Speaking of backsplashes.... vinyl tile?

[politicat]

Could we use the vinyl floor tile on the backsplash area? I've been looking for something with strong verticals (since the last thing this kitchen needs is more horizontal lines....) and my choices so far are bead board (which is really too cottage for the house and counters) or vinyl tiles.

The tiles are catching my eye because they would clean a lot easier than just about anything, including glass/ceramic tile, since they won't have grout. And if the wall is smooth and clean (which, after leveling with joint compound, it would have to be), they will stick forever and ever....

Or am I being more than usually whimsical?

[wildeyed]

1. I have never heard of anyone doing this, but I don't know why it wouldn't work.

There are some very cool laminate styles made specifically for vertical applications, as well. There is one that looks like cardboard, including the ribs (could add verticallity to the design).

I think bead board would be hard to clean. We had some in my last kitchen and it was always hard to get into the nooks to get it clean.

Off the topic, sort of, but here is a fun site. Make your own mosaic tile mix for your backsplash. You pick colors and percentage of mix. they manufacture it for you. http://www.hakatai.com/XQ/ASP/QX/Index.htm

[malta blue]

2. The previous owners of my house did this

behind the stove. I don't particularly care for it, but not because it is vinyl. I just don't like what they put up. It ended up being 2.5 tiles, the half tile started to fall off (probably due to the heat generated by the stove) and when I gave it a good tug, a chunk of the sheetrock came with it, so I had to patch and spackle.

This was my experience with the tile....

[Warpy]

3. I'd be more inclined to go for vinyl wallpaper

with a vertical pattern, if that's what you're looking for. It's easy to clean and will stay up a lot more solidly than floor tile will.

Besides, having vinyl floor tile on the wall sounds kind of patchwork and "make do" to me.

[NMDemDist2]

4. probably cheaper in the long run too. i would be concerned with floor

tile for the reason mentioned above, if you want to change it, expect to have to re-rock the wall

[politicat]

6. We had paper....

Scrubbable, yes. But not very water-happy. I'm so starting to hate water.... (and not just because we haven't seen the ground for nearly three weeks.... )

I will not be changing it. This house is going up for sale before the end of January.

[eleny]

5. we had some behind the washing machine in the mud room

it was there when we moved in. it was one big piece of lino, put up with black adhesive and capped with a metal strip. it was easy to clean while it lasted. but it was old and i didn't like the pattern, so i took it down.

when i removed it, the black goop left a dark shadow. i painted over it with a few coats of oil based kilz and topped it off with white paint. it all worked out.

we need to get something new for a kitchen back splash, too. i have the fabric backed vinyl that went up in the 80s. it has lasted so long through years of scrubbings. if you decide to use it, don't put a seam at the middle of the sink. that's where ours is starting to peel away from moisture. if i can't decide, i'll just peel it off, prep and paint/stencil the area until we figure out what we want.

[AlCzervik]

7. maybe with vinyl composition tiles, much heavier then peel ans stick

http://www.armstrong.com/commflooringna/vinyl-composition-floor-tile.jsp