What Is a Glass Splashback and What Are the Benefits?

Splashbacks are increasingly popular in homes across the UK. Simply put, a splashback is a panel that’s wall mounted behind a cooker or sink and does exactly what the name suggests – it protects the wall behind from splashes. They come in all shapes and sizes and for best effect, should be custom-built to fit your kitchen. After all, every home is different and has different requirements. Here, we look at just a few of the benefits and how you can have one bespoke to your needs.

1.    Protection

Most commonly found in a kitchen, the splashback sits behind the hob and catches all those splashes, stains and damaging cooking oils so they’re not damaging your paintwork or tiling. Have you ever tried to get a sticky tomato sauce or grease stain off a painted wall? If so, you’ll appreciate having a splashback. Maybe you plan to site tiles behind your hob. If so, you’ll find these are easier to clean than painted surfaces, but nonetheless, cooking residue can gather in the seams and staining can occur, resulting in the need to replace or renew the grouting over time.

Cooking on your hob also produces steam which can damage most other surfaces – but a splashback won’t be harmed by this. Simply wipe off condensation from time to time to keep the surface sparkling.

2.    Hygienic and Easily Cleaned

Hygiene is more important than ever to families these days. As mentioned above, tiles will tend to gather food splatters in the grout joints. This can stain and even cause mould. As a splashback is made from one single piece of smooth glass with no seams or joins, it’s a much simpler matter to wipe the surface clean with a glass cleaner and a soft, lint-free cloth.

3.    Personality

A splashback is also a great way of adding a splash of colour or a unique touch to your kitchen décor. As the glass from which they’re made can come in an almost infinite number of colours, finishes, designs and cuts, you can tailor your splashback exactly to either blend into your kitchen’s overall decoration, or stand out by choosing a contrasting colour.

4.    Ease of Installation

Tiling is time-consuming and often takes a specialist to achieve that professional look you’re hoping for, which can make it an expensive job to undertake. But choose the right glass and glazing supplier and installing a custom-built kitchen splashback is fast and easy.

5.    Longevity and Return on Investment

While the initial outlay on a splashback might not be as inexpensive as picking up a pot of paint or some tiles from your local DIY store, it’s an investment in the future. Your splashback will last for years without the expense of having to continuously repaint or replace damaged tiles and grouting.

In short, a splashback is a great way of protecting kitchen walls from damp and stains. A good glass and glazing specialist will offer a huge choice in colours to match your décor, as well as being able to measure, supply and fit one in your home. Choose yours today!

Five Great Reasons to Include a Glass Balustrade in Your Building

Whether you’re looking for a way to make a splash during a home renovation or want to impress customers and other stakeholders in your business premises, there’s no better design statement than a glass balustrade. There’s a tendency to think of glass as a fragile material, and indeed some types are, but that’s not the case if it’s being used to create an architectural feature. Read on to find out our top five reasons for incorporating a glass balustrade in interior design.

1.    Safety First

A balustrade generally protects building users from falling down into voids where there’s a staircase, balcony, patio, mezzanine or high walkway. Glass balustrades are constructed from toughened safety glass which is thick and strong. These aren’t easy to break – Building Regulations require them to be constructed with enough strength to resist significant loads and withstand a whole range of conditions. Even in instances where they do crack or break, toughened glass is superior to annealed glass in that it will not shatter into falling shards with jagged edges. The glass fractures into small, squared pieces without sharp edges and generally stays safely within its frame until it can be replaced.

2.    Easy to Maintain

Glass provides a flat, glossy surface which is much easier to clean than many other materials. All that’s required to remove fingerprints or grime is a soft, lint-free cloth. Glass also resists nicks and abrasions better than, say, wood. Any small scratches can usually be polished out. Moreover the smooth surface of a glass panel resists dust for longer – there are no nooks and crannies where is can gather. So you’ll find a glass balustrade to be low maintenance on top of its other merits.

3.    Environmentally Friendly

Often a consideration for businesses that like to uphold their environmental credentials, but no less a draw for eco-friendly householders, glass is entirely recyclable. It doesn’t degrade during recycling either, so it can be used again and again. Not that that needs to be an immediate concern – glass is also hard-wearing and has a long lifespan, so you won’t have to replace a glass balustrade in a hurry.

4.    A Great Return on Investment

Speaking of its longevity, the strength and versatility of glass makes it a highly cost-effective solution as a building material. Unlike wood, it won’t fade or discolour with age, nor will it rot or warp in humid or damp atmospheres. So there will be little in the way of repair or replacement costs over the years.

5.    Effortlessly Beautiful

Last but not least, a glass balustrade will add a certain glamour – and a whole lot of light – to any space. It won’t block or alter natural or ambient lighting; in fact, it will help bounce it round the room it’s located in. It’s a visually striking feature that can be enhanced by the fixtures and fittings you select for handrails, newel posts and so on.

To make the most of these benefits, commission your glass balustrade from a trusted, specialist glass supplier like Abbey Glass Chester. Why not take a look at some of our recent projects elsewhere on the website to get some ideas for your home or office?

Where to Hang a Mirror

The obvious answer to the question “where should I hang a mirror?” is, of course, wherever you need it! Most mirrors in the home are functional, at least in part. You want to be able to see your face while you shave, brush your teeth and so on; or you’d like to see your full reflection before you leave the house to make sure you look ok.

But mirrors also have a range of other purposes. They can be used as decoration; to enhance the amount of light in a room; or to create the illusion of a larger space, amongst others.

Here are some hints and tips on where to place mirrors for best effect.

● In an Entrance Hall

This is the first impression visitors get of your home, and yet most houses only have a small space that’s often neglected when it comes to interior design. Any mirror in the hall will reflect light, brightening up a dark space and creating a feeling of warmth. But if you want to wow guests, try hanging a full-wall mirror at the far end, if possible. This gives the impression that the hall is much longer than it really is. If on the other hand you think your hallway looks too narrow, large mirrors on the side walls will give the room more depth visually.

● In a Living Room

Any mirror will help bring a room to life, making it feel more lived-in and comfortable. But if you have particular features to show off, like precious artwork, a chandelier or even a stunning view in your garden, place the mirror accordingly so it reflects that. If you’re planning to hang a mirror over a mantelpiece, the ideal height is 4-5” above the mantle. There are no rules about the size of the mirror – you could hang one that is as long as the mantlepiece, longer or less, provided you make sure it’s hung symmetrically!

● In the Bathroom

This is another space that’s potentially small. By avoiding heavy-framed mirrors, you can reflect light and a feeling of space. Try bevelled mirrors: these have no frame at all, but the angled edges look neat and subtle while catching and refracting the light around the room.

● In the Garden

Mirrors don’t just enhance interiors – they can be used to great effect outdoors too! Again, they’ll make a small garden look bigger, especially if you position a full-length one opposite borders or other features of interest. Use small, round mirrors dotted around walls to create the effect of a window to another world, but be careful not to position any reflective surface where it might become a fire hazard because it receives too much direct sunlight.

Really, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to hanging a mirror in the home or garden – why not try yours in a few places to see the effect created before fixing it to the wall? And if you need help sourcing a particular size or style of mirror, or with hanging one, contact a specialist glass and glazing supplier like Abbey Glass Chester. We’re always delighted to assist.