Glass kitchen apron: installation features

Glass kitchen apron is an excellent alternative to tiles. It is much easier to care for, and the design of the kitchen immediately acquires a unique style and accuracy. The apron can consist of both one panel and several elements of different heights. The main feature is that the joints between the glasses are practically not visible or they are absent at all. The installation of a glass apron can be ordered from specialists, but if you want to save, the installation is really done with your own hands.

The choice of glass

Not any glass is suitable for the manufacture of a kitchen apron. The specificity of operation dictates certain requirements for the coating. Since it is usually installed in the working area, that is, where the plate and sink are located, the glass should be immune to temperature changes and random mechanical influences. It should be strong enough and at the same time have a beautiful appearance.

Only two types fall under these requirements - hardened or ordinary glass, but with a large thickness. In order for the surface to be strong and durable, the thickness of the product should be at least 6 mm, but experts recommend not installing ordinary glasses in order to avoid traumatic situations.  Tempered glass is almost impossible to break down in domestic conditions. Even if you succeed, it will crumble into small particles with non -resistant edges, which cannot be cut about. If ordinary glass breaks, the fragments will be scattered throughout the kitchen. However, an apron made of hardened glass is not subject to machining, so when ordering such a product, you need to immediately describe the final dimensions for installation.

Ordinary glass, even very thick, has a characteristic “bottle” shade that can distort the drawing behind it. For the manufacture of aprons, a special bleached and completely transparent glass is used, which not only does not change the image, but even makes it brighter and more expressive.

Advantages of glass aprons for the kitchen:

• elementary care - just wipe the surface with a means of cleaning windows;
• hygiene - due to the absence or small number of joints, fat and dirt do not accumulate in them, as in the surfaces of ceramic tiles;
• strength;
• durability;
• the ability to choose a drawing or color for the style of the interior;
• visual expansion of the working area and the space of the kitchen;
• simple and quick installation.

So, a glass apron is much better than the usual tile surfaces, however, it also has its drawbacks, or rather, a disadvantage. It is to choose the right glass, and good glass is quite expensive.

Fortunately, a large selection of panels allows you to choose an option for every taste:

1. Transparent glass - protect the wall from spray, fumes and dirt.
2. Matte glass - can be homogeneous or with a pattern applied.
3. Color glass is a great way to add a bright part without repair to the interior.
4. Glass with a pattern - made according to individual projects. It is unrealistic to apply a drawing manually at home - special factory equipment is used for this.
5. Mirror - the panel visually expands the space, so this option is ideal for the kitchen with a modest square. However, to care for the mirror surface should be very carefully, since even small contaminants are clearly visible on it.

Tempered glass is the best option for creating a kitchen apron. It can withstand heating up to 1000C, so it can be safely installed directly next to the stove or hob. Before ordering it, take careful measurements. In this matter, as in the saying, it is better to measure seven times, since then it will not work to cut such material at home.

Installation technology

When you made all the necessary measurements and noted the location of sockets and switches, you can prepare materials and tools. The installation of the apron should be done after the installation of kitchen furniture.

For work, you will need the following tools and materials:

• glass panel - if you want to install several panels, then choose a longer (high) piece of glass under the hood. The dimensions of the apron made of glass in the width should be the same as the width of the hinged cabinets of the kitchen set, so that the composition looks harmonious. The edges of the glasses do not need to be processed;
• installation profile-if you do not plan to mount the backlight, use the profile to install a glass panel with a Mr. For illumination, you need another special profile, while the lower edge of the glass will be pressed to the surface of the wall with the skirting board attached to the countertop;
• lED tape with an adapter - if the apron is with backlight;
• wall murals - if you want to mask the wall defects, there is nothing better than photo wallpaper. Just stick them, and close them on top with an apron. As an option, you can immediately order a kitchen apron made of glass with photo printing;
• plastic spatula;
• screwdriver;
• knife -haired carbon on metal;
• pliers;
• soldering iron;
• insulating tape.

Please note that there is no drill, grinder or screwdriver in the list of tools, since too aggressive exposure can damage the glass panel.

