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How Do You Fit Acrylic Splashbacks?

How to fit an Acrylic Splashback

Acrylic Splashbacks are incredibly easy to fit, you are essentially sticking a lighweight panel to a wall using silicone. 

It's easy in just a few steps...

1. To measure the height, measure from the top of the area to be covered to the bottom and subtract 2-4mm for expansion

2. For the width use the same method (where panels meet each other do not allow any room for expansion at this edge).

3. Cut the panel to the desired height and width using a suitable power tool with the correct bit (HSS bits for a jigsaw for example).

 Should you need to drill the acrylic again mark the location of the hole required and drill using an HSS drill bit.

4. Lay the board painted or printed side up carefully protecting the front so it does not get scratched

5. Apply our Neutral Cure Silicone to the rear painted side of the panel. It is low modulus, so for really uneven walls you can use more in any shallow areas and it will be asily compressed.

6. Press the panel to the wall until these is zero bounce

7. Seal the edges with the same neutral cure silcione to prevent water ingress and extend the product lifespan

How Do You Fit Acrylic Splashbacks?

Photo of a typical amount of adesive applied, use more if the wall is uneven

Are Acrylic Splashbacks Heat Resistant?

Are Acrylic Splashbacks Heat Resistant?

Unlike Glass Splashbacks, Acrylic Splashbacks can start to melt and deform at 80C and are liquid at 160C so they are not very heat resistant. There are options though...

Induction Hobs

Acrylic Splashbacks can be used behind an induction hob, hot pots and pans should not come into contact with an acrylic splashback.

As all the heat is applied to pots and pans on induction hobs via a magnet there is very little heat loss- so they are highly efficient and the surrounding area has little excess heat. As long as there is not direct contact with a heated pot or pan (at the above temperatures) acrylic splashbacks are perfectly suitable behind an induction hob. For all other hob types we would recommend glass splashbacks (clear, coloured or digitally printed)

Mix glass and acrylic splashbacks

As our glass splashbacks are made from low iron glass and the acrylic is high grade clear perspex, there is minimal colour distortion from either material.

This allows you to use both glass and acrylic panels on your kitchen wall- a glass splashback behind the hob (heat source) and should you wish to keep costs down by cutting the acrylic on site yourself, acrylic splashbacks for the remaining walls, creating a fully fitted look.

The high gloss finish of our glass splashbacks and the high gloss finish of our glass effect acrylic panels mean they are indistinguishable when side by side.

Are acrylic splashbacks heat resitant

Glass and Acrylic splashbacks can be mixed and matched!

What is an upstand?

What is an upstand?

In kitchen terms, an upstand is a small strip of kitchen worktop, glass or acrylic usually 100-150mm in height that fits in the rear wall edge of your kitchen worktop.

Historically these were made from 18mm laminate or stone and used to hide any gaps between the kitchen worktop and the wall behind (walls are rarely completely flat).

More recently though they are available to compliment glass and acrylic splashbacks (see below)

what is an upstand?

As you can see, using the same colour of glass upstand as the glass splashback has really added a feature to this minimalist white gloss kitchen.

The above is something you can very easily measure and fit yourself for a few hunder pounds and allows you to introduce stronger colours to your kitchen pallette without overdoing it. 

Shop Glass Splashbacks

Shop Glass Upstands

What are Splashbacks?

What are Splashbacks?

Splashbacks are an alernative name for a backsplash or to put it simply, a wall covering to protect the wall behind sources of splashes from cooking or bathing.

Traditionally, the main option for a splashback was wall tiles and in the 20th Century times moved on to Stainless Steel splashbacks.

Despite the purpose of such coverings being primarily to protect walls from dirt and mould etc. these older variations of splashbacks have always been notoriously hard to clean (mould in a shower or oil / fat on a stainless steel splashback are incredibly hard to prevent and maintain!)

Finally! A better alternative!

Enter the new contenders- Glass Splashbacks and Acrylic Splashbacks

Due to their perfectly flat surfaces, newer splashback variations such as glass and acrylic are much easier to maintain.

Windows are of course made from glass and very easy to clean although as you literally see through them it is easier to spot streaks.

Glass splashbacks are back painted (or digitally printed) and much easier to clean- cleaning them with a dry micro fibre cloth is without doubt the easiest method. Medium grade wire wool can also be used.

Acrylic splashbacks can be scratched with abrasive cleaning products and cloths (never use wire wool on acrylic!) like glass though, a microfibre cloth is perfect for mainting an acrylic splashback in the kitchen or bathroom.

Glass and acrylic splashbacks can also be treated with a specialised coating to make them much easier to clean. This is known as EasyClean.

What makes Glass Splashbacks (and Acrylic Splashbacks) so special?

what are splashbacks

Glass & acrylic splashbacks instantly set themselves apart from tiles and stainless steel because there are almost unlimited colour and design options!

Both glass and acrylic start out completely transparent, this allows them to be customised to fit into any colour sheme or pallette.

They can also both be colour-matched to any paint colour, or digitally printed with any image.

barbara allen shoal glass splashback

How much is a glass splashback?

Brushed Glass Splashbacks by DIY SplashbacksHow much is a glass splashback?

 

Like any product or service, several factors can influence the cost...

-Do you plan on measuring and fitting yourself?

-Would you prefer a professional installed it for you?

