4 Step Kitchen Design Checklist
Thinking of that brand new Fitted Kitchen but don’t know where to start? Here is your 4 step Kitchen Design Checklist! Our ...
Our Fitted Kitchen department has a broad range of glass splashback in hundreds of colour options, including metallic and sparkle effects. We can also mix colours to order from all the top brands, including RAL, Dulux and Farrow & Ball.
Splashbacks can be a piece of art as well as being functional. Optidek can make your splashback beautifully blend into your kitchen or act as a featured splash of colour. Add colour, prints or mirrored glass to complete your perfect fitted kitchen.
Toughened (or tempered) glass, in our expert opinion, is the only suitable option for glass splashbacks, and why we only sell this type.
Toughened glass is heat resistant to 220°C and virtually never breaks due to heat. In over eight years of supplying and installing toughened glass splashbacks, we have never had a panel break due to heat behind the hob.
Toughened glass is five times more impact resistant than untoughened glass and will never break across a socket or corner cut-outs.
If your glass has cracked, it is not toughened – toughened glass does not crack, but shatters into hundreds of tiny pieces.
There is an easy way to tell if the glass is toughened, without breaking the glass. Toughened glass will have an etched mark in one of the corners, which is white in appearance. If there is no toughened mark on the glass, then it is not toughened.
Untoughened glass is available elsewhere in two forms:
1) Pre-coated coloured sheets, such as Planilaque and Lacobel. This glass can be cut to size and have holes drilled into it or socket cut-outs made into it, but it cannot be toughened. It is prone to cracking behind the hob and across socket and corner cut-outs. It is only available in a limited range of colours and is a lot cheaper.
2) Coloured film or foil backed glass. The colour film or foil is typically applied locally and the glass is often untoughened. The coating is frequently inferior and prone to discolouring or flaking.
Splashbacks are an excellent alternative to tiles, but if you would still prefer this classic look then visit our tiles page.
Take advantage of our free home measure and design service. Our kitchens are made by British brands.