A padded stainless steel backsplash can make a beautiful appearance in your kitchen or bathroom. They are durable and easy to clean, but what are the real differences from tile to tile? There are always different instillation options to consider. Peel and stick tiles combine the ease of shaping tiles with scissors and the speed of not having to mess with glue. Some tile shapes can be heated with a hair dryer to remove if necessary.
Peel and stick tiles may have a shorter life expectancy, but they are very easy to replace. It’s easy to order a few more boxes than you expect you’ll need, in case you find a stubborn tile or two. You can always stick them with a stronger adhesive, but in general they will work well against a low traffic area like a backsplash.
Regular padded stainless steel backsplashes come in tile and sheet versions. A tiled version is preferable when you have a lot of cutouts and irregular sizes to work with. Older homes often have this problem due to older standards in size and construction. Remember that when cutting stainless steel you will also need to smooth the sharp edges where you made the cuts.
Padded stainless steel sheets are the easiest option if you have a perfectly square or rectangular area to fill. Be sure to measure the gap twice before ordering because you can’t send a cut-to-size piece to the store for a refund. If you order a standard size blade, you will be in a better position with more leeway. A standard size sheet would be easier to resell and get most, if not all, of your money back if you decided not to use it once you have it at home.
There are a few things to remember about sheet style backsplashes when ordering. Please read the item description carefully. Make sure it comes with the stainless steel screws you’ll need, so you don’t have to buy them separately. Also, make sure the company ships the proper packaging materials. The number one customer complaint about buying a padded sheet-style stainless steel backsplash is that they arrive with bent corners. Please check and review the policy for receiving damaged products from the company you are purchasing from and, if possible, give them a call and make sure they use edge protectors when shipping.