Install Stainless Steel Sheets
Stainless steel sheets make a durable wall covering for areas that generate a lot of moisture, such as kitchens and bathrooms. The corrosion resistance of the stainless steel makes the metal easier to maintain than other decorative metal wall coverings like copper, mild steel and zinc. At first, installing stainless steel sheets to protect a full wall or a kitchen backsplash may seem difficult, but the process is straightforward.
Instructions
1
Put on your leather work gloves and place a 22-gauge stainless steel sheet flat on a worktable.
2
Measure the height and width of the wall you will be covering in the stainless steel with the tape measure. While measuring the wall, remove any nails, screws or protrusions sticking out from the wall's surface.
3
Place two marks for each dimension you measured from the wall onto the surface of the stainless steel sheet. Align one edge of the 48-inch straightedge with the two height marks and draw a line along the straightedge with the permanent marker. Repeat the process with the two width marks.
4
Don your safety glasses.
5
Align the blade of the sheet metal power shear with the height line and slowly cut along the line while applying pressure forward on the handle of the power shear. Repeat the procedure to cut the stainless steel sheet along the marked width line.
6
Open a tube of construction adhesive with the cutter of the drop-in caulk gun and place the open adhesive tube into the caulk gun.
7
Run a bead of construction adhesive around the perimeter of the stainless steel sheet, 1/2-inch in from the edges of the sheet. Place one bead of construction adhesive across the width of the sheet, every four-inches, making sure the beads contact the perimeter bead of glue.
8
Set the adhesive coated side of the stainless steel sheet against the wall and apply firm pressure on the stainless steel sheet. Start from the center of the sheet and work your way vertically and horizontally to the edges of the sheet.
9
Apply masking tape around the four sides of the stainless steel sheet to hold it in place while the construction adhesive cures for 24 to 48 hours.
