Splashbacks guide

If you are looking for the best possible splashback for your kitchen then it has to be made to measure.  This is the way that you’ll get the best possible splashback which will create the ‘wow factor’ you are looking for.  However, a bespoke splashback designed to fit your kitchen perfectly involves quite a few different stages (four to be exact!) and at least three (count them!) separate home visits from your splashback supplier.  So here’s a guide to the process and what to expect when you order your made to measure splashback.

The process

Step 1 – Choosing the Specifications

Firstly, you’ll have to choose the key details of your splashback.  Your supplier will typically send over a sales person at this stage to help you choose what you want.  You’ll need to select the type of glass you want, the colour and any other effects such as frosting or other finishes.  If you want fancy additions such as LED backlighting then this is the time to build them into the order.

The other key choice you will have to make here is the extent of the area to be covered by the splashback.  Will you just go for a simple area around the oven/ cooker or the entire wall?  Will you also have the area around the sink (upstand) covered by the splashback?  What about other walls such as around the fridge and so on?  Will you have the splashback extending all the way up to the top of the kitchen cabinet or just a few inches up the side of the wall?

All these things will affect the cost of your splashback and the measurements that will need to be taken in step 2…

Step 2 – Templating your made to measure splashback

The templating process is the key part of getting your made to measure splashback.  Your splashback supplier will send someone round to your house to take all the key measurements.  They will create a template out of which the splashback will be made.  This involves making an exact replica of your splashback and all fittings such as sockets or light switches. This stage is crucial because if the measurements are wrong then the splashback glass either will not fit or will be uneven. The person doing the measuring should check everything and use a spirit level and other tools such as lasers to ensure accuracy.

Step 3 – Manufacture

Based on the template your splashback will be made based on your measurements.   The glass will be cut using specialist machinery.  A good quality supplier will ensure that your splashback is made using the smallest number of separate pieces.  This helps to ensure that there are a minimal number of joins in the splashback and the smoothest possible finish.

Step 4 – Installation and Fitting

The third and final visit to your home will be to fit the finished splashback.  The splashback pieces will be glued to the wall using a strong adhesive.  This is the moment of trust!  If everything has been measured correctly and manufactured precisely then the splashback will fit on the wall like a glove.  This is what you are paying for by getting a bespoke splashback – the quality of the final fitting and finish.  A made to measure splashback should fit precisely against the wall and top of the cabinets.  Typically there is a 0.5m margin of error in the manufacturing process so things can go wrong at this stage even if all the procedures have been followed correctly .