Z-Brick help for a backsplash please!

14 years ago

Hi, everyone. Lurker to this forum but first time poster.

We are looking at z-brick for our backsplash in the kitchen. We really like the product and its ease of installation. We will be sealing it so it's easy to clean.

My problem is that I really like the way it looks in a blog that I found linked here. (http://www.kitchenbitchin.com/uploaded_images/IMG_5763-722970.JPG) The blog that featured StoveGirl's kitchen mentions that she used "Mesa Beige" (http://finishedkitchens.blogspot.com/2006/12/stovegirls-kitchen.html), though I haven't been able to confirm that on StoveGirl's personal blog.

And z-brick's website's photo of Mesa Beige (http://www.z-brick.com/page2.html) is really dark so I'm worried that it won't look like Stove Girl's in real life just in case that's not the pattern she used, kwim?

I've looked locally and no one carries the Mesa Beige so I'd have to order it online.

Any insight you might have would be awesome.

Thanks in advance!

Megan

P.S. We have a pretty decent remodeling job going on in our kitchen and I'm planning to post before and after pics once the job is finished.

Here is a link that might be useful: Z-Brick Products

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Comments (13)

bob_cville
14 years ago
An aunt of mine had a z-brick (or a look-alike) as her kitchen backsplash, she complained that with the rough surface it was very difficult to keep clean and the slightly recessed morter joints made perfect little shelves for dirt, grease and grime.

She was downright giddy when the z-brick was being torn out.
megsy
Original Author
14 years ago
I hadn't thought about that, Bob. Thanks for the tip.
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Thank you so much, everyone, for weighing in with your opinions. I am definitely not good at this sort of thing, and have a horrible time picturing how it will all look in the end. It's nice to have other expert advice! Initially, I was very excited about the travertine. The sample I have is nice, but I am definitely concerned that it might blend in too much with the cabinets and not give that 'wow factor' that I'm hoping for. I've always been drawn to slate, but as rhome said, I really want the kitchen to have a warm and friendly feeling. I tried to balance the warmth of all of the woods with the coolness of the dark grey Basalt Slate countertops. I guess it would be nice if the backsplash could bring everything together. Slate usually reads very cool to me. However, I really like the visual interest of the Falling Water pattern, and it seems to have some warm colors. I'm waiting on a sample of the 'Earth' color pictured above, and this one, called 'Prairie'. Remodelfa, how do you always find the coolest tiles? :) I really like those Java Sticks and the irregular edges. It also has the warmth I'm looking for. Another possibility added to the mix! So now, how in the world do I choose?
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Ok, ok, you mentioned Santa Fe, and my mind immediately went to a mexican tile mosaic that someone here at GW has used in a vertical orientation. This is not at all what you've been looking at, but I just have to show it to you. I love that mosaic, and it could work for you in the horizontal application throughout the kitchen, but it is miles away from what you're drawn to. OK, now that that's out of my system, here's what I think might work for you on the subtler side. The tile below is a mesh mounted mosaic and the sheet measures about 10.5" x 11", so you get an idea of the tile size, very roughly, 3" w x 4" t. The solid color field tile below in the same glaze (light green) is available in square and subway formats in a variety of sizes. I think in order to keep the look cohesive you should either keep the color the same and use a different shape for the special areas, or keep the shape the same and use a harmonizing, deeper color for the special areas. So, you could choose a light green brick subway for your counter area, and a light green ogee mosaic for the special areas. Or, you could use the ogee everywhere, in yellow quartz for the counter areas, and light green for the special spots.
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stovegirl
14 years ago
Hi. Stovegirl here. I have never had a problem with Z brick...been cooking in that kitchen for three years and the brick looks as good as day one. We sealed it with the recommended sealer. I completeley recommend Z brick, but as you can see, I didn't use it behind my stove, so I didn't have the problems with grease or grime.
whos_the_bosch
14 years ago
Hi there, the actual Z-brick used in Stovegirl's kitchen is NOT mesa beige, it's Burnt Sienna. Trust me, I'm her boyfriend and I'm the guy who actually did all of that brickwork. :)

You can contact z-brick and they will send you some sample bricks so you can get a feel for the exact materials and colors. Highly recommended. Even certain bricks from the same color will vary quite a bit. Especially styles like Burnt Sienna which have weathering, etc.

Their recommended sealer worked great as well.

Lastly, a really easy cheap way to make sure the brick comes out looking straight and perfect is to buy a dowel in the thickness of the grout width you want. For example, if you want a 1/4" grout line, just buy a wooden dowel that's also 1/4" thick in diameter. Then cut a few segments of the dowel about an inch long and keep them in your pocket. When you lay the first line of brick nice and level and straight, from then on, just use the dowel as a guide and press it into the brick below and then you'll always know you're exactly 1/4" away, etc. Makes it soooo easy to so that.

The hard part of that entire project was cutting the z-brick around the power outlets and the angled pieces. Just expect to break a lot of them since they are thin, and some bricks may need to be cut in weird pieces, etc.

Good luck!
megsy
Original Author
14 years ago
Oh you guys, I'm so glad you posted on this thread! Thank you so much. I had a feeling Mesa Beige wasn't the color and I'm so glad I thought to ask!
megsy
Original Author
14 years ago
Stovegirl and whos the bosch,

Where did you get your z-brick? I'm having a hard time finding it locally.

Also, did you find the 3.5 sqft per pack accurate?
megsy
Original Author
14 years ago
And one more question:

Did you use the natural colored adhesive?
megsy
Original Author
14 years ago
How many followups can one ask?

A million, it seems ...

Ahem.

What size grout line did you use?
rdsso
14 years ago
My mom has had z brick on her kitchen black splash for over 30 years and I have never heard her complain about them being hard to clean and she has white countertops that are always snow white so she would complain. The brick looks as good as it did when my dad put it in years ago.
stovegirl
14 years ago
We had to buy it online. I think we bought everything online. I can ask my bf later for the specifics about the grout line, etc...

I can't wait to see your kitchen!
megsy
Original Author
14 years ago
doitbest.com offered free site to store shipping so thankfully I was able to do that. Ace Hardware wanted $100+ for shipping. And it wasn't available at Lowe's.

I am curious about your grout line. I'm leaning more toward 1/4", DH toward 1/2" so we'll probably meet around 3/8ths and call it a day.
megsy
Original Author
14 years ago
And hey, thanks again Stovegirl for your help :)
Customerservice_Z-Brick_com
12 years ago
We manufacture and supply the original Z-Brick products to all ACE, Do It Best, True Value, Sutherland Hardware stores and are stocked in all Menards stores. We also special order to all Lowe's at their commercial sales order desk since 2008. Send us pictures of your Z-Brick finished projects! Customerservice@z-brick.com Attn: Jill

Z-Brick help for a backsplash please!

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