Plastic panels in the decoration of the kitchen apron and walls

Traditionally, the backsplash and kitchen walls are tiled with ceramic tiles, but plastic panels can oppose a lot to this material – both in terms of design and in terms of practicality. To understand why this is so, consider the classification of the material..

What are the plastic panels for the kitchen

Plastic kitchen panels are made of extruded polyvinyl chloride (PVC). They are classified into types according to dimensions:

1. PVC lining: 10-12.5 cm wide, up to 3 m long, usually monochrome;

1. Wall plastic panels themselves: width 15-50 cm (more common 25 cm), length up to 3 meters, seamless connection;

1. PVC sheet: 0.8-2.03 meters wide, 1.5-4.05 meters long, 1-30 mm thick; with a flat, smooth surface, matte or glossy.

Advantages of plastic panels

The walls and backsplash of the kitchen, lined with plastic panels, have the following advantages:

• Lightweight construction, which makes PVC fastening incredibly simple;
• Fast fastening – plastic kitchen panels are fastened 10 times faster than ceramic tiles;
• The apron and plastic walls are incredibly easy to clean – they can be wiped with napkins or washed with standard detergents (non-abrasive);
• Plastic panels for the kitchen are made of hard PVC resistant to high temperatures (sensitivity threshold – 120 °);
• Modern plastic finishing allows you to create a kitchen apron with any design – with unusual prints, volumetric patterns or original colors, transparent wall panels are often used;
• And the main advantage – plastic wall and apron cladding – budget and affordable.

Cons of plastic trim

Of course, plastic wall panels have their drawbacks – in most cases, they are a counterbalance to the affordable cost. The main negative characteristics of plastic include:

• Small margin of safety, low wear resistance;
• The possibility of damage to the front decorative panel due to prolonged contact with detergents or ultraviolet rays;
• Flammability on contact with an open fire – this should be taken into account when placing a kitchen apron.

There is one more nuance – PVC wall panels for the kitchen must certainly have all certificates, including hygienic, confirming the manufacture of material from safe raw materials that do not emit harmful substances when heated.

Do not think that finishing your kitchen with pvc panels is impractical or unprofitable. The main thing is to choose the right material.

Recommendations for the selection of wall panels

When choosing kitchen wall panels, you need to follow these recommendations:

1. The dimensions of the plastic sheet or panel should be larger than the apron area – so that the material goes behind the cabinets and is slightly below the working surface.
2. If you plan on placing plastic close to the hob, be sure to check that the material has fire safety certifications..
3. The color scheme is selected depending on the characteristics of the kitchen: large patterns and dark colors are preferable in spacious rooms, and in small ones, wall panels with small floral patterns or calm light tones will be more appropriate. A win-win option – light-colored monochromatic or wood-imitating panels without gloss.

1. You can choose wall panels of unique design textures: metallized for hi-tech, brick for minimalism, woody – for classics, imitation of old images or ornaments – for vintage.

With the help of plastic panels in the backsplash and on the walls, you can even visually expand the kitchen space if they are installed horizontally, and “raise” the ceiling when placed vertically.

Advice! A plastic apron should be supplemented with a border that protects the joints of the panels from moisture and dirt.

We fix the wall panels with our own hands

To fix the panels to the apron or to the walls, you will need the following tools:

• Hammer drill and screwdriver;
• Pencil, tape measure;
• Plumb line, or level;
• Construction stapler, staples to it;
• Glue;
• Metal profile or wooden beams to create lathing;
• Suspensions;
• Dowels, self-tapping screws;
• The actual PVC panels of the selected type and size.

Method 1. Plastic panels can be glued directly to the wall. This is an easy-to-implement method, however, it will not work to dismantle the material without damage if necessary. In addition, gluing is possible only if the kitchen walls are flat and their difference is no more than 1 centimeter. Additionally, the panels should be fixed in the corners with self-tapping screws..

Method 2. You can screw the material directly to the wall – for this, mounting holes are drilled, the panel is fixed, and the places where the screw heads are located are masked with plugs. For this method of fastening, you will need to first prepare the wall: patch up cracks and potholes, align, prime.

Method 3. Plastic can also be installed on the crate – first, the panels are screwed (attached) to the profile or strip, and then they are already attached to the wall.

Method 4. Installation of plastic panels using metal profiles and brackets is carried out using a similar technology using crate.

Plastic backsplash and wall cladding panels offer limitless design choices that will transform your kitchen. You can choose from the widest palette of colors – from white to black, smooth or textured surfaces that imitate leather, fabric or any natural material, three-dimensional drawings, photo printing, semi-matte, matte, glossy or mirror finish. And if desired, the plastic panel is easy to change, since the material is budgetary. More information about the plastic apron can be found in the material: Plastic apron – information for the buyer.