Stainless Steel Tile Kitchen Backsplash

Stainless steel furniture is one trend that is on the horizon. Since stainless steelis no longer only for kitchen appliances, it has been used on a variety of different pieces of furniture. It is becoming common for people to buy dining room sets made of stainless steel. This creates a fluid look between the kitchen and the dining room. To keep things from looking too over-done, avoid using too much steel in one room. This works best if the dining room is an actual separate room from the kitchen. This will ensure that the rooms stand on their own design wise.

Luxury Stainless Kitchen Backsplash

In addition, more and more homeowners are re-doing their bathrooms instainless steel. This gives a sleek and modern look to the bathroom. If the kitchen is done in stainless steel as well, this provides a consistent flow throughout the house. A bathroom done in stainless steel is sure to become a focal point in the house. This is an easy way to add value to the home for potential buyers in the future. Items that can be stainless steel in a bathroom include, but are not limited to, toilets, sinks, cabinets, counters, showers, and accessories.

In addition to dining rooms and bathrooms, some home owners are choosing to incorporate stainless steel into their bedrooms. This may seem weird at first, but upon closer inspection, the choice makes sense. Stainless steel is a very versatile surface, which is what makes it suitable for a wide range of rooms in a home. In bedrooms, some people want a clean and modern look. Stainlesssteel, when paired with the right room decor, can create this masculine look. It is best to use stainless steel in combination with black bedding and dark accessories such as lamps and curtains. This will add to the industrial modern look of the room. Items in a room that can be stainless steel are bed frames, dressers, night-stands, bookshelves, and tables.

Another room that can feature stainless steel in a trendy way is a game room. Many people convert basements or bonus rooms into game rooms. Game rooms are a great way to entertain friends and family. Most game rooms are large and have a pool table, air hockey, or Foosball table. Stainless steelfurniture looks great with all of these game options. Since most game rooms also have a tv, a stainless steel entertainment center is a great choice. Another option is to buy a bar made from stainless steel.

Since stainless steel is no longer only for kitchen appliances, it can be used in any room of house to create a modern and trendy atmosphere. It can be used in dining rooms, bathrooms, bedrooms, or game rooms.

With everything stripped down the walls were ready for their flashy new coverings, including a healthy dose of our wonderful 3×6 glass tiles.

The light green glass combined with wood tones and the light sink and tub really offset each other and provide a nice contrast without being too much.

Here is what Tiffany from Indiana, PA has to say about the project:

We used your Sage Green subway tile for our kids’ bathroom.

Here is more info on the other products used in the bathroom:

• Strata Stones Maui Pebble tile
• IKEA Ann sink
• IKEA accessories
• Kohler tub and fixtures
• Hinkley lighting from Bellacor

Thanks again for your great service and product!

If you are looking to redo your bathroom, shower or almost any other spot in your home be sure to consider using our Glass Subway Tile!

You can take a look at other glass tile showers in our photo gallery.

Click either of the images to Expand.

One of the first choices any potential DIY backsplash installer should make is what type of material to use!  There are several choices…each having it’s own unique style to lend to your new kitchen!

Glass

Glass is available in a wide range of colors and sizes.  Most popular are glass subway tile in 3″ x 6″ sizes and glass mosaic tile which usually comes as a 1″ or 0.75″ sizes.  The benefit of using glass is not only for its beauty but also because it is is incredibly stain proof, easy to install and will last a lifetime!

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel mosaic tile is another popular choice in backsplash design.  A stainless mosaic will match other stainless steel items in your kitchen such as a range hood, refrigerator, etc.  Stainless steel tile can be used anywhere you would use glass, ceramic or stone and is equally as durable.

Stone

If you prefer the look of stone in your kitchen backsplash there are a few choices available.  We carry stone subway tile as well as stone mosaic tile.  Stone is another incredibly durable product that will stand the test of time.  Stone is more likely to stain than glass so we do recommend applying a high quality sealer over your entire backsplash after installation.

Ceramic

Ceramic tile offers the class subway tile look at a lower price than glass.  Ceramic is easy to install but is more prone to breakage and staining.  If you are looking for a low cost backsplash installation you might consider our ceramic subway tile.

Our glass tile is unique in the fact that it can be used in many different styles of kitchens and still fit in.  Such as a contemporary kitchen like the one above or even a modern kitchen such as this one below.

There are lots of different themes and aesthetics you can do in your kitchen but which ever way you choose to go with your kitchen, make sure you don’t forget to put in an amazing backsplash that will for sure be the envy of anyone who sees it.

Our customers have done many different things with our stainless steel tile, but the two most popular uses for it are on the kitchen backsplash.  One being as the entire backsplash and the other used as a background behind the stove.

