Do you want to install a glass splash back as the final step of a kitchen remodel? Read on and discover some useful tips that will enable you to complete the installation of the splash back without any mishaps.

Consider Expansion and Contraction

The temperature around the glass splash back is likely to rise while you cook and fall when you finish cooking. That fluctuation will cause the glass to expand and contract. This reality should be considered when you are installing the splash back so that the glass doesn't crack due to lacking room for expansion. Caulked joints close to the places where the walls in your kitchen intersect can enable the glass to expand without cracking.

Know Your Substrate

It is also important for you to understand the substrate upon which you wish to install the glass splash back. For example, concrete walls may cure slowly over several weeks. It would be unwise for you to install the glass splash back before the concrete has cured fully because the concrete may contract and cause the glass to crack. It is therefore advisable for you to wait until the specific substrate in your kitchen cures fully so that it provides a stable surface onto which the glass will adhere.

Pay Attention to Cleanliness

Some DIY splash back installation projects often end in failure because the homeowner may not have paid sufficient attention to cleaning the substrate prior to applying the setting materials for the splash back. Such a mistake can cause poor adhesion between the setting material and the substrate. The glass can then fall and shatter. Avoid such an eventuality by ensuring that the substrate is free from oil, dust, paint or any other substance that can weaken the bond between the setting material and the substrate. Clean the substrate thoroughly using the cleaners that are recommended for that specific substrate.

Mind the Grain Direction

Your glass splash back may have been delivered to you in several units. Some glass sheets may have a directional grain that is indicated by the use of an arrow on the mounting surface. Make sure that you install such a product with the arrows pointing in the same direction. This will avoid any issues that could result if the components have the grain pointing in different directions during the expansion and contraction referred to earlier.

As you can see, installing a glass splash back requires you to have some knowledge about the different materials that you are working with. Hire a professional for the installation if you have never participated in such an installation project. That professional will show you how it is done so that you will be able to handle future installations on your own, if you so wish.