Hello All,
I was wondering if anyone new of any of the manufacturers that make these stainless steel kitchen backsplashes I’m starting to see on newer home shows (on HGTV, PBS, and DIY).
I am also curious as to the expense of the raw materials (Stainless Steel) for a project I am thinking of in the future, which would require a room measuring from 4’x5′ and 7′ high to 6’x6′ with the same elevation, sealed (for shower use), with one of the four walls glass.
Anyone have any pointers?
Replies
Just call a local metal fabricator. I got an 8' x 6" brushed ss with 3 precision cutouts for receptacles and the Dispoz-all switch for $100.
I did the same as Cloud. I used a piece of ss for a full splash behind a slide in range from floor to the behind the hood. 30"x 60" with one cutout was about $25.00. Drilled it four corners and used tile adhesive to adhere it to the dw. Removed the corner screws after the adhesive set.
Dave
>Removed the corner screws after the adhesive set.
I made my wife hold it till it set, so there was no screwing.
:)
And for a very long time thereafter.
LOL.
ROFLMAO.
sounds like you may need a welder in the future as well.
stainless steel welding is a specialty
i'd line up some local welders and ask them for referals to material houses. whoever sends you to the right place is the welder for you...
brian
All, thanks for the replies. Sorry for the belated reply, but I could not get into any of the Tauton discussion boards yesterday afternoon or night.
Anyway ... Cloud, you said, "I got an 8' x 6" brushed ss with 3 precision cutouts for receptacles and the Dispoz-all switch for $100" but I want to make sure that you said 8-foot by 6-inches? Can you guestimate the cost of just the brushed SS? I ask because this is only 4 SqFt. and wish to compare the cost to what Dave said, "30"x 60" with one cutout was about $25.00" for 12.5 SqFt.
Brian, why a welder? Is it not possable to either install per-wall with individual sheets, or one macro sheet with press-folds? I would use appropriate adhesives to adhere to the wonderboard (still needed?), and then an elastomer bead sealant at any seams (wall intersectins, fiberglass basin, etc.). I don't mind caller welders as an end to a means, but where do you see potential welding opportunitie, maybe the a SS basin?
Yes, 8' x 6 inches. Can't explain the cost diff versus Dave's. Maybe he just got a good deal or I just got a screwy one. Still, compared to the tile I was gonna put there, it was a good deal regardless. Just pick up the phone and call a metal fabricator and put your mind at ease.
I probably paid to much, or maybe to little. I did not shop around at all. I was remodeling and building Winn Dixies at the time and the fabricator was the one doing the work on the stores. He was close and made up the panel one saturday morning while I waited. DW was pleased and I got to move on to other items on her list.
Dave
Go talk to your local HVAC contractor....chances are, if you're looking at that kinda stainless stuff, they'll be installing part of the range hood and doing whatever else is needed, and doing the splash is part of it. The local guys here all have a fabrication shop; the last one I priced was a splash for a Thermador cooktop, with a #4 brush, two fet or so high, and a 1" return all around....can't remember exactly without checking, less than $200 Cdn....that may be high based on the prices the other guys supplied, but maybe not. Wasn't a major factor, anyway. cabinetmaker/college instructor. Cape Breton, N.S
fabricators -welding shops - mechanist they have a nice racket. There is a set up charge around here it is $50.00 then you have the min labor of $40.00 per hr. steel cheep $10.00 for some thing like 6"x 72". Some times the place will take give you a break and you will not have to pay the set up or the min labor just actual time.
Edited 11/20/2002 11:28:04 PM ET by fredsmart
Racket or not, $100 for a backsplash with 3 precise cutouts made me happy. Till I bought the nickel-finished tile and the mortar and grout and rented the wet saw and my time, I'da been in it for more. So it suited my price-point regardless of their fee structure.
Terrific replies, all. Please keep in mind that the application actually isn't for the kitchen (but would be appropriate for future considerations, too), but the bathroom. Yes, I know, I must be wierd. I am looking for the ultimate low/no-maintenance shower for the master bathroom. Three walls stainless and one glass.
All of you have given me some good ideas to work on. I will be doing some local research on this matter. Interesting about adhering the SS directly to drywall, whereas tile goes over wonderboard.
Try a commercial kitchen fabricator. They do amazing stuff with stainless steel. You typically can't even tell where a weld was made. Adhering the stainless to CBU use silicone caulk (high temp if behind cooking equipment). I have designed a lot of restaurants and the kitchen equipment guy installed the S.S. wall flashing (full height S.S.) with contact cement on drywall and silicone on CBU.
I'd have to second the motion on the welding. The sealant at the joints will be less than beautiful. There is little that sticks permanently to stainless. As for the gauge. I'd expect 16 to 18 would be the minimum. Too much less and the knuckle marks of sticking it on the adhesive may show up. Fingerprints will be nightmare after applied. If you've seen SS in dairy applications and food equipment manufacturers you see the beautiful #4 or 3A applications start out as this pristine brushed finish then degrade (polish?) over time to look like the nickle in your pocket. Don't fight it unless you want to. As for the sanding finish, #4 is pharmaceutical grade. #3 is the general finish on SS used in non-food contact applications (electrical enclosures, etc.)
SS does come in 10 foot sheets and roll form in 18 & thinner gauges. It all comes in roll form if you go far up enough on the distribution chain. Consider looking in the local yellow pages for Ryerson or Central steel & wire or Basic metals. Call more than one as each has different customer bases and specialties. Don't concentrate on price at first. Look to find the fewest seams from stock availability.
It sounds like a gutsy move. Yours is the first SS shower I've heard of that isn't in a hazmat application. If you do this then make sure you send pictures to the gallery.
For reference on SS prices. An enclosure manufactured for an electrical control system that is 60" x 60" x 16" deep with a pair of working doors Lists for $7470.00. The net price to an electrical contractor (most are sold to OEM's) is $3360. or there about. The enclosure weighs 456 Lbs. That is about $7.40 per Lb. to a big customer.This enclosure is 12 & 14 Ga construction.
Now you could say that is a custom and that should cost far more. Well you'd be right and a bit jaded at the same time. That is a manufactured standard design. Manufacturing cost is never less than about 1/2 of the cost of the materials. You are asking for a dead custom. (who is going to use the left over pieces?) And who pays the fabricator? This isn't tin snip stuff, one pucker and you ruin the sheet. BTW, SS welders burdened cost is $60 to 100 / hr.
As a free spirit thought, you could get someone to make an all in one design with walls, floors, drain, and even a soap dish. If you could find a way to bring it in the house, it would be worth looking at the price. The more I think of it the more realistic it sounds. Look under metal fabricators in the yellow pages. If you are in Wisconsin I can point you to several. Make sure if you do this that you walk in with a CAD drawing or at least a good drawing. First you look professional, and second you won't get a price without it. They keep the drawings they quote BTW.
You could probably tile the floor if standing on stainless is unattractive.