During last decades, not much attention is given to kitchen backsplashes except for some white ceramic tiles with 200x200mm in size being installed on top of concrete kitchen stoves for folks living in the urban area while aluminium sheet or foil that is used for rural folks with few inches high to protect walls from cooking splashes. Fast forward to modern times, a backsplash is currently an important component of a good kitchen design where efforts are made to pre-plan with its benefits and drawbacks in mind before deciding which is the best material to use.
We need to be down-to-earth in selecting what is best suited for us. If we have the budget for expensive material, the first choice will definitely be opting for natural stone with big slab for bungalows or semi-detached homes. With extra spaces the homes have, these backsplashes will create a luxury mood while optimizing its natural splendor and design.
1) Glass Panel Backsplash
For simplicity and functionality purposes, this option can be of a great choice in modern kitchen design. Glass panel, the largest being 2.4×3.6meter, can be cut to fit perfectly onto your backsplash size while the choice of colors can be imprinted on it. This creates a seamless design without any joint lines or space between the materials, giving a Zen-like feeling or minimalist concept.
Pros:
- Seamless design with no interferences of joints as it can lay with butt joints
- Easiest to clean and maintain
- The reflectivity can make your space brighter and bigger whenever lights are switched on
Cons:
- Expensive as compared to other options available in the market. The bigger the size, the costlier the material
- If there is crack over time, then it will have to be replaced with a whole panel
- The glass panel can reflect sound
- As the panel is heavy, the wall may need reinforcement prior to installation
2) Natural Stones
These materials which constituted marble or granite stones slabs can be cut to fit like the above Glass Panel. Marble stone is a more popular choice due to its natural grains and artistic veining which are formed naturally. Of recent times, engineered stones are gaining traction e.g. Quartz stone with its high durability benefits and non-porous properties.
Pros:
- Large slab can be installed with seamless design and grand luxury overview
- High durability and the surface can be re-polished whenever the need arises
- The choice of surfaces can come in Polished, Honed or Flamed effects.
- The optimal size will make your space feel larger
Cons:
- Can be very costly depending on the choice of stones and sizes
- Surfaces need to be treated with either impregnator or sealant chemicals to infuse them with water resistance feature especially for porous travertine marble
- The stone design comes naturally and what you see in the showroom may not be what you get upon purchased.
- Stone slab is heavy and the wall may need reinforcement prior to installation
3) Glass Mosaics
Literally, this material in sizes smaller than 100x100mm are readily available in sheet form (usually sold in a foot square size) with varieties of colors, shapes, patterns and reflectivity i.e. gloss, frosty, matte, iridescent with some even mixed and coated with stainless steel or metallic substances on it.
Pros:
- Endless of designs to play with e.g. mural pattern or hexagonal pattern that can be custom made
- This creativity makes your backsplash unique and outstanding
- The reflectivity can make your space brighter whenever lights are switched on
Cons:
- Can be very costly especially unique designs that need customization
- If the mosaics are damaged or crack, then it will have to be replaced with
- Few precautions need to adhere to, like using a good and strong adhesive to mount the mosaics to your wall to prevent future de-bonding and water-resistant grouts need to be used to preve
This is widely used because of its vast design orientation and durability. Fired at high temperature with low water absorption rate, this material can now come in as large as a slab size of 1.6×3.2meter for horizontal laying while minimizing the joints. Surfaces available in Polished, Matt and Structured, will give endless varieties for designers or end-users to play with while some may choose to cut it down to various sizes or mosaics to create a random or custom-made design with unique pattern.
Pros:
- Inexpensive material with luxury design
- Widely available with many designs to choose from
- Easy to install using approved manufactured adhesive
- Optimal size design will make your space feel larger
- Long-lasting
- Easy to clean and maintain
Cons:
- Materials come in batches. Once broken and needing to replace, the next batch will have a different shade even though it is of the same color code
- If scratches appeared (hardly on the wall), it is difficult to re-polish
- Cannot have butt joints for each piece, therefore naught for seamless design
Another choice with vast design orientation minus the durability. Fired at a lower temperature with higher water absorption rate, this material is long been used many decades ago. Surfaces, which are usually available in Glossed or Matt, turn this material into an incredibly versatile choice with ease of use and reasonable installation costs. The most popular among the ceramic tiles will be the subway tiles with horizontal laying. Other types of ceramic tiles may include crackled glazed, hand-painted or metallic glazed ceramic tile.
Pros:
- The least expensive material with many design options
- Widely available in the market
- Easy to install using cement-sand method or adhesive
- Easy to clean
Cons:
- Materials come in batches. Once broken and needing to replace, the next batch will have a different shade even though it is of the same color code
- The custom made ceramic tiles will be more expensive
- If scratches appeared, it cannot re-polish
- Crazing may appear in faulty materials
- Cannot have butt joints for each piece, therefore naught for seamless design