Above is an example of how one of our customers used our stainless steel mosaic tile as a backsplash behind their stove.  They also paired it up with our white glass subway tiles for a truly amazing looking kitchen.

Here our customer used our 1″x2″ stainless steel mosaic tile for their entire backsplash. By using this for their backsplash it gave the kitchen a nice contrast from the dark cabinets an added much needed light to the space.

One of our customers wanted to update their kitchen.  Above is what their kitchen looked like before they started the project.  Using our white glass subway tile they were able to transform their dated kitchen into a beautiful modern kitchen with a stunning backsplash.

To achieve this kitchen backsplash look a 1/16 grout line with a pure white grout was used and every other row was offset to give it that brick style look. The countertop is granite and the faucet is a single hole Delta.  All the appliances were replaced with stainless and the standard brass light fixtures were replaced with nickel plated ones. The white vinyl floor was replaced with a wood laminate and the cabinets were painted white. Undercabinet lighting was installed to hi-light the backsplash and reflect light into the kitchen, giving it an open fill.  Our customers were able to do all the backsplash work themselves and had this to say about the experiance.

“I enjoyed working with the glass tiles. I’ve never worked with it before, so I was curious to see how well it cut. I bought a special glass tile blade for my wet saw, and I have to say it’s really easy to work with. Much easier to work with than marble, which I put in our powder room last year.”

1) Check the Surface

The first thing you want to do is to ensure that the substrate (the surface the tile will adhere to) is structurally sound, clean and flat. The substrate creates the base for the rest of your backsplash project so it needs to be solid!

2) Start off level

You always want to start off of the countertops. The countertop should be perfectly level. You want to start with a full tile at the lowest point and move up. This way if you have to cut any tiles they will be under your cabinets, range hood etc. and be mostly out of sight.

3) Make the cuts

The next step is cutting the tile. Glass tile is very easy to work with using a wet saw and a diamond blade it cuts like butter. It won’t splinter or shatter and will leave you with a very nice edge. As most people don’t own a wet saw there are many equipment rental places that rent them for around $50 a day. Using a wet saw not only ensures a clean cut but also reduces the heat on the material and the blade as well as minimizes dust!

4) Make it stick

There are a few methods for applying the morter/mastic. If you use a traditional mortar such as thinset or quikset we always recommend applying the first layer with the flat side of the trowel to ensure an even application that is completly adhered to the wall with no air pockets. After this is laid you would want to go back over the material with the notched side of the trowel to pull away any excess material and make a roughed up surface for the backsplash tile to stick to.

Tip: For easier application go with a pre-mixed mastic!

Another option to use to easily install any glass tile in a small area such as a backsplash is Bondera. Bondera is a sticky mat double sided adhesive which minimizes the tools and labor involved in installing your backsplash.

5) Lay the tile

Our 3″ x 6″ glass subway tile is perfect for any backsplash because it comes on a mesh backing for easy installation. It installs in one square foot sections easily. We still recommend using tile spacers especially between sheets to ensure perfect spacing of the glass. After the tile is adhered to your mastic of choice it generally should set for 24 hours and allow the mastic to dry.

6) Grout

Once the mastic is set its time to grout your new glass tile backsplash! You want to use a non-sanded grout and always use the grout float diaganolly across the tile to ensure a complete fill of the space between the glass. Once this area is grouted you will want to sponge off any excess grout with a damp sponge. After drying you may still notice some haze on your new glass tile but another pass with a damp sponge should remove that permanently.

7) Enjoy!

Congratulations! You have enhanced an often overlooked area of your home with beautiful glass tile. Your new glass tile backsplash will add beauty and value to your kitchen for years to come.

For more inspiring pictures of glass tile backsplashes be sure to check out our Photo Gallery!

Tools Needed to Get the Job Done

• Rubber Tile Float
• Diamond Wet Saw
• Large Sponge
• Chalk Line
• Carpenters Level
• Wooden Beating Block (small board wrapped in cloth, 2×4 works great)
• Adhesive (Thin set modified with Latex)
• Grout (Unsanded if tile spacing 1/8″ or less)
• Trowel (1/4″ x 1/4″ square notch)

The Right Backing for Your Project

You’ll want to make sure that your tiles are installed onto the right surface for the area that they are being installed in.  An improper installation surface could cause you problems after your tile is already installed so you’ll want to get this right.

Drywall - This is acceptable in areas of low or no moisture.  You’ll more than likely have drywall installed behind your kitchen countertop and this is an acceptable surface as long as it only receives small amounts of moisture.

Cement Board – When installing tiles around a tub or shower a good choice to go with is to use cement board.  Make sure when you install your cement board that you use galvanized screws, because standard drywall screws will rust over time.

