What to make an apron in the kitchen: material, installation

With the help of correctly selected materials, their combination, overall dimensions and color scheme, you can select the working area in the kitchen room. In this article we will learn how to make an apron in the kitchen, and also get acquainted with the sequence of the workflow.

Features of arranging an apron from various materials

To choose the best option for arranging the working area in the kitchen, you need to familiarize yourself with the strengths and weaknesses of each of the possible materials. Wallpaper for this purpose is rarely used, because such products will soon become dirty and may become unusable from constant surface cleaning. As an exception - vinyl roll materials with additional protection by glass or transparent plastic.

The most budgetary option is the use of a film with a decorative pattern. It can be glued to the wall surface or fixed to the base using staples. The life of such a product is limited, if necessary, it can be replaced with a new copy.

Ceramic tile

The most popular option for decorating an apron is the use of tiles. Ceramic tiles have several advantages compared to other materials:

• long operational period;
• high strength indicators of the product;
• good water resistance;
• simplicity of care of a surface from a tile;
• relative inertness to the effects of chemicals;
• wide range of products.

The design of the working area with tiles can be the most diverse. The surface is often made in one color, although in practice other compositions are used, for example, with an ornament or with imitation of brickwork. With the right choice of color tiles, the user can visually expand the space in the kitchen.

For laying ceramic tiles on the work surface, glue or cement-sand mortar is used. To perfectly align the apron, you must first repair all cracks, skews and elevations on the base. With a separate installation of the working area, the tile can be attached to the chipboard sheet.

Mosaic

The apron of the kitchen working area is often made of mosaic elements. These include:

• glass of various colors;
• natural or artificial stone;
• metal products;
• ceramic elements;
• acrylic or plastic.

Mosaic products are a set of individual elements that are connected into a single whole using paper or a special grid. The kitchen interior has a unique appearance, in which the countertop and apron are made from mosaics of the same color scheme.

The materials in question are expensive, so some users prefer to make a kitchen apron with their own hands from improvised materials. As the main elements here are used pieces of broken dishes, the remains of ceramic tiles and other similar products. Installation of such a working area is lengthy and requires experience from the master.

Artificial and natural stone

Many kitchen owners prefer to design a work area with expensive natural stone or an artificial analogue (porcelain tile, concrete and clinker tiles, large pebbles). These materials have a number of positive characteristics:

• resistance to sudden changes in temperature;
•  low moisture absorption;
• ease of cleaning surfaces of stone products, their hygiene;
• unlimited period of operation;
• environmental friendliness of the material.

The main disadvantages of the products under consideration are the complexity of installation, high cost and low maintainability.

Despite the presentable appearance, marble is not used in this business. The fact is that the surface of these materials can absorb moisture and unpleasant odors. Under the influence of an external aggressive environment, the structure of the stone will soon begin to collapse, and it will lose its decorative effect.

The second artificial porcelain material is similar in technical characteristics to ceramic tiles, but differs from its counterpart in increased strength and wear resistance. Such products are rarely used to arrange the working area in the kitchen due to the increased mass and high cost. It is better to entrust laying of porcelain tile to the experienced master.

To the question of how to finish an apron in the kitchen, there is another answer - large pebbles. Such products without sharp corners hide all the irregularities of the base surface. Stones are laid on glue or cement-sand mortar. The installation technology of large pebbles is quite simple, any man can handle this work.

Wood or MDF

Many users choose MDF laminated panels for decorating an apron, consisting of a substrate and plastic or laminate. The best option for the device of the working area is the selection of the same color scheme as that of the working area. On the surface of the panel are fixed with liquid nails.

The main advantage of the products under consideration is the ability to select the necessary piece of sheet, because the apron can go beyond the lining. When working in the kitchen, splashes or dirty spots may appear on the decorative surface. They are easily removed with a regular glass cleaner and a sponge. Do not use abrasive substances for this purpose, because they can scratch the decorative surface.

The rapid wear of the MDF panel is associated with exposure to high temperatures. In areas near the slab, the coating often fades or deforms. Laminated panels have a low cost, if desired, they can be quickly replaced.

