety of fine materials and thus make your kitchen area look high-quality. In addition, laminate flooring is difficult to scratch and can be adapted to various styles. Its main disadvantage is that if cracks form, they could quickly spread across the entire surface.
- Other cladding materials such asGlass, solid surface or quartzThanks to their non-porous structure, they are also suitable for kitchen back walls. However, if you order these as large and thick slabs, the cost may be high.
- Wasstainless steelAs far as things go, you've probably noticed that this material is used in professionally equipped kitchens for counters, sinks or as heat protection. Besides its easy on the eyes appearance isStainless steel is a durable material, with which you can cover your kitchen back wall without any worries.
How can you cover a kitchen back wall step by step?
Since the walls to be covered are usually large, it is advisable to leave the installation to a professional. However, there is an option to do it yourself by following a few simple steps. In this way, you can have such wall coverings in your home more cheaplyKitchen for more comfort and better appearanceattach.
- It is necessary to prepare the wall surface first as this will make your work easier. Whatever cladding material you choose, you should ensure that the wall plaster underneath is clean, smooth and dry before cladding the kitchen splashback.
- First, determine the correct position for the chosen wall covering. This is the next important step where you should mark the exact dimensions of the board. This will help you avoid complications when installing the wall covering. Try to carefully align the plate behind the cooking area, using a spirit level for accurate positioning.
- The third step is to cut the wall paneling to the correct dimensions. However, you can save yourself the effort by ordering the panels cut to size. Another option is to purchase the standard size panels. If there are sockets on the wall, you must remove them before installing them and cut out the plate in the appropriate places.
- Now you can attach the paneling to the wall by applying glue beforehand. The most common method for attaching traditional siding materials is to use a combination of double-sided tape and low modulus silicone adhesive.
- You can either attach the panel to the wall with an adhesive or attach it to studs with small-headed screws.
- For the former method, allow the adhesive to dry completely and remove the used masking tape.
- First, apply a thin line of silicone caulk, no more than 2.5mm thick, around the edges.
- If you have glass panels, you can then apply a protective coating if necessary.
Final thoughts
As you can already see, covering kitchen backsplashes doesn't necessarily have to be a complicated process. If you follow the manufacturer's instructions and the steps described here, this won't take much time either. Depending on your craftsmanship and budget, you can choose one of the above options to protect and beautify your cooking area in a cost-effective way.
