A DIY Stainless Steel Backsplash Is Way Easier To Achieve Than You Thought

Without an effective backsplash, your kitchen wall gets exposed to ongoing moisture that can produce mildew and mold. Homeowners and kitchen designers now have more materials and designs to give this space as much style as protection. Among the several DIY kitchen backsplash ideas that are easy and stylish are stainless steel backsplashes.

Preparation begins with gathering materials like steel panels, grease-cutting cleaner, sandpaper, painter's tape, and adhesive. If you use adhesive, let it sit at room temperature for a couple of hours for better flow and spreadability. Cleaning and sanding the walls makes for better adhesion. A detergent or all-purpose cleaner is fine, along with 100-grit or higher sandpaper. Your walls should also be level and free of drywall damage. Remove wall plates from any outlets.

Now, it's time for the installation. Mounting tape is optional, but you must apply some type of adhesive. Even when using mounting tape, always apply a bead of the adhesive away from the tape and toward the inside. Without tape, you can apply the adhesive around the perimeter, .5 inches from the edge. Place an adhesive bead vertically every 3 inches, whether using mounting tape or not. Use painter's tape every 6 inches to tape sheets into place and apply pressure on the entire surface so it sticks — remove the tape after 24 hours. Remember, don't touch the protective PVC film on the panels' finished side until after installation. One of the major benefits of installing stainless is that this non-porous material doesn't absorb liquids, making it a hygienic and easy-to-clean backsplash.

You can order steel sheets in various finishes and in custom sizes from various metal manufacturers. You can also buy pre-cut panels such as PGCOKO Stainless Steel Sheets in several sizes or Lswteiz Mirror 304 Stainless Steel Shim Plates from Amazon. However, if you prefer to cut your own, you'll need a circular saw with a blade specifically for stainless steel — namely, a diamond saw blade. Clamp the sheet onto a work table to stabilize it and carefully cut along your marked-off line. When it comes to steel sheet size, DIYers should know that gauge is the measurement for thickness. The higher your steel sheet gauge, the thinner it is. While the choice is yours, the average gauge people use for this feature ranges from 16 to 22.

Make sure you get a strong adhesive like the highly-rated Permatex Clear RTV Silicone Adhesive Sealant, or you can opt for Powerbond MIRROR-Double-Sided Mounting Tape, which is strong enough to hold a mirror to tiles. On her Instagram post, @sansnovazuhause, uses this mounting tape without other adhesive to mount aluminum sheets for a renter-friendly DIY kitchen backsplash. It may be an appropriate option for renters who want something they can remove later with some effort.

Choosing something that isn't easy to clean, not sealing grout, wrong patterns for the space, and going over budget are just some of the mistakes everyone makes when putting in a kitchen backsplash. With well-installed stainless steel sheets, you won't have to worry about such concerns.