Kitchen apron from tiles own hands

Important in the interior of the kitchen today plays a kitchen apron, both from a practical and aesthetic point of view, thus causing a number of difficulties with the selection of finishing materials that would meet all the necessary requirements. At the same time, most people still choose traditional ceramic tiles, because every little one can lay out a small section of the kitchen wall, even without a practical skill in such a case.

The purpose of the kitchen apron

Recently, the kitchen aprons have been given increasing attention, largely due to the appearance on the market of a diverse range of finishing materials.

Earlier, for the design of an apron, only the tiles of a rather scanty color scheme and design were used, but its main task in the work area was to protect the wall from accidental mechanical action, grease and other kinds of splashes, etc.

At present, the choice of materials suitable for decoration of the apron is so huge that it is easy to protect the wall and at the same time create unique masterpieces, contributing to the aesthetic appeal and creativity of not only the work area, but also the entire kitchen interior.

Therefore, the material of the kitchen apron should be durable, waterproof and fireproof, and also have excellent practical and decorative characteristics.

Types of finishing material, their characteristics

For the design of the kitchen apron today, different materials are used that have different properties, dimensions and exterior design.

MDF panels

In recent years, MDF panels have been widely used, produced by pressing small wooden sawdust, the front surface of which is laminated with a heat-resistant coating.

Advantages of MDF panels:

• wide toning spectrum;
• simplicity of assembly, as well as dismantling works;
• minimum number of docking joints that prevent accumulation of dust and fat drops;
• possibility of wet cleaning without the use of aggressive agents;
• low cost.

Disadvantages:

• relative resistance to mechanical action;
• low moisture resistance;
• a short life, about 2 years.

Despite the resistance of MDF panels to high temperatures, it is not worth using them for decorating an apron in the presence of a gas cooker, because they are made from wood waste, therefore, with any violation of the integrity of the coating near an open fire, it can easily catch fire.

Glass tiles

A new trend of fashion is an apron made of glass tiles. The material for its production is a tempered glass or triplex. In this case, the surface of the tile can be glossy, matte or corrugated. The wide range is represented by tiles of various sizes with a monophonic background or having inclusions or stripes of other shades. However, the most attractive is the tile with a pattern, which is applied by sandblasting or photo printing with the use of special equipment that allows to achieve the 3d effect.

Pros of glass tiles:

• high decorative qualities;
• resistance to high temperatures and high humidity;
• resistance to aggressive chemicals;
• is easy to remove any dirt from the surface.

Cons:

• low resistance to mechanical damage;
• probability of clouding over time;
• labor intensity of care due to the distinct manifestation of traces of steam, spray;
• complexity of installation work;
• service life does not exceed 5 years;
• high cost.

Along with glass tiles, glass panels with the same properties as tiles have recently been produced, but they significantly simplify the installation and maintenance process.

Mirror tile

The shine of the mirror image gives the room a luxurious and original look, so the material is in high demand, despite even significant shortcomings. Cutting mirror sheets on the necessary elements allows you to get tiles of a wide variety of shapes and sizes. The color palette is represented by gold, chrome, silver and other metallic shades. In this case, the surface of the tile can be embossed, smooth or with a pattern. However, tiles with a facet or a holographic image have a special originality. Advantages of the mirror tile:

• visual increase in space;
• combination with any materials;
• resistance to ultraviolet rays, as well as high temperatures;
• moisture resistance, allowing wet cleaning using neutral detergents.

Disadvantages:

• material brittleness;
• with time on the edges appear dark spots;
• painstaking care, consisting in the constant removal of traces of fogging, splashes, stains;
• small operating period of 2-3 years;
• the cost of a mirror tile is below glass, but above ceramic.

However, custom-made mirror panels simplify labor-intensive care considerably.

Metal tile

For an interior made in the style of hi-tech, a metal apron made of stainless steel will be very useful. In other styles, metal will look too cold and industrially, so the choice in favor of such material should be assessed in advance.

