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Kitchen Backsplash Alternatives Article
19. Kitchen Backsplash Alternatives
from:The usual, and highly fashionable, backsplash alternatives these days are made of a metal like copper or stainless steel. They can give a kitchen a warm and rustic feel or a cool and contemporary feel, depending on which you choose.
Why go with Metal?
There are many kitchen backsplash alternatives available, and metal is a particularly good one. Some kitchen countertops have backsplashes built into them; and in other cases you have to put tile or some other material up to form it. The question arises, which is the best thing to use? With any sort of wood, there is the danger of rot. If you use tile, it has to be placed correctly or you run the risk of the backsplash being uneven. Also, there is the question of how high to take the tile to insure water does not drip behind it. So, with metal, it has several advantages. It is thinner and therefore takes up less room, it is fairly easy to install, and it is quite decorative. Also, it covers a large area easily, and does not have the problem of needing to be installed perfectly. A slight bend or blemish does not cause a problem; in fact, with metal backsplash alternatives, a few kinks can add to the beauty, reflecting the light nicely.
The Method of Installing Kitchen Backsplash Alternatives
Step one is to pick out a metal backsplash that fits with the style and décor of your kitchen. You can generally find different styles at local home improvement stores, or online. Places like Home Depot and Lowe’s have them, and a plethora of websites.
Once you get the metal backsplash, you can start the installation process. First, the wall where the panels are going to be places should be lined with three-eighths inch or half inch plywood. That will make sure that you have a good flat surface on which to mount it. As the kitchen is a high traffic area, the backsplash will not only get water on it, but there is always the chance of random impacts – the odd plate or bowl getting tossed at it. So, each metal panel should have a lining; a latex based tile glue. You apply it in a thin, even coat, and then (while it is still moist), you place the panel into position. Now, here is a tricky spot! You want to press the panel against the plywood to get a good hold, but not so hard as to bend or dent the metal. The whole idea of the backing material is to minimize any unwanted dings, blemishes etc. So, the last thing you want is to put some dents in the panels as you are installing them.
As you hold the panel in place, allow it to stay there a good long time. The idea here is to give the glue time to seep and ooze into every little bend, crevices and fold of the embossed metal panel. Next, once the panel is in place, get the next panel and do the same, placing it so that it overlaps the previous panel by about three-eighths to a half inch.
The big concern in a kitchen is moisture. You want to try to prevent it from getting behind the panels at all costs. Otherwise the plywood will rot, and you will be putting a new panel in. so, run a bead of clear caulk or silicon over that area of overlap. Continue these steps until the entire backsplash is in place. Afterwards, use a clean and non-abrasive cloth to wipe away any excess caulk or glue before they harden. Follow these simple steps, and your kitchen backsplash alternatives will prove most effective and decorative.