-Is your prefered splashback:

Clear?

Coloured?

Printed with an image or design?

Toughened mirror?

-Would you like it behind the hob, or around the perimeter of your kitchen?

Measure and fit yourself- 'DIY'

Measuring and fitting a standard cooker splashback, or a splashback and upstands is very simple as you are literally measuring a rectangle and sticking it to the wall.

If you require a supply only option that you can fit yourself then you can quickly and easily get an instant price using any of the below instant quote pages/tools.

For printed designs and mirror splashbacks there are multiple product pages but once you find the right style you will still be able to get an instant quote.

Get a quote for a supply only coloured glass splashback

Get a quote for a supply only clear glass splashback

Choose a design and get a quote for a printed glass splashback

Choose a toughened mirror colour or design and get a quote

Guide prices

You can get instant, exact prices on any of the instant quote pages above.

However, as a guide - the cost of a glass splashback varies depending on the size and specifications required.

Should you require a simple 6mm thick cooker splashback for example it should be well under £200 for a typical size of 600mm x 750mm but again it depends on the specification.

Other variables such as... is it a solid colour? or digital print? and there are also specialist effects such as sparkles.

It's also possible to have it shaped to fit around your curved cooker hood.

The Main Benefit

 

It may sound complicated or pricy, however it really isn't! What makes the overall cost more affordable is how easy it is to install a glass cooker splashback.

As you are essentially just fitting a large tile in one panel it is a simple DIY task that should take no more than 10-15 minutes. It is also a task that anyone with even limited DIY skills can do with relative ease.

Please see our tutorial on how to fit a glass splashback here.

 

Can I fit glass splashbacks myself, how do I measure around the plug sockets?

Again we have a number of tutorials on how to do this. If you are worried about correctly measuring around plug sockets you can of course install glass upstands. With a bit of thought and following our tutorials though you can indeed measure for a simple cooker splashback, a cooker splashback and upstands or a full wall including socket cut outs. If you need any advice our customer service team also have 10 years experience in measuring and fitting glass splashbacks, there's nothing they haven't came across before!

How to measure for glass splashbacks

Aga Splashbacks

Colour matching to my Aga.

Britain’s love affair with AGA cookers shows no sign of stopping. With a fabulous range of 15 colours and celebs like Mary Berry and Adele owning their own, it’s no wonder AGAs are a must have in today’s kitchens.

We’re often asked if we can create a glass splashback to match the AGA colour range. The answer is yes! We can colour match to virtually anything from paints to fabrics and even objects. Our paint experts mix every single shade to order. There are two ways you can source the correct colour for your Aga splashback.

Firstly, grab a number of paint charts from Branded Paint Manufacturers such as Duluxor Valspar. You’ll find these in Decorators Centres or DIY Stores. The likelihood is that you’ll need to visit the Colour Station as opposed to grabbing a Dulux Colour Book for more shade variations.

Colour Stations house paint swatches in thousands of shades. Grab as many as possible, and take home to compare to your Aga. Once happy with your colour choice, mark your colour card and pop in the post to us along with your contact information. 

If you are fitting a new kitchen, there is a possibility that your kitchen fitter may have a RAL deck. RAL is a colour matching system you might not be familiar with yourself, however your kitchen fitter or tradesman is likely to have a RAL deck in their box of tricks. DIY Splashbacks offer glass splashbacks in the vast RAL range, and ordering is very easy with a RAL colour.

The second way is to order one of our recommended AGA colours. We’ve visited AGA stores to colour match with their collections. The recommended by us range of colours is styled on a new AGA. Please note that while we take every care to ensure these colours are accurate, they are only as close as the painting process will allow. See below for an example of AGA Racing Green colour matched to a sample! A perfect match!

*Under certain lighting and temperature conditions, slight colour variations between your glass splashback and AGA may become apparent. The unique enamelling process of AGAs means that AGA colours may darken when in use. So what starts out as a total match between splashback and AGA, may in time be a shade or two different. This is also true of ordering a new glass splashback, when your AGA is a number of years old.

Regardless of which method you choose, we always recommend ordering a glass sample. This way, there will be no surprises when you receive your splashback. Glass Samples are £10, and are mixed to order. Your first sample is refundable once you place your splashback order.

To order a glass sample, click your AGA colour below, you’ll be redirected to our sample page. Simply input your colour, followed by AGA in the box. For example Aqua AGA. For more information on samples click here.

 

 

“Cooking is like love, it should be entered into with abandon or not at all”. This homeowner commissioned their favourite verse on their Aga Splashback. They matched the intensity of their Aga top, with the ivory of their kitchen cabinets to achieve a coordinated look. Our experienced Design Team can work with you to create a glass splashback that is completely unique. Finding the right design can be as easy as exchanging emails with the Design Team until you achieve the look you want. Whatever your inspiration is, we can make it.

The above Dulux First Dawn splashback was fitted in the entire recess with our Measuring & Fitting Service. Our network of fitters can visit your home to measure, then return to fit your splashbacks. For more information on our Fitting Service, click here. 

*Please note that we can never guarantee a direct colour match to your AGA. Regrettably this is simply not possible, as no two AGA colours are ever the same due to the enamelling process and the impact of heat on your AGA. We colour match to a range of sample enamel chips supplied by AGA. For the closest possible colour match, please order a glass sample.