The Ultimate Buyer’s Guide To Peel And Stick Kitchen Tile
Do you need new kitchen tile? Are you looking for an affordable, stylish option for your backsplash, countertops, or floor? Peel and stick kitchen tile is a new technology that offers even the greenest of DIYers in Thousand Oaks the opportunity to add new tile to their kitchen. It’s no surprise that homeowners are looking for easier, inexpensive ways to upgrade their homes, and that’s why Transworld Tile has put together this ultimate guide to peel and stick kitchen tile for your home.
WHAT IS PEEL AND STICK TILE?
In most cases, peel and stick tile is used as kitchen backsplash. It can be used for countertops and flooring, but it’s best used as backsplash. Traditional tile installation includes adhesive, tiles, grout, and a painstakingly long process that only artisans or professionals can complete successfully. For most homeowners, they dare not install their own traditional tile because a single mistake can cost them hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to repair or fix. Furthermore, traditional tile materials cost more than the peel and stick tile alternative.
Peel and stick tile is exactly as it sounds. There is no grout involved, and the tiles can be sectioned according to your backsplash installation needs. This means that as long as you properly cut and size your peel and stick tile, installation is relatively simple. Peel and stick tile is lightweight and made of metal-surfaced plastic or foam-backed vinyl. Although it’s rare to find peel and stick tiles made of real glass, stone, marble, or porcelain, they look good enough to pass as the real thing. Due to the easy of installation, peel and stick tile must be made of lighter weight material to last longer once stuck to the wall.
Peel and stick tile has a paper backing that can be peeled away prior to installation. In some cases, homeowners will add extra adhesive to mitigate the chance of the peel and stick tile from falling off the wall. This is a precaution and is not needed in a large majority of installations to secure the material to the wall.
WHY PURCHASE PEEL AND STICK TILE
Do you have time to install traditional tile? Does your budget tell you need to stick with a more affordable option? Have you considered the lifespan of traditional versus peel and stick tile? Below are the pros and cons of peel and stick tile, so you have a better idea of why you may want to purchase it instead of traditional tile:
CONS OF PEEL AND STICK TILE
As you may have already gleaned earlier in this post, peel and stick tiles are relatively inexpensive, which means their integrity is called into question. The adhesive can sometimes not work properly, which results in the tiles falling from the wall or allowing moisture to get behind the tiles, leading to mold growth.
Homes age, and they can shift on their foundation. Furthermore, as walls bow due to age, it can also bow the peel and stick tile. This isn’t to say traditional tile won’t do the very same thing, but peel and stick is attached from end-to-end, which means if one portion begins to falter, the entire strip can follow suit fairly quickly.
Removing peel and stick tile can destroy the drywall behind. The adhesive is extremely sticky, which can lead to problems later when choosing to upgrade your backsplash, floor, or countertops.
Finally, peel and stick tile is really challenging to fit into areas of your kitchen that aren’t perfectly square. The cutting and manipulation is more work than if you had used traditional tile instead.
PROS OF PEEL AND STICK TILE
When we consider the pros of peel and stick tile, the price, by far, is the biggest advantage to this material. Whether you install the peel and stick tile across your entire kitchen backsplash or in a small area behind your sink, it’s going to cost less than your traditional tile.
Peel and stick tile is much easier to install than traditional tile. As mentioned above, traditional tile involves adhesive, grout, tile, and a near perfect installation of every single tile piece. Peel and stick simply needs you to clear the area it’s being installed, peel the back paper off, and stick to the wall or floor. Voila!
When you choose peel and stick tile, you get a large variety of designs at a more affordable price. Considering marble for your kitchen? Traditional marble tile is going to cost much more than a peel and stick variety.
PEEL AND STICK TILE TYPES
As mentioned in the pros of peel and stick tile, you get a wide variety of style and design options. Although peel and stick may not look exactly like traditional tile, it can be a great alternative if you’re budget is a little lower, and you need a quick, easy installation. Here are some of the most popular peel and stick tile materials:
Gel
Stone
Glass
Vinyl
Metal
WHICH PEEL AND STICK LAYOUT DESIGN WILL WORK BEST?
The layout of your peel and stick tile is your preference. Whether you want to go with a uniform subway layout or a staggered natural stone layout, it’s completely up to you. The best way to determine which layout to choose can be gleaned from what your kitchen already presents to you, your family, and your guests. Do you already have a modern kitchen? Stick with clean, hard lines. Want to go more rustic? Consider the staggered layout of stone or faux-rusted metal. Not sure which style or design will work best with your kitchen? Let Transworld Tile help! You can visit our showroom or give us a call during business hours, and one of our design experts will gladly get you the tile you need.
HOW TO INSTALL PEEL AND STICK TILE?
The name says it all. You simply need to peel the paper off the back of the tile section, stick it to your wall or floor as desired, and press to activate the adhesive. In most cases, the installation steps are as follows:
Cut
Peel
Stick
DO YOU NEED PEEL AND STICK TILE?
Transworld Tile can help! We’ve been providing kitchen tiles to Thousand Oaks residents and business owners for more than 30 years. Our experts can help you find the perfect peel and stick tile for your kitchen. Whether you’re replacing old tile or installing new tile, we have a wide spectrum of options at affordable prices.
Not sure which tile to choose? Can’t decide between a few different styles? Visit our showroom today or give us a call during business hours. We serve Thousand Oaks, San Fernando, and Los Angeles with all their kitchen tile needs. We’re always ready to serve you!
