Thread: Alternative splashbacks to glass and tile

I,m yet to do my splash backs - saving for glass. Id be wary of acrylics if it was near your stove. I heard of someone using aluminium that they had appropiated from a construction site - used as cladding on skyscrappers.
I experimented with painting my own glass to try and DIY but I couldn't get a finish without bubbles - I don't have a compressor - though I recon it wouldn't be that hard and if you dont go for star fired glass you can bring the cost down.
Good luck I'll keep track of this thread to pick up some tips.
regards
Tony

Hi jimc
Just finishing off my new kitchen I used stainless steel for the splash backs.

No glass, no tiles, no stainless steel or any other metal..
I bought a sample pot of paint with a suede finish and result looks great very cheap alternative..

How does it go after frying up a pan of bangers, does it wipe down easy enough?

Do a search in this part of the forum about my recommendation for a product called 'Seratone'.

have you considered a laminex/formica splashback? Their range of colours and new styles is amazing. http://www.laminex.com.au/ have a look at their range of Diamond Gloss Surfaces http://www.laminex.com.au/products.aspx and their other new products, you might be suprised

Just don't forget the standards for (non) fire retardant materials and the distances from cooktops - as covered in several threads here already.

Laminated splashbacks can be a problem behind cooktops so a different material is still sometimes required.
A lot of laminated splashs we do have a 600mm gap filled with some nice big tiles up to the range hood.

If you are thinking about laminated splashs another way to go can be a coved top, where the laminate rolls up to the splash back uninterrupted.
These can be quoted on a square metre basis, which is dictated by how high you want the splash to go.

Cheers,

I painted mine 2 years ago and still looks fine, can be wiped down with a damp cloth.

Originally Posted by jimc

Any ideas?

Glass is going to cost upwards of $2000 and tile in my opinion is the easy option.

I have heard of some acrylic altenatives but have no more info?

You could do a mix of glass and something else.

Ikea has toughened glass panels 80x45 for $45 and a 60cm wide one for less. It's called "Imperativ", under Kitchen organisers - Wall storage on their web site. They also do stainless steel in similar sizes. Height is a bit low at IMO. Their idea for larger sizes is to use multiple panels which looks crappy IMHO.

According to the Stegbar website they use 6mm toughened glass for splashbacks. This seems to also be used for pool fences so if you wanted to buy a precut piece (if that would suit your kitchen design) then it might be available from people who sell glass for pool fences. Pool fences are 120cm high so a single panel laid sideways is probably enough for any cooktop.

A single glass panel behind the cooktop would look good with say tile or Lamipanel elsewhere.

Or you could use large rectified tiles everywhere. They have square cut edges so they can be laid without grout between them (i.e. no grout to clean) and tiles don't require a fireproof backing board (unlike stainless and glass) if used near gas cooktops.

Originally Posted by Bleedin Thumb

I heard of someone using aluminium that they had appropiated from a construction site - used as cladding on skyscrappers.

Sounds like Alucobond ....... that may be worth looking into .... a range of colours and it has a great finish. As with the other suggestions be sure to consult the appropriate clauses of the Building Code and Australian Standards for flamability issues ...... insurace would love a loop hole if something went wrong.

Induction hot plates don't give off heat so if doing a refit these may be worth looking at

I used a 6mm mirror on mine - straight rectangle without holes for power points or anything - quite a bit cheaper than splashback glass, and looks the goods (modern home). the other product I looked at, was on the inventers and it was an acrylic product that you set yourself (levels perfectly) and can be got in any colour - go to the inventors web site at abc and work your way through - would have been in 04 or first half of 05.

If using a sheet of laminate, i'd put clear glass in front, especially if you have gas and a wok burner.

Originally Posted by BeeMac67

No glass, no tiles, no stainless steel or any other metal..
I bought a sample pot of paint with a suede finish and result looks great very cheap alternative..

You can get a clear sealer to go over suede effects.

A company on the central coast has successfully produced splashbacks that reflect even better than glass at half the price. The colour choices are endless. I know it may not help you but it may help anyone in Sydney to Newcastle.