Green Board -Green board can be used in areas that are occasionally subjected to moisture, so areas like behind your sink, toilets, and other backsplashes.  While green board is water resistant, you do not want to use it for areas with high exposures to moisture such as your shower as it will soften over time and your tiles will come loose.

Concrete - Having concrete as your surface is great for tiles.  It is ideal for outdoor areas that are subjected to freezes and thaws.  You’ll want to make sure that if the concrete is newly poured that you wait at least 28 days for it to cure before installing your tiles.  Also if the concrete surface has cracks or large chips make sure you repair those before installing your tile.

Grouts and Adhesives

When choosing an adhesive we suggest that you go with a Latex modified thin set and to verify with the manufacture that the product is suitable for glass tiles.  You’ll want to shade the surface area that you are applying your thin set to if necessary as direct sunlight can cause the surface to dry unevenly or dry to fast causing you problems during installation.

As far as grouting it is recommended that you use non-sanded grout for most glass tiles.  If your spacing between tiles is 1/8″ or less then you must use the non-sanded grout, but if it it greater than 1/8″ you’ll most likely want to use sanded grout.  The color of grout you use is completely up to you though it is typical practice to use a grout color that is lighter than the color of the tile you’re installing.

Installing Your Tile

1. Clean the surface you are installing your tile to, you want a nice clean and smooth surface before you apply your thin set.  When you’ve finished cleaning your surface you will want draw some guidelines on the wall, so get our your tape measure, chalk guide lines and level and draw as many necessary guides as you think you’ll need to properly line up your tile.

2. Once you are happy with the amount of guides you’ve drawn on the wall it is time to mix your latex modified thin set.  All thin sets are a little bit different so make sure to read the manufactures instructions on mixing.

3. Time to apply that thin set to your surface!  Using the flat side of your trowel apply the thin set to only the area of your surface that you plan to install tile on in the next 10 to 15 minutes.  Typically this would be the size of 2 to 3 square feet, but if this is your first time I’d recommend that you only put up enough for 1 square foot your first couple of sheets of tile.

4.  Now you’ll want to angle your trowel about half way between 45 degrees and 90 degrees using the notched side of the trowel to evenly spread the thin set. Once down switch back to the flat side of your trowel and gently flatten all the peaks and notches in your thin set.  Your goal here is to flatten your thin set without changing its thickness and minimizing any air pockets or gaps in your thin set.

5.  Time to set your first sheet of tile.  With your hands gently press the tile into the thin set while aligning it to your guide lines.  Make sure to use gentle and even pressure across the sheet when pressing it into the thin set.

6. Grabbing your wooden block that is wrapped in cloth, place it over your tiles and lightly tap it with a hammer to make sure all the tiles in your sheet are flush with each other.

7.  Now you can repeat steps 3 through 6 for the remaining sheets of tile in your project.  Make sure when placing the next sheet that they are evenly spaced from the other sheets in accordance with the width between the tiles in your sheet.

8.  After all your tiles are placed on your wall, you’ll want to let them cure for a minimum of 24 hours or longer if stated in the instructions of your thin set.

9.  Once you’ve waiting 24 hours or longer you can now begin to mix your grout.  Go ahead and follow the manufactures instructions for the grout you choose and mix it up.

10.  Use a tile sponge and dampen the surface of your tiles.  This will help with the application of your grout.

11. Using your rubber float apply the grout in between your tiles forcing the grout down into the spaces between the tiles.  You’ll want to make sure that you left no air pockets in the joints.

12.  After you’re satisfied with the grouting you can use your rubber float to scrape off the excess grout that is still on the tile face.  Holding the float at 90 degrees to the surface and scrape diagonally.  By scraping diagonally you ensure that you are not removing grout from between the tiles but only the excess that is left on the tile face.

13.  Let your grout dry a bit but not set completely.  Usually this takes about 20 minutes.  If you wait too long the residual grout still left on the tile face will be very difficult to remove.

14.  Grab a damp sponge and gently clean the residual grout from the face of the tiles.  You’ll want to be sure that you don’t use too much water or force because you don’t want to remove the grout from between the tiles, only the excess grout on the tile face.  Make sure you do a very detailed job here, because you don’t want to leave any grout on the surface that will cure completely.

15.  After removing the grout you’ll want to wait at least 24 hours to let the grout cure completely, before applying a grout sealer.  A grout sealer will protect your grout from water damage so this is extra important to do in high moisture areas.

16.  Too apply the grout sealer first you’ll want to wipe down the surface with a dry towel to remove the haze that the grout left after installation, and then follow the manufacturer of the grout sealers instructions on application.

17.  You did it!  Now you can invite over all your friends and family to marvel at the amazing transformation of your space and all the great work you did.