How to Choose the Right Flush Mount for Kitchen and Bath Installation

​Build quality, brand and application diversity, customization, and a solid-surface design are a few of the features to look for in a flush mounting system.
 
By Galia Ben-Dor, Co-CEO and Founder of WALL-SMART
 
Most people consider their homes an inner sanctum from the stress and pressure of the outside world. Technology certainly plays a crucial role in the pursuit of domestic tranquility. That is, until it reaches a particular tipping point, where the sheer number of devices starts to feel more like burdensome, unwieldy clutter than modern, lifestyle-enriching amenities. “Please hide it as much as possible,” has become the universal plea of homeowners to their systems integrators, and they have good reason for the ask. Studies show a direct correlation between “clutter” and mental stress. The more devices visible on countertops and nightstands, the more overstimulating and overwhelming it is to the senses. Minimizing the visual impact of the tech you install should therefore be high on your list of priorities.  
 
Visual minimization is especially important—and also more difficult—to execute in kitchens and bathrooms. With appliances, fixtures and cabinetry commanding most of the real estate, physical space for additional technology is marginal. The prevalence of solid surfaces comprising tile, marble, and other unforgiving materials makes tech integration all the more difficult. Here’s where a quality, design-forward flush mounting system can be your salvation. By recessing common kitchen and bath tech flush with the wall surface, a quality mount can help achieve an environment that’s convenient, comfortable, enjoyable… and clutter-free.
 
Given the design constraints unique to kitchens and bathrooms, be sure to consider closely the build-quality, installation requirements, and design characteristics of your chosen flush mount. Here are a few features that can enhance the quality of work and customer satisfaction when integrating technology into kitchens and bathrooms:  
 
Tech Diversity
One of the best ways to protect sensitive electronic devices in kitchens and baths is to get them off the countertops and into the walls and surfaces ( and even the ceiling). Tablets, voice assistants, and touchscreens will be far removed from accidental splashes of water, splatters of cooking grease, sprays from aerosols, a clumsy pair of hands, or being confiscated altogether and taken into another room. Aligning with a manufacturer who offers considerable diversity in their product line helps get every possible kitchen and bath device into a safer, more secure place.
 
Multi-Brand Support
Similarly, it streamlines the installation process to partner with a provider who tailors its flush mounts to the precise dimensions and distinctive design, and tech characteristics of products from a broad range of manufacturers. You can stick with the products and brands you like with the assurance of a mount customized to achieve a seamless fit and finish. No gaps between the mount and the wall surface, all openings in the mount properly aligned with the ports of the housed device, perforated grilles to permit optimal audio transmission and reception, and built-in POE to USB converters for charging make a big difference, requiring no extra time or effort on your part make the mount work. 
 
Structural Integrity
One day you’re working in a newly constructed home with open studs, the next you’re involved in the renovation of a historic residence. A manufacturer who offers a choice of flush mounts purpose-built for specific structural situations is super handy. In the case of kitchens and bathrooms, so is a line of mounts designed and engineered specifically for installation in solid surfaces like tile, marble, glass, and granite.
Seamless in Solid Surfaces
Anyone who has ever flush-mounted a keypad or other device into a solid-surface understands how difficult and stressful it is. One false move, one slight slip, or miscalculated measurement can have costly consequences. You can patch up drywall but you’re out of luck should you crack a piece of granite when boring into the material. It gets even tricker when those surfaces are grooved or textured. You can save yourself from headaches and hassles by using a flush mount that has been designed and engineered specifically for installation in solid surfaces. The inclusion of depth calibration mechanism lets you tweak the positioning of the mount for perfect alignment with the surface. Once the device has been securely mounted and the surface seams covered with a matching material, it looks like a natural part of the kitchen or bath environment.
 
Genuinely Flush
Some manufacturers may claim their mounts sit completely flush with the wall. Don’t take their word for it … you should see it to believe it. Even the slightest protrusion of a keypad can blemish a beautifully finished wall, not to mention collect dust and grime on its upper lip. Your guarantee of a seamless blend of technology with a variety of surfaces comes from documentation of finished projects, trade show exhibits, and demo kits is demo kits from the manufacturer.  
 
Enhanced Kitchens and Baths Through Discreet Technology
It’s hard to relax and enjoy time at home when technology has overtaken the environment, especially in the kitchen and bathroom. When tablets, speakers, screens, and other home technologies have overstepped their boundaries, it’s time to put them in their proper place. Innovative mounting and concealment techniques and products can tame unruly technology to create the stress-free home environment your customers crave.