About Splashbacks - Randall Thijssens - Home Improvement Kitchen Handyman - Canberra ACT

Splash backs are constructed for the wall areas around benchtops to a height of around 400 -500mm. The material chosen would be hard and solid for easy cleaning. These could be:

• Tiles , some can be matching to the Benchtop e.g. Bisazza Surfaces tiles;
• Stainless Steel
• Same material as bench top, e.g. Corian, Granite
• Glass

Glass is now becoming very more popular and stunning designs have become available in many hues and patterns. Of particular interest may be those that are gilded with gold leaf or sculpured, supplied by specialist designers and manufacturers. ( see References). Spashback Installation Requirements As specified in the HIA's "Guide to Kitchen &: Bathroom construction" edition 2 - September 2007.

Sample kitchen with Glass Splashback -

At least 200mm clearance should be provided between a splashback material and the nearest burner or hotplate, but if the clearance is less than this than the material should be non-combustable (as certified by the supplier), 5mm thick ceramic tiles are considered to be non-combustable.

All joints to splashbacks must be sealed; cutouts in glass, natural stone, engineered stone, and solid surfaces should be kept away from joins and be rounded to prevent radial cracking.

Joins should be documented on all plans and working drawings and customers should be advised on their anticipated location.
Where possible joins should be two meters apart, kept to a minimum and be:

• Glass: 0-2mm with a maximum variation of +1mm;
• Stainless Steel: where possible joins should be welded;
• Laminate: 0mm with a maximum variation of +1mm.
• Stone: 0-2mm with a maximum variation of +1mm.

Grouted joins to tiled splashbacks should be of a consistent width.

Scratches, Chips and Markings.

Minor scratches, chips or other markings on the surfaces of the splashback that are not clearly visible in direct view of the observer in normal lightning conditions at the completion of installation should not be considered a defect.

Assessment can be based on viewing and visibly detecting the questioned defect at a minimum distance of 1500mm from the surface in normal daylight conditions.