Glass

Glass is considered the most popular material for decorating an apron, due to such advantages:

• high strength indicators;
• long service life;
• simplicity in leaving;
•  decorative surface qualities;
• wear resistance;
•  water resistance of the material;
•  chemical inertness;
•  high level of fire safety.

In the working area of ​​the kitchen, triplex glass reinforced with a film or a tempered analog is used. For decoration use plain or transparent models, products with the effect of the background image.

A non-standard design solution will be the sticker of the mirror on the chipboard. A similar detail can visually expand the interior space in the kitchen. It should be noted that the mirror will quickly get dirty, so this element needs daily care.

Not every user knows how to make a kitchen apron with their own hands from glass. It is fixed on glue or special accessories, while the thickness of the element should be greater than 5 millimeters. Non-hardened products are suitable for drilling, which allows them to be fixed on special rivets.

Metal

Metal products, specifically stainless steel, are used to create aprons when the kitchen is decorated in high-tech style. Such products are fixed on a glass surface using liquid nails. Such panels have a high shelf life, of the minuses it is necessary to highlight a small number of design solutions of models.

Brick apron

The work area with imitation of brickwork is performed in various colors. The surface of such products may be smooth or textured. The material has the form of a tile, it is laid with dressing of seams like a regular brick. The main disadvantage of such an apron is the possibility of accumulation of grease and dirt in the working area, so the working area must be periodically cleaned of contaminants. The material is suitable for any interior, it has good water-repellent properties and high strength.

How to make an apron in the kitchen with your own hands

The installation process of the working area begins with the selection of the necessary material and surface preparation. Next, we learn how to arrange an apron in the kitchen in detail.

Choose an apron option

Materials must be selected so that the working area is as functional as possible. Decorative products should be well cleaned of dirt and dust. In addition, when buying a material, attention must be paid to its resistance to sudden changes in temperature, as well as moisture resistance.

The protective coating is fixed in the immediate vicinity of the stove or sink. The walls in these places often suffer from waterlogging or splashes of fat, which contribute to the formation of persistent stubborn stains. Vegetable or meat cutting may occur in the working area of ​​the kitchen. When working, food particles can also get on the walls, so some users lay an apron throughout the countertop. In addition to functionality, the work area combines kitchen furniture into a single whole, it should ideally fit into the existing interior.

Sizing

When determining the dimensions, you need to know how many planes the working area is located. If the apron is located on two or three walls, then the user must find out the dimensions of each of the planes. The height of this design will be determined by the difference in the elevations of the countertops and the overhanging kitchen facades.

The length depends on the size of the headset, the location of the gas stove and sink in the room. If plumbing and household appliances are located in the corners of the wall, then the user must still add 50-70 centimeters to the work surface. With a lateral fit, make the apron straight.

For example, the length of a standard kitchen set is 3 meters, while the sink and stove are in the middle of the room. In this case, the height of the canopy from the floor level will correspond to 1.4 meters, length -3.5 meters. It is also necessary to make additional protection over the stove under the hood, the possible overall dimensions of 75 * 90 centimeters.

Apron mounting

We will get acquainted with the process of mounting the working area using ceramic tiles as an example. Such work is carried out according to pre-applied markings before installing kitchen furniture. First you need to level the base, remove the height differences and repair the cracks.

At the next stage of work, it is necessary to determine the nature of the location of the tile on the surface. The tile is laid in a straight or diagonal position, picking up a picture and mounting a border, if this element is provided. Next, make markings on the wall, determine the position of the upper and lower boundaries. At the bottom, we fix a metal profile that will fix the bottom row of tiles.

We begin the installation of tiles from the center and sequentially move to the edges. So that the gaps between the individual elements are the same, we install plastic crosses. After fixing the tiles on the surface, these elements are removed. Grouting is carried out two days after the completion of the main work.

Conclusion

Whatever material is chosen for the apron device, improper work technology can ruin the entire surface. In this regard, it is necessary to carry out careful measurements of both the working area and specific materials. The work is carried out with special accuracy, the result will be a beautiful decorative surface in the kitchen.