Everything You Need to Know About Kitchen Backsplashes

**(This article was updated on 10 September 2021). **

Answering anything and everything you might want to know about the kitchen backsplash.

The kitchen is one of the most hardworking places in the home, which is why planning out the space will go a long way in increasing its efficiency.

That said, countertops and cabinetry are always in the spotlight (which is understandable given that these installations should match design and lifestyle needs) but a kitchen backsplash should not be glossed over. Today, we answer all your pressing questions about it.

1. What is a backsplash and why is there a need for one?

The backsplash is a vertical panel installed behind your work stations (i.e. your sinks and cookers). It usually covers the area of the wall between countertop and cabinets but can be extended as high as the ceiling.

As a space that sees loads of spills, grease splatter and is quite humid, kitchen walls can become quite damaged over time. The backsplash is meant to protect them from deterioration and ease maintenance efforts but has recently become an added focal point for homes.

2. When should backsplashes be installed?

As a general rule of thumb, backsplashes should be installed after your countertop is fixed up (especially in the case of granite and solid surfaces). The reason being that there’s a need to grout (where applicable), seal and caulk to really prevent water from seeping into any hairline cracks and causing mould growth.

3. What are the different types of backsplash materials plus their pros and cons?

Some materials used for backsplashes include tempered glass, tiles, laminates, KompacPlus, quartz and stainless steel.

Tempered Glass

Tiles

Laminates

KompacPlus

Quartz

Stainless Steel

4. Are there any styling tips on matching the backsplash to the rest of the kitchen?

Assuming that you have found your overall style, you should start pinning some ideas and picking your colours. Consider the size of your kitchen when doing this – lighter colours can visually widen the space.

While dark colours can make the kitchen feel warmer.

After narrowing down your choices, order samples or head down to showrooms to see them in person.

Consider your countertop and cabinet colours before you settle on one. There’s also a more updated trend where people match and repeat patterns in other areas of the kitchen such as the floor or peninsula.

Depending on your home’s overall palette, you can use your backsplash to juxtapose for a standout look.

5. Which material is the easiest to clean and maintain?

All these surfaces are easy to care for if you use the appropriate cleaning methods like wiping down with warm water. Tiles may require additional effort (take brick-like replicates for instance) but wiping it down daily with a non-acidic wash should also stop scum from building up. Tip: Pay attention to the pH value of your cleaners.

6. Additional cleaning tips for tile grout

Grout is porous in nature and, therefore, is more prone to staining. There are two ways to overcome the deterioration: Seal it (only the grout) or decrease the amount of visible grout by installing larger tiles.

To give it a real good scrub, you can use a mild cleaning solution or grout cleaner. We recommend testing both on a small hidden patch first to make sure there are no adverse effects after cleaning.

Special thanks to the professionals at Synergraphic, Hafary and Para.graph for their insights.

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