Mosaic kitchen apron: photo, design, review of materials

Materials for the manufacture of mosaic kitchen aprons can be used in a variety of ways, from traditional glass, which has been used for many centuries, to modern plastic. One requirement is imposed on them: they must withstand specific conditions: high humidity, temperature drops, the action of aggressive media and harsh detergents. In accordance with these requirements, the materials used for kitchen mosaics are basically the same as those used for tiles.

The size and shape of the mosaic for the kitchen apron

• The size. Ceramic tiles, as well as tiles from other materials for facing the working area in the kitchen, have dimensions, as a rule, not less than 10x10 cm, and more often they use a larger one, 20x20 cm.The size of one mosaic element starts from 10 cm on one side, and further decreases to 1 cm. The most popular are kitchen backsplash tiles for mosaics, measuring from 2 to 5 cm on one side.
• The form. Mosaics can be square, round, rhombic, trapezoidal, oval, and even irregular polygons. The more complex the shape of each element, the more difficult it will be to lay out a mosaic apron, therefore square tiles are most popular.

A mosaic for the kitchen is sold, unlike tiles, not by separate elements, but by "matrices" - an already assembled mosaic of small elements is glued onto a suitable base. As a rule, matrices are in the form of squares with a size of about 30 cm.Depending on the pattern and the manufacturer, the size can change by a couple of centimeters, both plus and minus, which makes adjustments to the calculation of the materials required for cladding.

Colors and shades of mosaic apron elements

The variety of colors and shades of the elements from which the mosaic is laid out is very great. You can find several dozen shades of the same color, different in saturation and tone.

Monochrome, that is, one-color mosaics, assembled from tiles of the same color, of varying degrees of saturation, are used in the form of "stretch marks" - stripes of the same color, gradually changing the intensity. More often they lay out a multicolor mosaic, in the creation of which tiles of different colors, shades, and sometimes even textures and sizes are used.

Quite often, you can find ready-made sets of elements on sale, applied to a substrate and forming various patterns, this is a fairly budget option. It will be more expensive to assemble a custom-made mosaic panel according to your desire or a designer's sketch.

Important: The cost of a mosaic can be calculated per square meter, but it can also be indicated for one separate piece, for example, for one matrix (usually 30x30 cm in size) or one “stretch” strip (usually 260x32 cm).

Mosaic apron design

Almost any drawing can be laid out with a mosaic.Decorating the kitchen with luxurious flowers, scenes of country life or abstract patterns - you need to decide in accordance with the style of the entire room and the desired effect. For example, a mosaic panel above a work surface can become the main decorative accent, or it can have a supporting role, creating an unusual backdrop for demonstrating the latest innovations in kitchen appliances. The main disadvantage of the mosaic design is the rather high price. But you can also save money by following the advice of experts:

• Use ready-made mosaic kits. There are interesting options that combine elements from different materials, for example, stone, metal and glass. A ready-made version is always cheaper than an exclusive one.
• Keep an eye on sales. At reduced prices, you can buy the remains of an expensive high-quality mosaic, which can then be combined in one way or another.
• Use the pieces of the mosaic as decoration, and lay out the rest of the apron with regular ceramic tiles.
• Instead of mosaic matrices, you can lay out the wall surface with tiles "under the mosaic" - it looks no worse, but costs less, besides, laying mosaics in the kitchen is a more expensive process than laying tiles.

Important: Mosaic matrices can be laid on a grid or on a paper base. They differ from each other in the installation method. During installation, glue is applied to the mesh and fixed to the wall. The paper mosaic is fixed to the wall with the free side, and the paper is then soaked and removed.

Glass Mosaic Apron

Glass is a very popular and relatively inexpensive material for making mosaics. Pieces of glass can be both transparent and opaque, have almost any color. Most often, a square shape with a side of 1, 1.5 or 2 cm and a thickness of no more than 4 mm is used. Mosaic glass is brewed from quartz sand by adding coloring agents - pigments. To enhance the shine, mother-of-pearl or aventurine is introduced into the glass mass. Additionally, decorative materials in the form of crumbs are sometimes added.

Manufacturers sell mosaics not as separate elements, but in matrices - assembled into squares with sheets of about 30 cm sides, ready to be fixed on the wall. Matrices can be monochromatic, have monochrome gradient color transitions, but the most popular are multi-colored matrices and matrices that form a pattern.

The price of glass mosaic for the kitchen for an apron depends on the complexity of manufacturing its individual elements. The easiest way to do it is plain, dull colors - for example, beige. It also costs less. The more colors and shades the mosaic has, the brighter they are, the more expensive the finished apron will be. As with any material, glass has its pros and cons when used as a wall covering in a kitchen.

pros

• The main advantage is affordability.
• In addition, it is a very practical and environmentally friendly material that does not emit harmful substances into the atmosphere.
• The smooth surface of the glass does not absorb dirt, does not allow bacteria and fungi to multiply, withstands long-term operation without loss of properties and appearance, despite high humidity and temperature drops.
• In addition, small pieces of glass, fixed on a base, are quite shock-resistant, unlike other types of glass, for example, window glass.

