Why You Should Consider Back Painted Glass Instead of Tile

Backpainted glass has been widely used in Europe for many years and has now become trendy in North America. Thanks to its colourful, modern look and the fact it is easy to care for, glass backsplashes has more advantages over tile elements for your bathroom or kitchen.
There are several reasons to consider installing backpainted glass as your backsplash over tiles, including its clean, bright appearance — particularly in a smaller rooms — and the variety of colors or designs that you can find. Glass is also a material that does not stain or burn, can resist hot temperatures (if tempered) as well as mold or mildew. It is also less likely to wear out when compared to other materials. Glass Backsplashes are also uniform with no grout lines, making cleaning a breeze.
What you don’t need to worry about is colour availability for your backpainted glass. Backpainted glass is available in custom colours and, with a manufacturer’s colour code, any colour can be matched. (TIP: if you’re trying to match a colour, ask for a sample first to make sure you’re getting what you want).

Why install backsplash?

Basically, a backsplash is a unique protective feature that you can install in areas where water or other liquid may damage your wall. This includes behind stoves and ovens, sinks and even showers.
As with many elements in your home, you’ll want to give your backsplash look some thought. There are two major types that are used most often, they are glass or tile. However, depending what style of home you have created, you will need to consider which material will work best for you.

Tile or Glass?

When it comes to making a decision about glass or tile for your backsplash, there are many things to consider including care and durability as well as aesthetics. While tile has traditionally been the most common choice, it may not be the best one for your home.

Drawbacks of Tile

Tile backsplash is a pattern that is made by using several smaller pieces of material. They can be made of glass, stone and even metal. While they offer a diversity of design, there are some serious drawbacks to using tile as a backsplash.

One of the major problems that homeowners have found with tile backsplashes is the use of grout. This is the glue-like material that is used between the tiles to keep them together. It can cause a couple of issues. Grout often means you will have more trouble cleaning the surface as things can get stuck in it. As well, if installed incorrectly, the grout will give the backsplash an ugly appearance.

Another major issue with tile backsplashes is how prone the tile pieces are to cracking. Once this happens you may find you are in a position where you need to replace the entire backsplash.

Opting for Glass

Unlike tile, glass backsplash is made up of a single piece of material (or a few large pieces). The glass is often made durable enough to withstand everyday use and because it is a single piece, it is easier to clean.

Backpainted glass is a large sheet of glass that has been painted in a colour of your choice on the side of the material that connects with the wall. It is often used behind stoves and sinks to protect the wall and keep a clean feeling to the room. Glass backsplash can also come in various sizes ranging from entire panels to cover the whole wall to smaller, six-inch panels.
Thanks to the low-maintenance care of glass, coupled with its clean and modern appearance, it has become a popular go-to for homeowners looking for a stylish backsplash. You can use a variety of cleaning products on glass without much trouble, which makes it a breeze to keep clean.

With glass backsplash there are a diversity of colours to allow homeowners to match the overall look of a room. Its glossy surface helps to add light to the room, making it appear bigger. Glass can also give a room a more modern feeling.

Another benefit is that glass is a strong material and can resist damage caused by water or other hot liquids in the kitchen or bathroom. In addition, glass is very eco-friendly, which can appeal to homeowners looking for a smaller, green footprint.

Types of Glass

It is important to understand the different types of glass that you can use for a backsplash. These are clear and low-iron.

• Clear glass: this is typical glass used in most household applications. Despite its name, this type of glass can have a green hue due to its iron content (TIP: If you have exposed glass edges in your house, look at them from the edge to see if you notice the green hue).
• Low-iron glass: this will be the type of glass with the least amount of colour distortion to it. This is the best type to use for backpainted glass backsplash as it will give you the most accurate colour. As its name suggests, this glass has less iron in it, which gives it a clear / light blue hue.

Most renovation projects or new homes will opt for the modern and trendy look of backpainted glass backsplash. Given how easy glass is to care for, the stylish, radiant look of backpainted glass backsplash, its strength and durability it is easy to see why more and more homeowners in North America are adopting the trend.

However, it is important to note that although glass backsplash is easy to care for, you’ll need to budget for professional installation. This will help insure that your backpainted glass backsplash looks lovely for a long time.
For more information about backpainted glass backsplash, call Glass Showers and More at 416-800-1156 or contact us here.