Common Wall Tiles for Kitchen Problems and How to Avoid Them

When designing your kitchen, always keep in mind the sorts of things your kitchen will encounter as you use it. Certainly, the kitchen is a very busy and very lively place, and all sorts of things will occur within it that may test your home design’s effectiveness. Things such as common accidents, the sorts of pressures the tiles floor tiles will need to withstand, the stains that wall tiles will need to be cleaned of, and how guests will react to your kitchen design should you invite them over. Knowing the common problems most faced by wall tiles for kitchens is also an important step in kitchen design.

Forewarned is forearmed, after all.

We've provided here a small list of common incidents your wall tiles may need to endure, and tips to help avoid them or mitigate the damage caused by them.

Shattering

For plastic or stone tiles, this is less likely to be a problem. Plastic wall tiles for kitchens can better absorb the blow, whereas stone is just too heavy to do more than chip. Ceramic is also quite good withstanding physical trauma. However there is the chance with other materials of a tile shattering if it’s struck soundly and directly, which of course means it must be replaced. It may also scatter bits of tile everywhere, which may present a hazard to bare feet, pets and young children.

Avoiding shattering is a simple case of being careful around your wall tiles. Unlike floor tiles they’re less likely to be struck, so mostly this is watching things when moving other furniture, or being careful with objects on surfaces.

Build Up of Dirt and Germs

Keeping your wall tiles clean of dirt and stains can help keep your kitchen clean and hygienic. Whenever you’re cooking, always wipe down your tiles with an antibacterial spray, and scrub until the tiles are clean. Wall tiles for kitchens that are particularly prone to dirt build up are any tiles behind a cooker, where boiling sauces often spray against the back wall. There’s little that can really be done to stop this entirely, the most you can do is clean your tiles immediately after cooking.

Chips and Scratches

Even if a tile does not shatter, it may still chip or become scratched. These upset the appearance of your tiles and will spoil any effect they may have in a pattern or decoration scheme. Avoidance is much like shattering -- make sure nothing slams against or scuffs your wall tiles. If it happens nevertheless, you may wish to either paint over them if the scratch or chip is shallow enough, or replace the tile entirely.

Faded Colours

Sometimes tiles may just loose colour over time. This is most prevalent with plastic tiles, but sometimes it can occur with other tile types as well. Usually the cause is direct sunlight bleaching the tiles, but sometimes it can also be the result of cleaning chemicals too. If this happens, you can repaint ceramic or porcelain tiles to immediately restore the original colour, however plastic tiles will need to be replaced.

For further information on wall tiles for kitchens, or else to browse their extensive online catalogue, visit the website of Crown Tiles. You can also contact them directly by phoning 0800 156 0756.