Glass or Acrylic Splashbacks: Which Is Better for You?
Splashbacks are commonly used in kitchens to protect walls from stains, grease, and … well, splashes. Choosing the right kind of splashback, however, is essential for anyone looking to add one to their home.
Glass splashbacks and acrylic splashbacks both have their uses, but which material is more suited to your needs? Here, we examine the properties of both materials and assess what they mean for your kitchen wall.
Price
Acrylic splashbacks are generally cheaper than their glass counterparts, making them more suitable for people on tight budgets. Glass splashbacks are not, however, unaffordable; plenty of reasonably priced splashback suppliers work exclusively with glass, and their products do come with a number of other advantages (as detailed below!).
Ultimately, it all comes down to relative costs and performance – if a more expensive product lasts longer and looks better, that makes it a better investment. ‘You get what you pay for’, as the saying goes!
Style
It all comes back to price once again. Acrylics are suitable for pretty much any colour and design, but they don’t offer the luxury finish that glass does. The material also tends to look slightly rippled, and scratches extremely easily. This combination means you’re never too far away from a worn-out, dishevelled looking splashback – and that’s not something anyone wants as their kitchen’s centrepiece.
Glass always looks great, and its longevity means that it looks the part for a far greater length of time. Provided you work with a company that knows what they’re doing, you’ll also find that it’s easy enough to personalise a glass splashback; while some would claim that acrylics give you greater room for creation, you needn’t find glass restrictive if you know where to look.
Maintenance
Glass runs out a clear winner when it comes to splashback maintenance. Dirt and dust can collect on just about any surface, but not everything is as easy to clean as glass. One wipe with a wet cloth later, and your glass splashback is back to its shiny, sparkling self; staining and scratching (as we’ve mentioned) is far more common on acrylic splashbacks, making the overall upkeep and maintenance much more arduous.
Glass, and especially toughened glass, is also more longevous than acrylic. Regardless of the product in question, something made of glass will last a lot longer than something made of plastic. Provided no accidents occur and you look after your glass splashback properly, it will last you for years to come.
Heat resistance
Heat resistance is an extremely important factor to consider when looking at splashbacks, especially if you’re planning to mount the panel near the oven. Once again, glass presents itself as the more suitable option when it comes to resisting heat.
Toughened glass can resist temperatures of up to 400°C, while acrylic surfaces are generally not suitable for anything over 160°C. If in doubt, it’s better to play it safe.
Cameo Glass
Just in case you hadn’t worked it out from our name alone, we specialise in all things glass here at Cameo. Our glass splashbacks are all created in house to the very highest quality – get in touch to find out more about our processes. You can reach us on 01793 513864, or just fill out one of our online contact forms and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.