I am looking for your experiences living with a tile backsplash behind a gas stove with a 15,000 BTU burner–if you stir fry a lot, that’s even better. I am wondering: how easy is it to keep the area clean of grease build up? Does the kind of tile matter? (I really like the recycled glass tiles.)
I think that all the grout lines must be a nightmare to clean. My contractor says that he’s ripped out a lot of pretty grungy tiles from that area and so is not keen on it. Tiled backsplashes seem ubiquitous in all the magazines so I know the trend is to make them–but really, how are they to LIVE with??
Suffice it to say that I do not enjoy cleaning. No–I have an aversion to cleaning! What advice do you have for me?
Thank you for your thoughts!
Replies
Type of tile would matter. The more gloss the easier it will be to clean.
As for the grout, Two things come to mind.
1- The smaller the grout line the less likely it will be noticeable that it is dirty.
2- Use an epoxy grout. bullet proof stuff.
If not using epoxy grout.....make sure you seal it with a silicone sealer before getting any grease on it.
Also from experiance...Stay away from white grout.
Another vote for sealing the grout well.
I have used this stuff many times with complete success, even on marble (which tends to stain really easily):
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Tile back splash is NOT the optimiun surface for doing stir fries, that's why restraunts use Stainles steel.
I've had a few clients ask me to make the a plexi shield for their heavy cooking days. Just stand it up behind the cook top while in use the clean it off and store it til next time.
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most commercial type ranges offer a stainless steel backsplash the same width as their stove. might be the way to go in your case.
also 2nd the epoxy grout. not sure about heat resistance though. google Laticrete
A nice slab of marble or granite is another option.