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solid glass panels as backsplash

14 years ago

We have a new Trainor Glass retail store in my area. I stopped by at lunch today and WOW, they can do some really cool stuff with glass. I am having custom cabinets made and am considering putting in some glass inserts in the doors so that was my reason for visiting the store.

But they had some really cool glass backsplashes. I had toyed around with just solid plain glass, but never even knew about the textured/back painted options. The glass was textured on the back and then sometimes backpainted (still smooth on the front so easy to clean). They cut around outlets and such. They will custom match the back painting to any color you want (just bring in something to match...like color matching at Benjamin Moore stores).

I was originally debating between the glass or ceramic subway tiles.

Anyone ever consider solid glass for a backsplash?

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Comments (9)

pharaoh
14 years ago
I have always loved solid glass for a backsplash. Easy to maintain, modern, clean lines.

Here is mine made of laminated glass.
palimpsest
14 years ago
I love my glass backsplash for the look. Use Starfire (Starphire?) glass if you want the back painting to be truer to color and not green-tinted.

However, my first one cracked on installation and the current one has a stress crack in the same spot. In order to change it I would have to remove the plumbing on the sink (complicated in my case), so luckily the crack is hidden. I know of another case where a replacement was needed (something happened to back painting, company replaced) but they had to cut a slot in the wall into the next room to slide it into place.

Its a great look, and I would do it again. Just be aware that if you go for a large monolithic piece, it is not "forgiving" if something happens to it.
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Monica,,,i've never seen a solid panel of stained glass as a backsplash. these stained glass come in sheets, but I don't think they come in large enough single sheets to do the wall. you would have to get pieces . Don't know how that would look. you could call a company that makes the glass and see if you could custom order one to the size you need. As for the back painted glass, they cut the glass to your size specs and use a special paint meant for glass
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If your choice were only between to 2 you originally posted, I'd choose the one on the right--the cream one. From the photos it looks like it works very well with your quartzite. The gray one is "off" just enough not to look pleasing. However, as many have noted, either one is more difficult to clean than a smooth surface. What sort of cook are you--very neat or more devil-may-care? If you are very neat and do not splash much when you cook, then you may get away with the split-faced marble, but if you are a more exuberant cook, you may find it a challenge to clean. The mother of pearl is very formal and quite busy, so it's going to compete with the counter tops as well. Personally, I would use a smooth crackle tile in a tan/beige tone to work with your quartzite. Simple is always good.
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overlyoptimistic
14 years ago
I love the look. Curious if the glass is tempered? Also, did you go with clear glass or with glass that was sandblasted on one side to make it translucent?
rhome410
14 years ago
I'm curious and hope you'll forgive the question: My window behind my sink and the glass front on my oven (which I think would classify as back painted?) look so spotted and smeary, respectively, all the time, and if not cleaned just right, can still look less than perfect. Are backsplash glass pieces frosted on the face or something so that they are less shiny and are more forgiving as far as looking clean? I'm imagining the difficulty of getting glass streak-free when reaching to the wall at the back of a counter...

Thanks.
pharaoh
14 years ago
o.o, most glass backsplashes are painted in the back. Mine is actually laminated glass. ie two sheets of clear (not starphire) glass with a layer of white translucent material sandwiched in.

The front of the glass is, therefore, polished. I just windex it once in a while.

Lately, I have found windex to be not doing the job in cleaning glass steak free. must be the new ammonia free or something. I am looking for suggestions for the best glass cleaner like they used to be.
palimpsest
14 years ago
My glass is clear and just painted on the back --something like seven coats of paint. It was not sandblasted.

Actually sandblasting the front will allow it to pick up oils even from fingerprints.

We haven't really had trouble keeping it clean. Back painted glass (in a pale grey blue) is less reflective than your ovens are rhome...they seem mirror like. Plus you are looking at it head on all the time, not across the face. (Like your ovens). I think that is more forgiving. A dark paint color like black would be very hard to keep from looking smudgy.
rhome410
14 years ago
Thanks for sharing your experiences...I sure wouldn't want a whole backsplash like my oven! :-)
kippee
14 years ago
It is beautiful! So clean and crisp looking. How is it installed, is it screwed in? Can you change the material that is sandwiched if you want at a later time?
palimpsest
14 years ago
Mine sits on the counter and is held in place with a bit of clear caulk on the edge and by an outlet cover.

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