A kitchen splash back is one of the most important aspects of a kitchen renovation.
Not only does it add style and a modern look to your overall kitchen design; it is extremely functional protecting your walls.
It can also revive a tired kitchen and revamp the whole room. gst the most important aspects of a kitchen renovation.
Not only does it add style and a modern look to your overall kitchen design; it is extremely functional protecting your walls.
It can also revive a tired kitchen and revamp the whole room.
Splashbacks are installed on the wall above and behind the sink, cook tops or bench top work spaces.
It helps to protect the wall behind it from moisture, grease, oil, food splatters, and other mess that occurs in the kitchen when you’re preparing food or washing up.
Splash backs were originally made of tile, but today the options are endless with a vast array of splash back materials available.
Among the most popular options are glass, reconstituted stone, aluminium composite panels.
So apart from quality there are a few other things that you need to consider before installing a splash back.
Budget
glass is very popular and arguably look better in the home but can be higher in price.
Aesthetics
Glass is a popular choice in modern kitchens. Available in an array of colours, it’s shiny and easy to clean.
If your budget allows, you will like this option.
But please keep in mind that it is glass and it will not tolerate inaccurate usage.
Fitting
Please make sure you ask about fire safety and the fitting requirement for the splashback you choose.
If installing behind a cook top, you will be looking at different minimum distances from the burner to the splashback to make sure it will not warp, or heat, or even melt.
A glass splash back will generally have a lead time of 2-3 weeks before installation?
Maintenance
Most splash backs can be wiped down easily but if you want to have it sparkling new you should follow these steps.
- Use a good quality glass cleaner to clean glass splashbacks.
- Micro-fibre cloths work better than other types of cloths on glass splashbacks.
- A white vinegar solution can do wonders for a glass splashback. Use one part white vinegar and four parts water. If you want to spray the solution on, just pour it into a spray bottle and use that.
- Use a lint-free cloth to wipe the glass. If you have a newspaper around, try wiping off the surface with newspaper. It helps create a streak-free finish on glass. Wear kitchen gloves when using the newspaper. While the newspaper won’t harm the glass, it could stain your hands.
- Try not to clean the glass if sunlight is striking it directly. The sunlight heats the glass and can dry out your cleaning solution, making it harder to get a streak-free finish.
- If you still get streaks when you clean glass splashbacks, try using distilled water in your vinegar/water solution. Distilled water doesn’t have the minerals tap water has. It’s the minerals that cause streaking.
If you have a particularly stubborn stain, try leaving the glass cleaner or vinegar solution on the glass for about one to two minutes.
Never try to remove stains with an abrasive cloth or you can ruin a glass splash back and there is no way to buff scratches out of glass.
Glass splash backs have a sealant on them and you may need to replace the sealant after five years or more.
