No matter how careful you may be, there is always the risk that while you are cooking, heat or moisture could damage the walls of your kitchen, especially the area behind the cooker hob where you may have pots and pans bubbling and simmering. It's also possible that food debris and spills could disfigure the surface. Obvious stains you could wipe away when you have finished cooking, but there will always be smaller molecules that seep into the wall and will cause structural damage over time. The best solution is to fit glass splashbacks behind both the hobs in your kitchen and other damage-prone areas, such as the sinks in the bathroom and kitchen.
Why choose glass splashbacks?
Glass is a great material for splashbacks. Glass splashbacks are easy to wipe clean, and if fitted correctly, they will save you a considerable amount of money in reduced maintenance costs. A further benefit of glass splashbacks is that they are available in a wide range of designs and colours, so it shouldn't be difficult to find a splashback that fits seamlessly into your existing kitchen decor.
How are glass splashbacks made?
Some people are concerned about using glass splashbacks because they consider glass fragile and liable to crack or chip if it is accidentally knocked during the cooking process. However, there is no cause for alarm. Glass splashbacks use toughened or tempered glass. The glass is heated treated to provide additional strength, so it will easily stand up to daily use in your home. In the unlikely event that a glass splashback does smash, it will not spread dangerous shards of glass across your kitchen. Instead, the tempered glass will break into blunt fragments that can be safely gathered and cleaned away.
Installing glass splashbacks
If you decide to fit glass splashbacks in your home, there are several things you must consider. Firstly, you must order the correct size of splashback. You will want a splashback that safely covers the entire area that might be damaged, but not one that is too big to fit in the available space between electrical sockets, the cooker hood, and any cupboards that might be in the way. Tempered glass is not easy to cut, so measure carefully before ordering a splashback. Glass splashbacks can often be fitted to the wall using either screws or adhesive. To identify the correct solution for your location, you should discuss your choice with the splashback manufacturer.
Visit a local shop to see what glass splashbacks they have available.