Minuses

• In order for the glass mosaic apron to serve for a long time and not crumble on the desktop, it must be laid on very high-quality glue, and the seams must be strengthened with a special grout. The materials are expensive, so installation will be expensive.

Installation

During installation, special attention is paid to materials - glue and grout. It is preferable to choose a white glue - it will not affect the final result. This is especially important if at least part of the mosaic panel is composed of transparent or translucent elements. Colored glue is used if the mosaic for the kitchen is opaque and monochrome.

In order to properly fix the glass mosaic on the apron, it is necessary to use glue with high adhesion - at least 20-28 kg per square centimeter. The fact is that glass has an absolutely smooth surface to which other substances “stick” poorly. This is a big plus - because it is easy to wipe off dirt. But this is also a minus - it is difficult to fix it on the wall reliably enough.

The quality of the mosaic apron also depends on the quality of the grout. Choose those that are resistant to high humidity and corrosive environments. Epoxy based grouts are considered the most suitable. They are more difficult to work with, but they are very resistant to negative external conditions and have a high degree of adhesion.

Advice: A light gray grout is best for colored mosaics - it will be almost invisible.

Ceramic Mosaic Apron

Instead of glass, in the production of mosaics, you can use a ceramic mass - exactly the same as in the production of conventional tiles. It will have all the properties of a tile, with the exception of features due to the size of its constituent elements. They make a ceramic mass from clay with the addition of sand, pigments and other components that provide strength, color and plasticity. Ceramics can be painted in any color, it practically does not fade, it can withstand severe operating conditions. Caring for her is easy and simple.

Ceramic mosaic on the kitchen apron will not lose its attractive appearance for a long time. The surface of each element is glazed, so dirt cannot penetrate into the pores of the material, which means that it will be easy to take care of the apron.

Ceramic mosaic differs from glass mosaic in a more expressive texture, also in thickness - it cannot be less than 8 mm. This must be taken into account when planning repairs Minus one - a ceramic mosaic apron will cost more than a tiled one, despite the fact that the material is the same for it.

The ceramic mosaic comes on sale in matrices - squares with a side of 30 cm. In this case, each element can be from 1 to 10 cm on the side. Elements can be not only square in shape, triangles, octagons, hexagons (honeycombs) are very popular, as well as in the form of natural formations, for example, shells or coastal pebbles. The surface can also mimic natural materials or artificial decorative effects such as craquelure.

Stone mosaic for apron

The strength and resistance of the stone to any impact make it a unique material, practically unrivaled. Stone mosaic for the kitchen is extremely aesthetic and gives the room solidity and exclusivity. To create it, pieces of marble, limestone, tuff, travertine cuts are used. The most expensive mosaic is obtained from ornamental stones - onyx, lapis lazuli, malachite. The surface of the stone is polished or left matt, depending on the designer's intention.

Which stone should you prefer? Those that have a porous structure are not suitable - they will absorb kitchen odors and dirt, caring for them is very difficult, and such an apron will lose its appearance very quickly. Therefore, it is better not to use limestone or travertine for the kitchen. Marble and granite are denser materials, but they can also absorb the dyes found in, for example, carrot or beetroot juice.

In order to protect the stone from the penetration of foreign substances, it can be treated with a special impregnating compound. The peculiarity of the stone mosaic on the apron is the attachment to the mesh as a base. No other materials are used for this.

For different manufacturers, the size of the dies may differ by one and a half to two centimeters, so carefully check the size of the selected matrix and calculate the required amount taking into account this real size! As a rule, stone elements have a square shape with sides from 3 to 5 cm, but you can also find rectangles of different formats.Sometimes stone elements are used in mosaic mixes in order to obtain the effect of contrasting surfaces.

Porcelain stoneware mosaic for apron

This type of mosaic kitchen apron has a number of differences. Firstly, its elements are a slab divided into fragments, not fragments cast in molds. Secondly, outwardly, it looks like a mosaic made of stone, but costs much less.

As a rule, they produce porcelain stoneware tiles "for a mosaic" measuring 30x30 cm, having recesses on the surface. After laying and grouting, the illusion of a real mosaic panel is created. Such tiles can be laid on ordinary glue suitable for porcelain stoneware, which is cheaper than special mosaic tiles. The same applies to the grout used.

Metal mosaic on the apron

One of the most exotic and spectacular materials for creating mosaics is metal. Brass and stainless steel are used for manufacturing, the elements are attached to plastic, rubber or ceramics. Most often, square-shaped elements are used, but not uncommon and rhombic and hexagonal.

A mosaic kitchen apron, fragments of which are made of metal, opens up great opportunities for the designer. The surface of the elements can be shiny or matte, have a relief, a notch, a convex pattern. The color scheme is gold, old bronze, shiny chrome or silver titanium.

The main disadvantage of such a surface is its shine, on which all contaminants, even water droplets, are clearly visible. To make it easier to maintain the apron in the kitchen, you can make it out of brushed metal. If you choose a mosaic kitchen apron in the color of gold, but you don't want to complicate your homework, you can replace the metal elements with glass ones that imitate a gold surface. They will look almost the same, but glass care is much easier, and it costs less.

Although metal and a durable material, it is susceptible to corrosion, the gloss disappears over time, and scratches may appear. But all these shortcomings "pay off" with a great appearance.