Key points at a glance
- Stainless steel forms a smooth surface with few joints and is easier to keep clean than tiles with many grout lines.
- Particularly useful behind the cooking line, at the sink and dishwasher, and as impact protection and corner guards.
- Joints are tightly sealed, and cut-outs for sockets are measured in advance.
- A mix is often best: stainless steel in heavily used areas, tiles in the rest of the kitchen.
Where walls have to withstand the most
In a professional kitchen, walls face grease, steam, heat and cleaning agents every day, plus knocks from trolleys and pots. Tiles cope with this for a long time, but their grout joints become porous and dark over time.
Stainless steel forms a smooth surface with few joints. It makes sense wherever the strain is greatest.
Stainless steel or tiles?
| Criterion | Stainless steel | Tiles |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning | smooth surface, few joints | many grout joints that trap dirt |
| Impacts | more likely to dent than break | can chip or crack |
| Heat and grease | resistant, easy to degrease | resistant, but joints discolour |
| Appearance | technical and uniform | many colours and formats |
| Retrofitting | can also be fitted to existing walls | renovation with tiling work |
A mix is often best: stainless steel behind the cooking line and sink, tiles in the rest of the kitchen.
What matters during installation
Joints and seams
The larger the panels, the fewer the joints. The remaining joints are tightly sealed so that no water runs behind the cladding.
Substrate
Depending on the wall, the panels are bonded or fixed to a substructure. The substrate must be level and dry.
Connections
Cut-outs for sockets and pipes are measured in advance. More on this in our guide to site measurement.
Where stainless steel proves itself on the wall
A ground finish is well suited to wall surfaces because fine scratches hardly show. More in our guide to stainless steel finishes.
Questions about wall cladding
Can stainless steel be fitted directly over tiles?
Often yes, if the tiles are firmly attached and the surface is level. We check this on site.
Is stainless steel behind the range heat-resistant?
Yes. Stainless steel itself is non-combustible and copes with the temperatures behind a cooking line. For adhesives and substructure, suitable materials are what matters.
How do I clean a stainless steel wall?
Like other stainless steel surfaces: warm water, a mild cleaning agent and a soft cloth, wiping with the grain. More in our guide to cleaning stainless steel.
Do you make wall cladding to measure?
Yes. We make stainless steel wall cladding, impact protection and corner guards to fit your space. More under custom fabrication.
Cleaning and caring for stainless steelDaily cleaning, common mistakes and what works on which stains.Read more
Rust on stainless steel: causes and what really helpsExtraneous rust, chloride, the wrong cleaners: how to identify the cause and remove stains.Read more
Extractor hoods in commercial kitchens: which regulations apply?The rules that apply to extraction, filters and cleaning in commercial kitchens.Read morePlanning a project?
Give us a brief description of your plans. We will advise you in person and prepare a quotation for you.