Glass splashbacks for professional kitchens: a restaurateur's guide

Splashbacks are an essential part of any professional kitchen environment. Find out why glass is the best material for the job.



What makes a professional kitchen successful? Like so many things in life, the answer is multifaceted. Asked this question, you might reach for the reputation of the chef, the efficiency of the cooking processes or the quality of the equipment.

Not many of you, we suspect, would reach for the quality of the splashback. Yet these panels are an essential part of any professional kitchen, protecting walls from heat, moisture, grease, splatter and other trickles of the trade.

And in a professional kitchen – especially in a fast-paced commercial environment – this isn't just a question of squeamishness. It's also key to ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations. No kitchen is quite clean enough without splashbacks.

Kitchen splashbacks can be made from a range of materials. Budget options include laminate and PVC, while quartz is used for longer-lasting panels. The restaurateur with an eye for the aesthetic might go for tiles, introducing texture and colour to the kitchen walls.

For our money, however, glass is best – specifically toughened glass. Here are four reasons why.

Why glass is the best choice for kitchen splashbacks

1. It's easy to clean

This is the big one. Glass is non-porous, so it couldn't be easier to wipe splatter off with a damp cloth, liquid detergent or glass cleaner – no scrubbing required.

This is great for professional kitchens, where time is of the essence and multitasking is the norm. Essentially, you don't want to waste time removing dirt from your walls. Instead, you want the process to be simple and non-disruptive to the thousand other things that need to be done.

What's more, because glass splashbacks usually consist of a single sheet of glass, there are no grout lines in which bacteria, mould or grease could gather.

2. It's durable

Most glass splashbacks are made from toughened (tempered) glass. This matters for a couple of reasons.

To understand why, we first need to consider how toughened glass is made. Manufacturers take a pane of standard annealed glass and heat it in a furnace at around 650°C (1,200°F). It's then removed from the furnace and rapidly blasted with cold air.

At the end of this process, the glass is up to five times stronger than when it entered the oven.

This makes it ideal for busy kitchen environments, where it can withstand high temperatures and any knocks or bumps from staff. Meanwhile, its heat resistance makes it an essential choice for a panel fitted behind a hot hob.

But there's another advantage that toughened glass confers. This is its distinctive breakage pattern.

When toughened glass breaks, you see, it doesn't split into jagged shards. Instead, it breaks into lots of small, relatively harmless pieces that can be quickly swept up.

3. Aesthetics

Professional kitchens are primarily functional. But that doesn't mean they have to be plain or unappealing. Glass splashbacks come with a range of design options, meaning your kitchen can be hygienic and stylish.

But even before you look at the design options available, glass is inherently sleek and stylish. Its reflective surface can make the kitchen feel brighter, larger and airier. In a cramped kitchen, this simple addition can help improve morale.

Now for your options. Glass can be digitally printed with a photorealistic design. This could be a pattern, a logo or an image – the sky's the limit. What's more, modern fabrication technology means these designs are fused into the glass and can last as long as the splashback itself.

Your splashback can be mesh-laminated. This involves inserting a textured interlayer between two sheets of glass and laminating the unit. These meshes can look metallic or organic – it all depends on the interlayer you choose.

On a similar note, you can order a splashback fitted with a coloured interlayer. This can help solidify your brand identity through a consistent palette or simply add a pop of colour to your kitchen. And as with printed glass, the options are virtually endless.

Finally, you could have a mirrored glass splashback. Like other toughened glass splashbacks, these are heat-resistant, easy to clean and stylish. The key advantage over standard toughened glass is that they create a sense of space through reflections.

Whatever option you go for, you can be sure that a glass splashback will add aesthetic appeal to your professional kitchen environment. This is good for staff well-being – not to mention your brand reputation if you're visited by a photographer, film crew or content creator.

4. It lasts for years

Toughened glass lives up to its name. Not only is it exceptionally hard to break, but it's also resistant to staining and UV light. This means it can stay in place for years without needing to be replaced.

Yes, the upfront cost is higher than PVC or laminate options. But once it's up, it's going to stay up for a long time, giving you peace of mind and reducing stress in an already stressful environment.

What kind of glass should be used for a kitchen splashback?

Because of its proximity to heat, kitchen splashbacks are made from toughened glass. This can be toughened mirror glass if you want to create a sense of space.

But as we've seen, kitchen splashbacks can be decorated in a variety of ways. When these options include interlayers, the glass is laminated. This means it consists of two or more sheets of glass with a plastic interlayer, as well as any decorative interlayers you wish to include.

The main reason why toughened glass is used for kitchen splashbacks is its heat-resistant properties. But its durability, longevity, aesthetic appeal and distinctive breakage patterns are other advantages that contribute to creating a safe and stylish professional environment.

Are you looking for made-to-measure splashback glass? At ToughGlaze, we cut, customise and ship high-quality splashback glass to meet the exacting demands of professional kitchens. Don't hesitate to get in touch with our experts to discuss your needs or request a tailored quote.