How to Install Glass Splashbacks in Kitchens
The video below gives professional tips on how to install glass tiles for splashbacks between your counter and kitchen cabinets. Creative ideas like this make kitchens stand out from the ordinary. You are going to need a few tools, a little time and a fair amount of money. These little glass squares are not necessarily a reasonably priced item. The materials used in this clip come from recycled bottles, supplied by Ocean Side Glass. They are available in many different colors, textures and finishes.
How the Backsplash Glass is Made
The clear wall decorations used for these splashbacks in the tutorial were made out of Collett. The small chips of glass are heated in a furnace at over two thousand degrees. Once the material becomes molten the custom colors are added at this stage. The glowing lava like material is then placed into a press that has varying molding patterns to select from. Once the forms cool, they are cut apart and the sharp edges of the glass splash pieces are smoothed out.
Preparing The Wall Pattern Design
You are going to need a test board/cardboard that is wider than the distance between the counter top and the bottom of the kitchen upper cabinet. The practice template should be about four feet long. Make lines that represent the bottom of the cabinet and the counter.
Using the lines as a guide, layout your glass splashback pieces in the desired pattern. This will help prepare your installation plan. You will have a good idea of what glass pieces will need to be cut and how much to cut off.
The beauty of using these glass tiles for your splash-backs is the versatility of the arrangements.
- Diamond Patterns
- Mosaic
- Inlays
- Crosses
You are dealing with clear glass tiles. You will need to take precaution in applying the adhesive to the wall. If the mastic is not coated correctly it will show through the glass back-splash pieces. You don’t want to see any bumps or ridges when you are finished.
Start by marking the center line of the wall. Perhaps using the center of an appliance would work well for determining where to begin. Many people figure out what design is going to require the least amount of cuts and still look good. This is how they decide where they will lay the first splashback pieces.
Apply thin-set adhesive to the kitchen walls with the flat side of the tilers trowel. Then, using the three sixteenths (3/16″) serrated edge, comb the glue. The combing process sets the proper thickness of the material. You need to then smooth it out or “knock down” the ridges so they don’t show through the glass splashback. The trick is to do this without changing the depth of the glue on the wall. You don’t want to apply more than you can work within a five minute period.
Using a dry cotton lent-free cloth, wipe each glass tile clean.
With a special trowel, called a margin trowel, wipe a thin layer of adhesive on the backside of the glass tile. This is called back-buttering.
Set each kitchen splashback glass tile into position and give it a little jiggle to make sure there is not any air trapped underneath. You should place spacers between the glass pieces to ensure that they have the same gaps throughout the wall pattern. Do not try to install the splashbacks without these plastic helpers.
Any pieces of glass that need to be cut can be done with a wet saw. The correct blade to use is called a resin diamond blade. Rubbing stones should be used to knock off the razor like edges of the glass. Make sure you wear protective gloves during this operation.
Once all of the kitchen tile pieces are installed, allow plenty of time for the thin-set adhesive to cure. The final step of finishing off the kitchen splashback is grouting the gaps. Once everything has cured according to the recommend time by the manufacture, clean the glass splashbacks.