Kitchen splashback glass or with an upgrade path

tallac

My kitchen is being re-done and I need to think about the kitchen splashback. I'm very keen on a tinted mirror glass splashback all the way along the L shaped kitchen (each side of the L is 3 metres) and I'd like it to start from the worktop and go all the way to the overhead cupboards. I have a few sockets that would need cutting out, as well as a gas hob on one side. Doing some googling, I have seen people mention quotes of £1,500 for similar splashbacks which is high but a lot of these quotes were from many years ago so maybe prices have come down (wishful thinking)? Anyway, I'd like to get some quotes.

Question 1) Are there any recommended companies (I'm in NW London) that do supply, measure and fitting of the splashback? (looking for the company to do all the measuring and templating side of things).

If quotes are more than I can afford now, then I'm thinking of installing a cheaper splashback and/or just a partial splashback at the hob and sink. This then allows me to upgrade to the full splashback later down the line when budget allows.

Question 2) Will the install of a cheap/partial splashback make things more complicated or more expensive to install the full glass splashback?

Emmia

Glass is an expensive splashback - significantly more expensive than tiles, but looks fantastic (especially with some good lighting). We had it installed this year in our 2mx3m kitchen and I think it was well north of £1500 for about 3.5m of glass overall behind the sink and hob. But we did a kitchen with John Lewis, which isn't the cheapest provider.

In terms of measuring and installation it will be the last thing to go in. The units, appliances (hob, sink etc) and worktop all need to be fitted first, before the company that makes the splashback will come and measure and will do the templating - it's not a DIY job. 

Any joins in glass will show, so if you went for it just behind the hob and sink, you'd need to remove it in order to have a larger single piece installed when you "upgrade". If this is your plan, I'd do a much cheaper splashback to start with that you don't mind throwing away.

Something else you'd need to think about is whether the 3m panels can actually be brought into your kitchen for installation, as the glass will be in 1 piece - this will depend on the angles from your entry point to the kitchen itself.

Alanp

We had glass splashbacks both sides when we fitted a new wren kitchen in June, I’m sure it was about £600 but ours is a very small kitchen and we didn’t pay London prices, it looks superb, and I would urge you to go that way or you’ll be forever wishing you did, ours are both all in one piece with no joins, 

Doozergirl

The cheapest way to do it would be to speak to a glass company that manufactures on site, directly.   

Most towns have one, from my experience.  Do a quick google for mirror and your town name.  Getting a quote is a simple thing to do.   Toughening the glass is what pushes the price up.  

GDB2222

I’m quite surprised that this looks good, as I’d expect it to show every fingerprint and speck of dust?

tallac

Emmia said:

Glass is an expensive splashback - significantly more expensive than tiles, but looks fantastic (especially with some good lighting). We had it installed this year in our 2mx3m kitchen and I think it was well north of £1500 for about 3.5m of glass overall behind the sink and hob. But we did a kitchen with John Lewis, which isn't the cheapest provider.

In terms of measuring and installation it will be the last thing to go in. The units, appliances (hob, sink etc) and worktop all need to be fitted first, before the company that makes the splashback will come and measure and will do the templating - it's not a DIY job. 

Any joins in glass will show, so if you went for it just behind the hob and sink, you'd need to remove it in order to have a larger single piece installed when you "upgrade". If this is your plan, I'd do a much cheaper splashback to start with that you don't mind throwing away.

Something else you'd need to think about is whether the 3m panels can actually be brought into your kitchen for installation, as the glass will be in 1 piece - this will depend on the angles from your entry point to the kitchen itself.

Okay, this is good info. Assuming that a temporary splashback is going to have to be removed, what's the cheapest option for something suitable behind a hob and sink? I thought a glass looking plastic might be good but I don't know if they will be heat proof enough to go behind the hob; should be fine for the sink area though. Whatever I install temporarily, I'll make sure I find a use for it somewhere else in the house so it doesn't end in a landfill. Shouldn't be a problem getting in 3m panels into the kitchen, I've got a straight path in from outside.

Doozergirl said:

The cheapest way to do it would be to speak to a glass company that manufactures on site, directly.   

Most towns have one, from my experience.  Do a quick google for mirror and your town name.  Getting a quote is a simple thing to do.   Toughening the glass is what pushes the price up.  

Thanks Doozergirl, I'll take a look at local companies but having done a bit more looking at the prices, I think I'm going to have to go down the route of the cheapest solution now and upgrade to full glass splashback later.

So what's the cheapest solution for a temporary splashback for hob and sink?

Emmia

GDB2222 said:

I’m quite surprised that this looks good, as I’d expect it to show every fingerprint and speck of dust?

It doesn't seem to show marks (although a mirror would) and is really easy to clean as there are no joints/grout dirt can get into - a wipe over with glass cleaner and paper towel or an anti bacterial kitchen wipe is all it seems to need (unless things have got very messy on the hob!)

We've got toughened glass - which I think you need behind the hob for safety reasons. 

Cheapest solution is potentially just paint - going for something hard wearing and wipeable. Alternatively a box of cheap tiles (but you wouldn't be able to reuse) or a couple of pieces of sheet steel or aluminum cut to size would work - and steel /aluminium is fully recyclable. 

Plastic is probably flammable, scratches easily, attracts dust and is a pain to keep clean and shiny (our coffee table has a plastic top for safety reasons, which I slightly regret doing). 

GDB2222

Thanks @Emmia. 

As a temporary solution, I’d agree with paint. Plus a stainless steel splashback behind the hob, as these are quite cheap £20-30. 

tallac

That's great suggestions, I guess even if the paint gets messed up then it's going to get covered up by the mirror glass splashback that I'd eventually like to get, so I wouldn't even really need to re-paint before putting the glass splashback on.

Stainless steel splashback is a great shout for the hob area for the temporary solution. Thanks.

FreeBear

tallac said: Stainless steel splashback is a great shout for the hob area for the temporary solution.

If you go the stainless steel route, pay a visit to a local fabrication shop - Look for one that specialises in stainless steel fab & welding - Pop in and ask if they have any offcuts of 0.8mm or 1mm thick 304 or 316. Polished grades tend to be more expensive, so go for a brushed finish. If you are lucky, you may get a piece for £10 rather than the stupid prices Howdens &Co charge. You'll need to drill some fixing holes (use a real sharp twist drill and do watch out for burrs) unless you use a grab adhesive.

GDB2222

Or just buy one on Amazon?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Displaypro-Brushed-Stainless-Kitchen-Splashback/dp/B079YSRV6F