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Are you looking for a durable and practical kitchen wall cladding? In this article, we’ve compiled a list of five great cladding options for your kitchen walls.
These types of decorative and practical wall choices fit different budgets so that you can achieve your dream kitchen wall look without breaking the bank. So if you’re planning to refurbish your kitchen, or design a new one from scratch, this article is for you.
Let’s break it down, one-by-one.
Ceramic Tiles
Ceramic tiles are moisture-resistant, easy to clean, and durable; that is why it is one of the most popular cladding options for kitchen walls. With today’s modern technology, tile designs have revolutionalised into more fashionable and contemporary style. It also offers a wide range of colours, patterns and finishes. There are three types of ceramic tiles named as the following:
Types of Ceramic Tiles
Glazed
This type of ceramic tile is coated with glass-forming minerals and ceramic stains, and it offers better stain and moisture resistance than unglazed ceramic tiles.
Unglazed
Unglazed tiles are usually robust and dense, and it comes in various surface treatments and textures. It has good slip resistance, but it needs sealing to help prevent staining.
Porcelain
Porcelain tiles also belong to the ceramic tile category and are the hardest and densest tiles available. Because the colour in porcelain tile goes all the way through, they are non-porous, resist scratching and can withstand temperature extremes.
Pros and Cons of Using Ceramic Tiles
There’s always pros and cons for every material, but weighing in the advantages and disadvantage can help you in making the right decision.
PROS of Ceramic Tiles
As for ceramic tiles, here are the advantages of using tiles.
- Water and stain-resistant
- Durable and tough
- Easy maintenance
- Endless design options
CONS of Ceramic Tiles
Ceramics provide numerous benefits for walls, in particular, where there is a lot of moisture. However, as time goes by, and as new options started to emerge, ceramic tiles became quite outdated, and problems may arise. Here are some other downsides of ceramic tile cladding.
- Unglazed tile and grout needs to be sealed
- Hard and cold surface to walk on
- Time-consuming and requires meticulous installation
- Growth of moulds and bacteria on the grout
- Too heavy for upper stories
Tile-effect PVC Wall Panels
Tile-effect wall panels are the durable and cost-effective alternative to tiles to clad your kitchen walls. It offers the same advantage with tiles, but it is so much easier to install, waterproof, and it doesn’t require cement or grout. It is also available in a range of quirky patterns and modern designs that can help you achieve a contemporary kitchen look and bring out style and elegance.
Pros and Cons of Using PVC Wall Panels
Here are the advantages of wall panelling your kitchen:
PROS of Tile-effect Wall Panels
- Cheaper than tiles
- 100% waterproof
- Durable quality
- Quick and easy installation
- No grout or cement needed
CONS Wall Panels
These are the downsides of wall panels that you should be aware of before making up your mind:
- Artificial nature of the product
- Softer Material than others
When weighing the advantages against the disadvantages of PVC wall panels, the pros would most likely outweigh the cons. Tile-effect PVC wall panels are a cost-effective solution to clad your kitchen walls. They come in various design choices and are easy to install.
Paint
Kitchen walls often encounter moisture, so you must be thinking that it is not suitable for this part of your home. Well, you’re right. However, there’s an ideal alternative – plastic and acrylic paints. Unlike regular paint, they are moisture-resistant, and it prevents mold build-up.
They are also available in a wide range of colours and are relatively affordable.
Advantages of using paint:
- Touch-ups are easy and unnoticeable
- Imperfections are less noticeable
- Smooth finish to the surface
Downsides of using paint
- Requires multiple coats
- Intensive cleaning and scrubbing may scrape off the layer
- Attract and hold dust
Wallpaper
Wallpaper also became a popular kitchen wall choice, especially the vinyl wallpaper because it can be easily cleaned with a damp cloth and it is easy to fix into your walls. This option is ideal for decorating the walls of your office space with different design and patterns that are both decorative and stylish.
Advantages of Using Wallpapers
These are the benefits that you can get in using wallpapers:
- Great Visual appeal
- Damaged walls
- Easy application and removal
Downsides of Using Wallpapers
While wallpapers give some benefits, it also has disadvantages and limitations.
- Moisture for humid areas
- Higher cost compared to paint
- Releases VOC compounds
Metal Wall Cladding
Stainless steel wall coverings have a superb hygienic quality which explains why it’s a common choice for commercial kitchens. It can be easily cleaned with steel wipes as it shows stains and it is resistant to moisture. However, its appearance doesn’t suit modern or traditional homes.
Pros and Cons of Metal Sheets
Here are the advantages and downsides of using metal for your kitchen walls.
Benefits of Metal
- Low Maintenance
- Don’t Absorb moisture
- Insect-Proof
- Design Flexibility
- Highly recyclable
- Heat-resistant
Disadvantages of Metal
- Prone to Dents and rusts
- Noisy when water hits the surface
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