Your fireplace is the centerpiece of any living room. It’s always a good idea to make sure it has a beautiful design that helps it live up to that title while fitting into your home’s overall décor. Can you use peel and stick tiles to achieve this result?
You can use peel and stick tiles on a fireplace without open fires. They are versatile décor solutions that come with strong adhesive backing. The overall composition of most peel and stick tiles also makes them resistant to heat. They won’t get damaged if properly installed around any fireplace.
Are you thinking of using peel and stick tiles for your fireplace remodeling project? The rest of the article will cover all you need to know about them.
Using Peel and Stick Tiles on a Fireplace
Peel and stick tiles are excellent decoration options for any fireplace because they come in a wide array of designs and can stay around the fireplace wall for a long time.
The longevity and durability of the peel and stick tiles are dependent on the quality of the product and the strength of the adhesive backing they come with. Higher quality options are likely to remain on your fireplace for years.
Although these products are heat resistant, some of them may constitute fire hazards if used around a wood-burning fireplace or any type of open flame.
Types of Peel and Stick Tiles for a Fireplace
Below is a hierarchy of different peel and stick tiles based on their general quality:
- Vinyl: Vinyl peel and stick tiles come with a plastic backing. They’re typically the cheapest in the market for products in this niche. Prices start at around $8 for a set of eight panels.
- Stone: These peel and stick tiles have the look of real stone and can add some depth to your fireplace. They cost around $15 per square foot.
- Metal: These metal peel and stick tiles are typically made of aluminum, making them resistant to heat and moisture. They also feature a varied range of designs and cost $15 per square foot.
- Glass: If you’d like a glamorous appearance for your fireplace, these glossy products are one of the top options to go for. They cost around $25 per square foot.
- Gel: Gel peel and stick tiles are made of 3D gel material. Most white subway designs are made of gel. You can buy them for $6 to $12 per panel.
The Advantages of Using Peel and Stick Tile on Your Fireplace
Below are some of the advantages of using peel and stick tile on your fireplace:
Easy Installation
Peel and stick tiles are super easy to install on a fireplace. You can complete the project in less than 15 minutes for most fireplaces.
You don’t need any special tools, and you don’t have to worry about protracted clean-up sessions when you’re done. Regardless of your DIY skill level, you can transform your fireplace with one of these tiles. As long as you can keep your hand straight, you can complete the installation without hiring anyone.
Multiple Options To Choose From
There are thousands of design options available to use peel and stick tile on your fireplace. Whatever style or color ideas you have in mind, there’s a product for you.
With so many design options to choose from, you can bring style and character to your fireplace without spending a lot of money on installation.
Easy Maintenance
Peel and stick tiles are also very easy to maintain. Just like conventional tiles, all you need to do is wipe them down occasionally. Any pet owner will appreciate the ability to just wipe down the fireplace when it gets dirty.
You also don’t have to dread routine clean-up time anymore. You can take care of accidental spills and splashes with a damp rag and a small touch of house-cleaning detergent.
Fast Décor Upgrade Solution
If you’ve rented the apartment and want to cover up the existing fireplace design, peel and stick tiles are excellent to work with.
You can use them to quickly upgrade the look and feel of the space without making any permanent changes that can lead to a breach of your rental agreement.
The Disadvantages of Peel and Stick Tiles on a Fireplace
As with other home décor options, there are some disadvantages to peel and stick tiles. They include the following:
Poor Longevity
Most peel and stick tiles can last a few years if properly installed, but the cheapest models may start to warp in a year or two, especially near a heat source like the fireplace. To get the highest level of durability, you’ll have to spend more money on top-of-the-shelf glass or gel variants of the design you’re going for.
Cheap Appearance
Although many peel and stick tile manufacturers produce designs that look super close to the real thing, most entry-level peel and stick tiles will often look cheap as they have very little depth.
Costlier options like metal or glass designs look better, but they are more expensive overall—sometimes more than 100% costlier—which can amount to the same costs as real tiles.
Wrong Impressions
Peel and stick tile in the fireplace can give prospective buyers or renters a wrong impression about the quality of your home. That’s especially true if you use visibly cheap options like vinyl.
Anyone who spots the quick fix may erroneously believe you’ve applied quick fixes to other parts of your home.
Difficulty During Removal
Although peel and stick tiles are easy to apply, they are difficult to remove. You’ll need to use a knife or similar tool to pull out the tiles when you want to change them.
Unfortunately, this almost always means a scuffed-up surface that has to be refinished.
Basically, you can’t remove the peel and stick tiles and leave the surface bare.
Tips To Keep in Mind When Installing Peel and Stick Tiles on Your Fireplace
If you choose to go ahead with installing peel and stick tiles on your fireplace, there are a few things you should keep in mind:
You Need To Adequately Prepare the Fireplace Area
As is the case with most tiling projects, you need to prepare the parts of the fireplace you’re looking to cover up adequately before you start sticking the tiles.
The preparation process involves cleaning the surface very well and degreasing it where necessary. You may also need to sand down bumps to ensure you have a level surface to work on.
Alternatively, you can add a backer board before sticking the tiles.
Exercise Caution While Placing the Tiles
Peel and stick tiles do a fantastic job of quickly adhering to the surface once positioned. Unfortunately, this often means you can’t reposition the tile if you’ve made a mistake and want to slightly change its position.
Once you make a mistake, you’ve likely lost the particular tile as it’s hard to get rid of attachments from the surface (chipped walls, dust, etc.) and return the adhesive backing to optimal strength. So, ensure you measure and cut your tiles accurately and then maintain a steady hand as you calmly install them.
Keep Moisture Away From the Tiles
Most peel and stick tiles are designed to be waterproof, but only if the water is splashed on the surface directly. If water gets into the tiny spaces between two tiles, the backing can begin to lose its grip on the wall. With conventional tiles, the space is typically covered with grout.
Here, you have to find other ways to make sure water never gets in. So, if there’s any source of water leaks that may spread moisture to your fireplace area, you should deal with that source before installing these tiles.
Examples of Peel and Stick Tiles for Your Fireplace
Here’s a look at some tiles you can choose for your fireplace (all from Amazon.com):
- Joqixon Peel and Stick Backsplash: This glossy black vinyl peel and stick tile is a great way to bring some style and sophistication to your home. The design depth makes it a good fit if you want to give your fireplace a regal look.
- Longking Peel and Stick Backsplash Tile Stickers: Are you looking for a peel and stick tile with a whimsical and charming design? The colorful Talavera design of this long king product is a perfect way to give your fireplace the personality you’re looking for.
- DICOFUN 10-Sheet Peel and Stick Backsplash Tile: These tiles will give your fireplace a modernistic, contemporary look. The product is the best option to go for if your home’s décor allows for some white contrast.
Final Thoughts
Using peel and stick tiles on your fireplace is an excellent way to refresh its look and bring some vitality and glamor to your living room. Most of the designs are heat resistant and can last a long time. You no longer have to spend time, energy, and money mixing grout and putting up real tiles.
Go over the various peel and stick tile options in the market and choose the one that most appeals to you.
