Benefits of Having Glass Splashbacks in One’s Kitchen

First of all, let’s define the term “splashback”. This is considered to be one of many architectural features available for decorating one’s home. It is made to be used in very humid places in a household, like, for example, kitchens and bathrooms. It is designed to protect the wall that is beneath it from various kinds of damages caused by splashing of, for example, water or oil. In addition, they are easy to clean and thus they contribute to making the job of cleaning a living environment much easier. Furthermore, they can withstand high heat levels, so it is safe to put them in places around the stove.

The process of installing splashback tiles is considered to be a delicate one. They are put on a wall (or floor, or ceiling) surface and grouted onto it. Sometimes a sealer is also applied, but this depends solely on the material used to make the tiles themselves.

So, if one is working in the kitchen, for example, oil splashes are inevitable. If the wall does not have splashbacks installed, then the wall can get permanently stained by these splashes. The process of fixing this problem can be long and hard. Furthermore, water splashes from the sink are also very common. Water has proven to greatly damage the wall surface if it is does not have this kind of tiles installed and it can cause various types of mold that can be very difficult and expensive to track down and fix. So, these are two of the biggest benefits of kitchen tiles in general.

The most common materials used for making splashbacks are glass, ceramic and stone. Glass has proven itself to be the best choice. The following text is concerned with showing some reasons that explain why the previous sentence is true: 

● Glass reflects light in the best possible way. So, kitchens with glass tiles are very shiny and considered to be very good looking. Furthermore, if the kitchen area lacks light, glass tiles can be a good way of dealing with this issue. They are known to brighten up the kitchen environment and give it an impressive overall look.

● Glass is a material that can be painted in a very great variety of colors. This means that the customer has an almost infinite number of possibilities when choosing the color for the splashback tiles is concerned. A shiny and colorful kitchen has proven to contribute to the overall working efficiency in the kitchen.

● Glass is one of the easiest materials to clean. Kitchen work can be rather messy. With glass tiles the process of cleaning is just a matter of wiping the surface with any sort of cloth. This contributes a lot to the overall hygiene of a kitchen environment.

● Some companies that sell glass tiles offer the customer the option of adding special features, such as LED lighting and various photos. So, these tiles can be manufactured to suit almost any customer’s needs.

● Glass can be easily edited and manipulated in terms of shape and size. This means that, when given the measurements, the people that make the glass splashbacks can arrange for them to fit any surface with great precision.

● The customer is, in most cases, given the opportunity to design the tiles. This is a great way to explore one’s creative capabilities.

● Glass splashback tiles are designed to be extremely durable, so, once installed, they keep their original look for a long period of time.

So, after reading this, one can conclude that having this kind of product installed in his or her kitchen is actually a very beneficial investment. At this point, it is important to state that there are two disadvantages connected to it. The first is the fact that glass tiles are considered to be very expensive, so the people that are purchasing them are usually very well situated. The second is the fact that the installation process can be a very difficult one. A lot of things can go wrong, so it is advisable have an expert do the installation.

 
As the reader can see, these designs are very good looking. After taking into account everything stated above, one can only imagine all the possible glass splashbacks that are available on the market. It is up to the reader to choose what he or she likes best. 

For more information, check out our specialized web store and blog: http://www.exotiles.com.au

How to Install Stainless Steel Mosaic Tiles

Stainless steel is a very common choice for material used for making mosaic tiles. This is due to the fact that stainless steel has properties that are very desirable when it comes to tile constructing. 

These properties are:

●             It is lightweight;

●             It doesn't oxidize easily;

●             It cannot just simply stretch or discolor;

●             The shine it has can last for more than 20 years…

So, it is safe to say that stainless steel is a very durable material.

People have had these kinds of mosaic tiles installed as various, both commercial and residential interior decorations. Some have put them on walls, floors and ceilings, while others have put them on backsplashes, countertops, various water features, and so on.

Full and detailed mosaic tiles installation guide on ExoTiles.

http://www.exotiles.com.au/mosaic-tile-installation-guide/

The following article is concerned with tips on how people should perform the installation process, when stainless steel mosaic tiles are concerned:

●             At the very beginning, it is very important to note that the installation process of these kinds of mosaic tiles should be done by people that are experts in the field. This is because you have to watch out for various possible problems. For example, if any sort of electrical work is being done around the tiles, people can get electrocuted easily (since metal is a good conductor of energy). Also, care is required in places where high temperatures will surround the stainless steel (fireplaces, stoves, etc.), as well as extremely cold places. Furthermore, if you are installing this kind of mosaic tiles, you should avoid installing them in places that may be subject to impact by a strong force, or where there is heavy abrasion. Having all this in mind, you can conclude that an expert hand is somewhat necessary.

●             Sometimes, stainless steel mosaic tiles can be installed on gently curved surfaces. In order for them to have uniformity between each individual tile, the tiles themselves have to be manipulated. This is done by using both larger and smaller individual tiles. This design can end up being very stunning and impressive.

●             The substrate (the underlying layer) should be prepared well. It should be fixed, flat, cleaned of all contaminant materials such as dust, or oil, or paint, and it should be dried properly. All this is done in order for the tiles to get attached to the substrate correctly. Special care is required in humid areas, such as bathrooms and kitchens. The material usually used for substrates is concrete, cement and is some cases treated plywood.

●             Waterproof membranes are also a very important thing to have when installing tiles made out of stainless steel. They are used to prevent water leakage through walls and floors. Special care is advised when adding the membrane up the wall and outside shower areas. Actually, the waterproof membrane system is advised to be used in all wet and humid areas. Keep in mind that some systems may require the use of a primer.

●             There are various adhesives (glues) available on the market for purposes of installing tiles. It is highly advisable to follow the instructions provided by the adhesive manufacturer within the package point by point. There are many brands of adhesives available on the market and most of them are suitable for installing stainless steel tiles. The most commonly used are cement-based adhesives. They are usually recommended for places where no movement is anticipated. On the other hand, there are modified cement-based adhesives that can be used where there is movement. 

●             Grout is used to fill up the spaces between the tiles and to keep them joined together. For the best possible results, a constant use of a firm sponge is advised. This is due to the fact that grout gets separated from the tiles after it is dried. So, therefore, you should apply the grout at least 2 (in some cases more than 2) times. The second time the grout is supposed to be non-sanded.

So, after you have gone through all this, you should end up with having stainless steel tiles installed wherever you want. Now, you are advised to clean them regularly, in order for them to keep their original shape for as long a period of time as possible. Most stains can be cleaned just by the usage of a small cloth or sponge to which you can add a soft detergent. Fingerprint stains can be cleaned with olive oil. Just do not use soap or bleach, as it can damage the tiles.

To sum up, this is all you need to know concerning the installation of stainless steel mosaic tiles. Here are some examples, just to show how beautiful and well installed tiles look like.