Remodeling a kitchen can be very expensive. A less expensive and more do-it-yourself solution is to use tiling. There are many ways to use tile within the kitchen. At Tallen Builders of Ocala, Fla. we have over 35 years experience and would like to help you with your next remodeling project. Read further to learn about the best and worst places in your kitchen to use tile.
Tile Backsplash – Best
Tile backsplashes offer a lot of variety in design and can really change the look and feel of your kitchen. If you are planning to use a tile backsplash, we recommend doing the entire length of the counter to not isolate a single part of the kitchen. The backsplash will fit between the top of the counter and the bottom of the wall cabinets. This is a great DIY project if you are a little handy. You will need thinset, mortar and grout, or use peel-and-stick adhesive tile mat which will replace the thinset. Your options are endless, but try to stick to four inch or smaller tiles.
On the Floor – Good
Another option to take advantage of in the kitchen is tile on the floor. Ceramic or porcelain tiling is good for this area and comes in very large tiles.The largest benefit to using tiling on your floor is that it is impervious to water. However, one of the drawbacks is that tiling is very hard under foot. This can be alleviated by using mats around the sink and stove.
Behind the Stove as a Heat/Grease Shield – Good
Using tile as a heat and grease shield is a great way to show off some artistic skills and be practical. Most tiles are fired around 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit and can handle whatever heat your stove and oven produce. Another benefit to using tiling is that you can clean it easily. However, some of the seams and gaps between the tiles might be hard to reach. If you do a tile backsplash, this is an area of the kitchen you can expand your design in height.
Behind the Sink Only – Bad
Doing a backsplash only behind the sink or any area in the kitchen can isolate and draw a lot of focus to that area. Unless you want your sink or stove to be the star of the show, try to do a full backsplash and accentuate this area. Tile is water-resistant and can be a good solution behind the sink if there aren’t other options available.
Kitchen Island and Perimeter Counter Top – Bad
The kitchen island and counter tops are two of the worst places to place tiling. It is an easier DIY project because you don’t have to worry about tiles sliding, although the seams make dealing with the tile difficult. It is harder to clean and will require a lot of maintenance over time. This becomes more difficult with the perimeter countertops, where most of the prep work happens.
As Wainscot or a Wall Covering – Worst
Using tiling as a wainscot or to cover an entire wall in the kitchen isn’t the norm today. Wainscots are not as bad as a full wall covering, but still provide the look and feel of a bathroom, not a kitchen. This trend never lasted long and it is rare to see a kitchen with full wall tiling. This is the worst way you could use tiles in your kitchen.
Tallen Builders of Ocala, Fla. would like to help with your next kitchen remodeling project. If you have any questions about using tile in your kitchen, please contact us. If you would like to share your DIY project, you can also connect with us on our social media channels.
The best (and worst) places to put #tile in your #kitchen http://t.co/I5jV6DAxua
— Tallen Builders (@TallenBuilders) December 15, 2014