How to make a kitchen apron from ceramic tiles
Many housewives strive to provide comfort in the kitchen. In order to save money, walls are often whitewashed or painted, and sometimes covered with simple wallpaper. If you managed to save at least a little on this, you can “put it on” in the kitchen like this called an apron
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Advantages of a kitchen apron
There are many positive aspects to this design element:
- original appearance;
- protection of the working area of the walls from complex contaminants;
- ease of care;
- durability;
- compliance with fire and electrical safety;
- ease of washing off grease stains around the gas stove;
- eliminating the appearance of mold from dampness around the sink.
Preparation of materials and walls
There are several material options for “half-panels”, but the most practical is tile. You need to start by measuring the area of the proposed apron and selecting tiles. To make up for unforeseen losses (unsuccessful cutting, chipping, uneven walls) and to ensure a reserve for subsequent replacement and repairs, it is necessary to purchase 10-15 percent more tiles for the calculation. For those who are more concerned about practicality, smooth matte ceramics of a non-staining color are suitable.
Related materials will require tile adhesive, grouting agent, nails or screws, and plastic crosses. From the tools you need to prepare a tile cutter or grinder, spatulas for tiles and rubber, a mallet, a drill, a level. Wall preparation is standard for all finishing work – cleaning of old finishes, covering up uneven surfaces, sanding, applying plaster, drying, deep priming. To ensure ease of gluing the tiles, it is better to move all sockets and switches outside the apron. If this is not possible, try to ensure that they are located at the joints or corners of the tiles.
The process of constructing a kitchen apron
Marking the future backsplash is crucial. After calculating the backsplash height based on the tile size, use a level to mark the top and bottom edges on the wall. The top edge should overlap slightly under the wall cabinets. Attach a guide strip or metal profile along the bottom edge. It’s best to start gluing from the most prominent corner to ensure the cut tiles are out of sight. Just before beginning, thoroughly wet the wall with water. Lay the bottom row of tiles along the guide, applying mortar to the wall. You can also apply a very thin layer of adhesive directly to the tiles.
The instructions for the adhesive used should specify a drying time. This means it’s best to wait until the specified drying time is reached before laying the next row. It’s a good idea to check each row with a level. To ensure uniform spacing between tiles, use special plastic spacers. Without waiting for the tiles to dry completely, constantly wipe the surface of the tiles with a damp cloth and remove any excess adhesive protruding from the joints. After 24 hours, fill the gaps between the tiles with a special grout.
