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For home improvement novices, the concept of peel and stick backsplash may be appealing. How can it not when these plastic and vinyl tile lookalikes can be installed so easily? Still, do they look like glass tiles, or are they tacky? Do they cost less? And most importantly, how do they hold up? These are all questions we’ll answer.
So, if you want to freshen up your bathroom, kitchen, or both, let us help you decide if Smart Tiles tiling is better than traditional tiles with this review.
About Smart Tiles
In 1999, Smart Tiles was born out of necessity. Stone and ceramic tile backsplashes are too permanent. So, Elaine Paquin, the president of the company, realized that another alternative that’s easy to install and removable was needed.
Hence, the peel and stick tile variety came to be. The mission of this brand is to “bring Home Decor Innovative Products that will make your life easier and more beautiful.” This statement is mirrored in the brand’s peel and stick tile collection as you’ll see.
Peel and Stick Backsplash Reviews: Short Answer
Smart Tiles is arguably the best brand for high-quality stick tile backsplash, as it uses a 3D gel material to make faux ceramic and glass tile products. Moreover, its wide selection of patterns and sizes accommodates your taste and needs; we’re talking about 80 peel and stick backsplashes.
Furthermore, they don’t crack or change colors. Not to mention, they’re impressively affordable. Still, it’s important to note that these stick backsplash tiles aren’t meant to be long-term investments because they might peel off after years of usage.
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Pros:
- Excellent construction quality with 3D gel
- About 80 options with different patterns and sizes
- Tile backsplash doesn’t crack or become yellow
- Very budget-friendly
Cons:
- Not the best long term investment
Construction Quality
Many users will tell you that Smart Tiles is one of the top brands because of its construction quality. And as we’ve mentioned, the company employs a 3D gel material to make stick tiles. Also, if you’re thinking of buying a white subway tile backsplash, it’ll probably be gel.
In addition, this material is shiny, which gives the tiling dimension. So, although it won’t have the texture of a real tile, it certainly looks like the real deal.
Durability
With such impressive build materials, you bet these products are durable. In other words, they’ll hold up, thanks to their strong adhesive material.
As for staining, you can splatter spaghetti sauce and most foods, for that matter, on them, and they won’t stain or yellow. That’s because they’re antimold and antibacterial.
Moreover, they’re designed to withstand the heat emanating from an electric stove. So, you don’t have to worry about these peel and stick tiles cracking or changing colors anytime soon. After all, a peel and stick tile is adequate for any surface or wall with a temperature of 49 °C (120 °F). And it has the NFPA (ASTM E84) and IBC Class B certifications to prove it.
Tip: Consider the Smart Panel offered by the brand, as it’s exclusively designed for high-heat areas, such as a gas stove.
Furthermore, this tiling is waterproof so that it can endure bathroom humidity and water splash. Nevertheless, we’d advise you against installing it in the shower because this much splashing can be damaging. You can, however, place it high on your wall because its resistance to humidity allows it.
As for staining, note that spices with highly dense pigments (like turmeric) may stain the wall permanently, so we’d be extra careful with these.
Also, you have to keep in mind that a peel and stick tile from any brand shouldn’t be expected to withstand the test of time. But the Smart Tiles ones have a strong adhesive material that’ll give you at least a few years before they start peeling, which is more than we could ask for from such budget-friendly options.
Ease of Installation
One prominent feature to consider is how easy it is to install such a peel and stick tile. After all, if you can’t install peel and stick tile backsplashes yourself, you might as well just hire workers to install real glass or vinyl tiles. But these backsplash tiles are extremely simple and easy to install!
To illustrate, you’ll only need a pair of scissors, a utility knife, or a box cutter, a tape measure, and a couple of hours to get the peel and stick tiles installed. And you can easily do it yourself. Merely cut off the peel and stick tiles to create a straight edge, keeping in mind the size of your wall.
Afterward, you can peel a bit of the peel and stick tile away, press it on your wall, and peel the rest of it as you apply pressure on the wall.
In short, the installation process is probably the strongest allure to this tile type, making it the perfect DIY project. Not to mention, it doesn’t leave your kitchen or bathroom a mess at all, and the adhesive material usually dries in about 48 hours.
Also, depending on how deep your grout lines are, you can apply it over an existing backsplash, glass, stone, or ceramic if it’s sleek, smooth, and not textured. So, you don’t have to worry about a challenging removal process. Additionally, this tiling works perfectly if you want to install it on:
- Painted gypsum
- Wall panel (acrylic)
- Smooth ceramic tile
- Wall linoleum
- Mirror
- Wallpaper surface
Nonetheless, if you have a plastered or textured wall, installing a bathroom or kitchen backsplash on existing tile isn’t recommended. So, if you want your vinyl peel and stick tiling to adhere properly and efficiently, remove your textured traditional or mosaic tile. This goes for the following types:
- Relief ceramic tiles
- Unpainted gypsum
- Porous wood
- Textured wallpaper
- The inside of a shower
- Countertops
- Floors
- Ceilings
- Brick
- Stone
Price
Like any worthwhile DIY project, installing these tiles should cost less than a professional job. And it does! Smart Tiles do bring you the best of both worlds: good construction and affordability.