Advantages:

• high strength properties;
• excellent wear resistance;
• fire safety;
• resistance to moisture, ultraviolet rays;
• operating time;
• reasonable cost.

Disadvantages:

• scant color palette, represented by metallic shades;
• whimsical care, caused by the constant disposal of traces of fat, water, which are clearly visible on the reflective surface;
• low operating life, due to the use of aggressive detergents, leading to a darkening of the metal.

Ceramic tiles

The most practical and durable of all types of material is ceramic tiles made from different types of clay with the addition of binding components by pressing with subsequent single( monocottature) or double( bicoture) firing. In this case, the monocoature has a lower porosity, in contrast to the bicoture, which means that it has a higher moisture resistance and strength. The surface of the ceramic tile is smooth, embossed, as well as glossy or matte.

Advantages:

• large selection of sizes, shades, design;
• high strength due to firing at high temperatures;
• excellent resistance to mechanical, as well as chemical effects;
• high indicators of moisture, wear resistance;
• is an environmentally friendly material that does not emit harmful compounds during heating;
• no time deformation;
• does not change the original shade under the influence of ultraviolet rays;
• simplicity of care;
• reasonable cost;
• durability.

Disadvantages:

• brittleness of the material;
• the need for preliminary surface preparation to improve adhesion;
• labor and styling time.

Thus, the most durable and aesthetic kitchen tiles on the apron, the photo of which is presented above, is glass and ceramic tiles. In addition, glass and ceramics are perfectly combined with any other materials, giving the room a harmoniously completed look. However, the price of glass kitchen aprons will be much higher than for ceramic aprons.

Determination of the size of the kitchen apron

The costs associated with the purchase of finishing material, directly depend on the size of the kitchen apron.

Bottom border of apron

The border of the bottom edge of the apron is determined by different criteria, based on the following conditions:

• if the furniture is purchased and placed in its place, the border of the apron is the level of the countertop;

• if the purchase of furniture is in the planning stage, then the height of the gas or induction plate is taken as the lower boundary of the apron. However, if a washing machine is placed under the countertop, the height of the machine is taken from the lower limit, because it is always slightly higher than the plate.

As a perfectly flat floor is a rare phenomenon, when the furniture is arranged, the table top may appear below the apron, forming unaesthetic gaps. This problem can be avoided during the installation of the apron, reducing the lower limit value by 2-3 cm.

Upper limit of the

apron The distance between the hanging cabinets and the work surface should be at least 45-50 cm, otherwise the countertop will be used to the fullest extentit is rather difficult, since the upper cabinets will block the view of the part of the working surface. At the same time making the width of the apron of a larger size is necessary taking into account the following factors:

• height of ceilings in the kitchen. Between the hanging cabinets and the ceiling there should be a free space of 30-40 cm for free mounting / dismantling of the upper cabinets;

• type of plate. Since the minimum distance from the electric or induction cooker to the hood should be 60 cm, and from the gas plate - not less than 75 cm, the width of the kitchen apron will increase slightly in the area of ​​the hood placement.

• type of hood. When using a suspended structure of a flat type hood, mounted to the bottom of a wall cabinet or to a wall, the upper edge of the apron will be the lower edge of the hood. When selecting a fireplace type hood, the upper limit will be the same as the height of the hanging cabinets without any additional distance.

When determining the width of the apron under the hood, it is necessary that the edges of the apron come in 2-3 cm not only for the hood, but also for the hanging cabinets located on each side of it.

Thus, when planning a kitchen apron, the dimensions must be determined taking into account the different features of furniture, appliances, height of the room and personal preferences. In this case, do not forget that the apron must enter the upper and lower boundaries under the cabinets.

Mounting of the kitchen apron from ceramic tiles

The technological process of mounting the tiles is divided into several stages, the sequence and thoroughness of which ensure a satisfactory result.

