What you need to know about glass splashbacks

Toughened Glass Splashbacks

Toughened (or tempered) glass, in our expert opinion, is the only suitable option for glass splashbacks. Toughened glass is heat resistant to 220 degrees Celsius and virtually never breaks due to heat. In over 12 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 (stronger) than untoughened glass and will never break across socket or corner cut-outs.

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 whitish in appearance. If there is no toughened mark on the glass, then it is not toughened. All Easy Glass Splashbacks glass panels are toughened.

Untoughened Glass Splashbacks

Untoughened (or untempered) glass is available 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.

Easy Glass Splashbacks are contacted regularly by people who have been sold inferior products which have since cracked, discoloured or simply don’t fit properly.