Installation of a glass kitchen apron:

1. Attach the mounting profile to the wall, which will hold glass panels.
2. If you mount the backlight, season the LED tape to the profile and bring it to the common network.
3. Attach the profile. The mounting method is determined by a variety of accessories. So, there are profiles that need to be attached to the wall, while others can be installed on the bottom of the kitchen set. It is better not to choose the second option for beginners, because it is quite difficult to fix the profile and at the same time there is a risk of damaging the integrity of the LED tape.
4. Stick a film on the glass. If you have at least once tinted glasses in a car, this work will not seem difficult for you. Lay the glass on the floor in the order in which they will be installed on the wall. Clean and degrease the surface with any alcohol -containing agent, then sprinkle with water from the spray gun and put the film. Debt the surface from the center to the edges using a plastic spatula and expel water from under the film. Stick the film immediately on all panels, if there are several of them, and after invitation, cut in the joints.
5. It remains only to install glasses in place. Take the bottom of the panel from the wall and insert the upper edge into the profile. Then move the lower part to the wall and with a slight press, pressing into the guide. Glass should stand as hard and close to the wall. Make sure that there are no big cracks between the neighboring panels. To reduce this distance to a minimum, with light blows of rubber kiyanka, adjust the panel to each other. Control the power of the impacts so as not to inadvertently break the glass.

Useful tips

The desire to save as many means as possible for repair or construction is quite reasonably, but in this matter you need to know the measure. So, if you do not want to spend money on expensive hardened glass with a pattern, you can put the usual thick glass and place any pattern under it. Of course, the installation of a glass of glass should be carried out extremely carefully, and then it should then be treated very carefully so as not to be accidentally broken.

As for the picture under the apron, it can be made even without photo wallpaper. If you want to disguise any wall defects, the best way is to paint or paste. Ordinary wallpaper is better not to use so that the condensate accumulating behind the glass when heated does not spoil the paper. The same applies to ordinary drawings. It will be very difficult to get them from the panel.

Before installing a glass of glass with your own hands, it is recommended to level the wall as much as possible. Make installation only after installing a furniture headset, finishing walls and ceiling. If the kitchen has a long wall, then it is better to make a apron of several separate panels than to put a monolithic one. Experts do not recommend installing segments more than 2.5 m long.

Before ordering the panels, make accurate measurements and designate places for sockets, fasteners. They should be located no closer than 5 cm from the edges. Cut holes for fasteners after the film glued to the apron dries.

Designer tricks

Glass, like ceramic tiles, is the perfect material for use in the kitchen. It calmly refers to high humidity, temperature differences, does not burn out and serves for a long time. But why not go further and make a stylish interior addition from a practical protective coating? There are several design techniques that will help you successfully organize the space even in the smallest kitchen.

By the way about small kitchens. There is nothing better for them than apron from mirror panels. Paint the walls in a monophonic light shade and put the apron-mirror to the ceiling-the kitchen will immediately become “lighter” and visually spacious. If there is no way to purchase expensive mirror panels, give preference to the maximum glossy surface of the glass - it will also reflect objects and can visually increase the area.

When choosing a color or drawing on the apron, start from the general style of the kitchen. So, if you liked the model with funny rabbits, and the kitchen is made in retro or vintage style, then such a apron is unlikely to be suitable. The high-tech style is a plain dark tones or minimalistic drawings. In a modern kitchen with European design, a apron with murals will look good: fruits, vegetables, flowers.

We have already described above what kind of glass panels are, but now we will consider how they can be used to create a harmonious interior:

1. The apron made of transparent glass is suitable if you do not want to block the beautiful color of the walls or wallpaper. The task of such panels is for the most part to protect the surface, and not its decoration. This option is most often used in apartments-studio, where the kitchen is combined with the living room so as not to distract attention from the general design.
   
2. Matte glass aprons perfectly hide the wall decoration defects. If you do not want to glue murals with a pattern or paint a wall, install a matte panel.
3. Multi -colored plain aprons can instantly “revive” any kitchen. They make the interior fresh and brighter, without violating the overall design. This option is suitable for those who want to organize a modern kitchen, but are not ready for radical changes. Modern technologies allow you to make a tempered glass panel of any shade.
   
4. Panels with drawings are a great opportunity to create a unique interior. The image is applied directly to the glass using a full-color UV printed or a special vinyl film is glued to the opposite direction. The first method gives a better result. Moreover, UV porch allows you to apply even 3D images, which, like a mirror, can visually make the space wider. Drawings with a deep perspective, for example, sea surface, wiping far beyond the horizon, or a poppy field in the sunset, look very beautiful. Panels with glued drawings are cheaper, but the vinyl film over time loses color from temperature changes and exfoliates due to condensate.
   

Glass kitchen aprons, photo

As you can see, it is not difficult to install a kitchen apron made of glass, it is much more difficult to choose a suitable option. To facilitate this difficult task, we suggest that you look at how the aprons of various colors and textures in interiors look.