Required materials and tools

For the convenience and speed of work, it is necessary to prepare in advance:

• primer;
• brush for applying to the wall of the primer;
• tile adhesive;
• ceramic tiles;
• grout for joints;
• notched, rubber and ordinary spatula of small size;
• sutures crosses 2.5, or 3 mm;
• level;
• metal profile, the length of which is equal to the length of the kitchen apron;
• wall anchors;
• pencil;
• containers for preparation of glue and grouting;
• rubber kitten;
• tile cutter or Bulgarian;
• pliers;
• foam sponge;
• cloth made from natural fabric.

Preparation of the wall for laying tiles

The quality of the prepared substrate depends on the reliability of the adhesion of the tile to the surface, therefore:

1. We clean the surface, taken from the plaster, from plaster, paint, wallpaper, preferably to a concrete or brick foundation.
2. Coat the prepared substrate with a primer and allow it to dry thoroughly.
3. We mark on the wall the lower border of the apron and draw a straight line with a pencil.
4. Immediately under the applied line we fix with the help of dowels a metal profile, which prevents the tile from sliding down during the setting of the mortar, and also ensures the evenness of the laid row.
5. The horizontal dimension of the fixed profile is checked by level.

Laying of tiles

For the production of even rows, the tiling of the kitchen apron is made from the bottom up and from the edge to the corner, therefore:

1. We make tile glue according to the instructions on the package and let it stand for 5 minutes, then thoroughly mix,all the lumps.
2. Using a notched trowel, apply glue to the surface of the wall for 2-3 tiles. If the base has deep irregularities, then glue is also applied to the tile.
3. We take the tile and fix it on the wall with a uniform pressure. In this case, the tile itself must rest on one side on the fixed profile.
4. Next tile glue next to the first, not forgetting to insert between the tiles seam crosses, ensuring the smoothness of the seam.
5. After fixing 2-3 tiles check the horizontal, as well as the vertical by applying the level. If necessary, the projecting corners of the tiles are corrected with a kyanite.
6. As soon as the tiles are laid, we immediately clean the seams from the excess glue until it clings.
7. After finishing the stacking of the first row, move on to the next row, and so on.
8. After 48 hours after the end of work, remove the metal profile, suture crosses and remove the remaining glue from the seams.

Grouting

The final stage of laying the tiles is as follows:

1. Spray the seams from the spray gun, getting rid of dust.
2. Flush the tile so that the glue particles do not mix with the trowel.
3. We spread the grout as indicated on the package, and mix thoroughly.
4. We take a rubber spatula and, keeping it at an angle of 45 ° C, fill the seams as much as possible.
5. Surplus of the grout is removed as soon as all the voids are filled.
6. After filling 6-8 seams, we draw a finger along the seam, giving it a certain relief. If cracks appear, then pass the seam with a damp sponge and repeat the procedure.
7. After finishing the work, wipe the surface of the tile with a damp cloth and then rinse with the addition of detergent to get rid of the emerging divorces.

Options for the design of the kitchen apron from the tile

Currently, the tile for the kitchen apron can be bought in absolutely any specialized or construction shop, and the variety of shapes and sizes of this material is so great that it is difficult to stop at any one option. And maybe you do not need to dwell on a tile of the same size and shape, but is it worth experimenting by combining contrasting or monochrome colors?

Quite interesting looks and tiles of various sizes in combination with ordinary and diagonal masonry.

At the same time, the kitchen apron( 10x10 tile is becoming more popular), looks not only elegantly, but at a cost of cost inferior to the tiles of conventional sizes, as there is practically no need for cutting small size paper.

In addition, gluing the 10x10 tile diagonally is more convenient, significantly reducing the time of work.

The use of small format tiles also allows you to easily lay out small panels, reviving the design of monochrome tiles.

Although it is possible to make an insert or decorate a rectangle from a rectangular tile in the form of a picture.

Thus, to make an apron in the kitchen can be made from various materials, combining the colors and shape of the finishing materials. The main thing is that the color range of the tile harmoniously combined with other objects of the interior.