Carrying out repair work in the kitchen, today many people think about how to protect the wall in the working area from the ingress of grease, moisture, and splashes from products. In solving this problem, it is very important that this surface area is not only well protected from the influence of these factors, but also looks stylish. A wall panel in the kitchen is a great finish with a combination of all the requirements.
Material matters
Today, the choice of panels is colossal and varied. However, the wall panel for the kitchen is a special choice, since each of them has certain qualities: excellent resistance to moisture, mechanical damage, has a long service life.
Tile
Not so long ago, this material was especially in demand, was always among the first, was considered the most reliable. Of course, he has many positive qualities. But there are also plenty of minuses. The material has a high indicator of resistance to temperature conditions, humidity, easy to care for. The wall panel in the kitchen from the tile is installed from any size of the tile. A variety of colors is also considered a very big plus.
However, tile is a very expensive material, it is difficult and takes a very long time to install. Moreover, when installing a panel from it, you may need additional building materials. The seams on the kitchen apron are inevitable, they get dirty very quickly, and washing them is always a problem that many face.
Tile for these purposes was used previously. Now he has lost his popularity a bit. And the price of the issue also matters. Not many housewives are willing to pay the full price for it. Fortunately, there is a huge amount of alternative materials at a more affordable cost and better quality in terms of characteristics.
Film
The most affordable form of coverage today. Easy to install, easy to care for and wash, it has many colors. But the wall panel to the kitchen from the film does not perceive high temperatures, it is short-lived in terms of service life. Film aprons in kitchens are rarely made. The main reason is the danger during operation - it can simply catch fire. As for environmental friendliness, when heated, the film emits harmful substances.
Metal
The cost of this material is very high today. Therefore, not everyone can afford to install them in the kitchen. If viewed from an aesthetic point of view, such panels do not look very attractive. Polished stainless steel surfaces begin to fade over time and are difficult to wash. Therefore, installing them at home is not practical.
Glass
A wall panel in a kitchen made of glass is an ideal solution. The main advantages of this material are resistance to temperature changes, humidity, ease of care. Now it has become fashionable to apply a variety of patterns to its surface, this gives a special touch to the kitchen apron. How to fix wall panels in a glass kitchen? Very simple and easy!
This will require a perfectly flat surface, regular tiles are inexpensive to sell, so every average buyer can buy this material. Glass during installation allows you to make the backlight in the working area - it is convenient, and even visually, thanks to the lamps, the space increases.
MDF panels
Slabs made of this material are also well suited for a kitchen apron. MDF has a lot of advantages and almost no minus. But their main advantage is density and strength. It does not require special care, environmentally friendly material, does not emit harmful substances, is resistant to moisture. The MDF panel can be laminated, apply different patterns, fungal deposits or molds do not form on its surface. The cost of the material is quite affordable.
How to fix the wall panel in the kitchen from MDF? A perfectly flat surface is not required for installation, but before installation it is still advisable to additionally process it, for example, to laminate it, to apply drawings, since the plate itself is not very attractive in appearance.
Pvc panels
Particleboard, fiberboard and the above material are often used in kitchens for installing an apron. These materials are characterized by special properties, and therefore are widely used for these purposes. Environmentally friendly, practical, hardy to use - all these qualities are considered the undeniable advantages of these panels compared to all of the above.
Dimensions
Installing a wall panel in the kitchen with your own hands can be both budgetary and expensive. It is made in two types:
- Tiled.
- Rack and pinion.
The material is characterized by high quality and technical properties, perfectly combined with any interior.
- Tile panels are squares 98 ÷ 98 cm. They can be stacked as desired: in a checkerboard pattern or create mosaics by combining colors.
- Sheet panel tiles resemble plywood with drawings. The size of this material is about 3 square meters with a thickness of 3 ÷ 6 mm. In addition to texture surfaces, smooth ones are very popular. Large dimensions allow you to install them extremely quickly, while the number of joints will be minimal.
- Slatted panels are planks up to 3 meters long with a thickness of the order of 1.2 cm and a width of 30 cm.
Wall Panels and Design
The range of material for today is very diverse:
- Neutral panels are minimalistic, from floor length to ceiling.
- In the form of mosaics, they are located in the working area above the surface of the stove and countertop.
- Natural plate on the wall with the application of the elements of nature on its surface.
All these materials will please the hostess or guests not only with their attractive appearance, but also with their environmental friendliness.
- If the kitchen space does not stand out with particular whiteness, then wavy graphite panels will look very harmonious in it.
- Modernity and comfort in this room will make bamboo finishes or artificial wood.
- The material imitating marble looks very stylishly and attractively.
With the help of such panels it is possible not only to create a unique stylish interior, but also to constructively realize almost any decision of design projects.
Material processing
Do not forget that before installing wall panels in the kitchen, you need to think about how they will subsequently look. So that their appearance can really strike with their beauty, it is necessary to use some processing methods before installation.
- Offset printing. Unfortunately, all the video tutorials teach how to properly install the wall panel in the kitchen with the drawings already applied. They are applied using offset printing, and almost any image you choose is easily and simply applied using this method. The quality remains very high, stability as well.
- Lamination This is an excellent protection of the surface of the panel from the effects of the external environment. How does this happen? A thin film layer is applied to the surface of the material and glued by heating. With independent lamination, you must first apply the image, then cover it on top with this shell. This, firstly, protects the image, and secondly, gives the panel durability and attractiveness.
Mounting
Installing a wall panel in the kitchen with your own hands is simple and not hard. A step-by-step installation instruction looks something like this:
- For work you will need an adhesive composition. You can use both silicone mixtures and acrylic. Before use, carefully read the instructions for use.
- Glue must be applied in even strips at a distance of 20 cm from each other. The margins on the edges should be about 3 cm.
- Installation is better to start from one of the inner corners.
- The panel greased with the mixture is pressed firmly, but not too strongly (so as not to damage) to the wall, it is easy to tap the surface with a hammer or a mallet so that the glue can adhere well to it.
- Between the tiles it is necessary to leave a gap of several millimeters, after finishing work they must be puttied.
Attention! The installation of wall panels in the kitchen is carried out in two stages: marking with the preparation of the material and the installation process itself.
Conclusion
Installing a wall panel in the kitchen will create for you not only a pleasant appearance of the surface, but also a feeling of coziness and warmth. It will be pleasant to be in it, and the pleasure of cooking will become more vivid.