To exemplify, their prices typically range between $6 and $12 a piece, which is excellent for saving money. And you can buy them by unit instead of a pack. But, of course, the exact price depends on the particular tile size and style you order.
Tip: It’s recommended to buy an extra 10% in case you mess up installing or cutting any tile.
Moreover, this DIY installation process doesn’t require any expensive tools or additional accessories, whether that’s grout or mortar mixes. Not to mention, there’s no construction cost because you can single-handedly take care of the installation project.
Diversity
As we’ve detailed, Smart Tiles offers you over 80 peel and stick backsplashes. In other words, you can choose rustic and vintage patterns, large panels, textured and patterned backsplashes, and much more. Between Smart Tiles’ XL collection, Block collection, Brick collection, and more, the possibilities for your kitchens and bathrooms are endless.
As for the tile color options, they include black, white, grey, beige, brown, and taupe. Also, we’d highly advise you to check out Smart Tiles’ Smart Edge system, which features four shades of the border.
Tip: If you’re overwhelmed with the numerous options, Smart Tiles provides free interior design services. So, you can contact their designers at decorator@thesmarttiles.com, and they’ll help you choose the best peel and stick design for your room or wall.
In addition, you also get a variety of sizing options, especially if you have large areas or a huge wall to cover. And you’ll find the exact size of a tile model detailed in centimeters and inches if you click on its page.
Adequacy for Renters
If you’re renting a house or apartment and you like the idea of installing a new backsplash, here’s what you should know. For one, this tiling is removable, but as is customary with any peel and stick tile, it has such strong adhesive backing.
This is inherently good because it ensures that the tiles remain intact. However, the drawbacks of the adhesive backing are that when you replace or remove tic tac tiles, you might damage your rented apartment’s walls.
Undoubtedly, the damage isn’t anything drastic. We’re talking peeling paint or drywall. Still, it’d be wise to refer back to your landlord and ask them before using the removable peel and stick tile backsplashes.
Tip: If your landlord allows it, a good tip to keep in mind is to heat the tile using a hairdryer before removing it. This way, the adhesive becomes more loose, minimizing the damage to your walls and paint.
Shipping
If you’re wondering whether the company ships internationally or not, it does! It has an international site, so you can add the design you want to your cart if you live outside of Canada. And feel free to contact their customer services for a quote. You can also ask them about any international processing fees.
Moreover, their agents will process your order in 2 business days (Monday to Friday). As for delivery, you can expect your order to arrive in 3 to 7 business days based on your location, so you can get started renovating any room in no time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Peel and Stick Backsplash Worth It?
Whether this tile variety is worth it or not depends on how good it is. You certainly don’t want mediocre tiling that doesn’t resemble real vinyl, marble, granite, or subway tiles. Instead, it would be best if you opted for options that look more authentic because they’re worth it, especially when you consider how economic and budget-friendly they are.
How Long Do Peel and Stick Tiles Last?
Their life expectancy relies on several factors, including the manner of tile installation, the amount of water they’re exposed to, and the amount of traffic in that area of your kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room. Accordingly, the tile surface may remain intact for anything from 5 to 25 years.
Does Peel and Stick Backsplash Look Bad?
Poor quality varieties can look cheap. However, the top brands, such as Smart Tiles, have a surprisingly authentic look and assume the appearance of real vinyl, stone, marble, and ceramic tile varieties. So, it’d be hard to tell the difference between both.
Does Peel and Stick Backsplash Melt?
If you have a backsplash behind the stove or above your cabinets, the heat won’t melt it. Still, it would help if you kept a distance of 6cm (2 inches) between such tiling and countertop appliances, such as toaster ovens and mini ovens.
Otherwise, a safety no-peel and stick backsplash zone of 20cm (8 inches) is required if you have a gas stove with no back control panel or metal plate.
How Much Peel and Stick Tile Backsplash Do I Need?
Merely measure the height and width of the area that requires a backslash. Then, enter this information into Smart Tiles’ calculator found in every product page. And it’ll calculate the number of tiles needed for your chosen model. Also, it adds 10% to the tile amount for potential cutting losses.
Final Thoughts
All in all, Smart Tiles’ peel and stick backsplash can make the best DIY project. They’re super budget-friendly, easily applied with no dust or mess, and are self-adhesive.
Also, they can stick to your wall for years before they start peeling, resisting heat, humidity, and water. This 3D gel tiling bears a striking resemblance to real vinyl, stone, marble, subway tile, and other types of flooring and backsplashes. Last but not least, it comes in any pattern, shape, shade, and size you want.
Just be sure to get an extra 10% of tiles because you’ll lose a bit when you cut them up. Then, go ahead, and DIY your way into an excellent backsplash with Smart Tile’s tiling and other materials you already have or can get at all hardware stores!
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