A seamless kitchen back wall as an alternative to a tiled splashback looks elegant and is easy to install. You can watch an instructional video on the installation here.
For many people, the kitchen is their favorite place in the whole home. Not only as somewhere to do the cooking, but also a place to sit, eat, and celebrate together with family and friends. The kitchen is increasingly becoming a living room, which is also reflected in the equipment. If you are thinking of redesigning and modernizing your kitchen, you can do great things with little effort. Take PLEXIGLAS® wall cladding for example: Cover that old tiled splashback with unsightly joints with a seamless, brilliant surface that visually enlarges and enhances the space.
DIY enthusiasts who want to install a kitchen back wall can easily handle the material themselves. Acrylic glass is much lighter and easier to handle, compared with glass. It is also extremely robust, easy to maintain, and easy to clean in everyday use – vital for surfaces in the kitchen.
Find the right sheet size
When ordering your sheet for the kitchen back wall, don't forget to bear in mind the clearance needed to allow the PLEXIGLAS® to expand due to heat and humidity. This is at least 3 mm per meter of length and width on all sides indoors.
Which PLEXIGLAS® is suitable for use as a kitchen back wall?
All types of PLEXIGLAS® sheets can be used as an alternative to tiled splashbacks in the kitchen. The decision depends on the design you would like, because with brand acrylic glass from Röhm, you can make your own ideas for a kitchen back wall a reality – from large high-gloss panels that stand out in a new cheerful color to a tone on tone that blends in with the kitchen furniture.
A printed photo design turns the splash protection into an eye-catcher, with some appetizing food, a plant, or landscape motif, for example. And a backlit kitchen wall with PLEXIGLAS® in combination with LED creates a unique atmosphere through light.
Tip:
PLEXIGLAS® is available in a wide variety of colors and properties. Order samples of your choice from the PLEXIGLAS® online shop before you embark on your project.
PLEXIGLAS® Hi-Gloss, PLEXIGLAS® Optical HC, and PLEXIGLAS® Optical HCM are particularly popular for elegant kitchen back walls.
Instructions: Attaching a kitchen back wall made from PLEXIGLAS®
We will now explain how to install a removable fastening without gluing, which involves mounting the PLEXIGLAS® sheet between aluminum. This has the advantage that it can be removed and remounted at any time.
An important note in advance: If you want to attach PLEXIGLAS® to the wall behind a stove, check that the distance to the cooktop is at least 60 mm for a ceramic cooktop and 200 mm for a gas cooktop. Always refer to the manufacturer's instructions.
1
Disconnect electrical outlets
Ensure the electrical outlets are properly disconnected by an electrician. Remove the covers and set aside.
2
Cut the profiles
Measure the length and cut the aluminum profiles. These can be stuck or screwed to the wall, however screw connections are recommended where possible.
3
Cut the seal
A self-adhesive foam seal between the worktop and the profile will prevent water from entering. A window frame seal, available from hardware stores, is well suited for this. Cut the seal and glue it onto the lower profile. Alternatively, you can seal the gap between the profile and the worktop with a suitable silicone.
4
Screw profile to the wall
Tip: For this type of installation, make sure that you can slide the corner profile from above onto the previously installed sheets. Otherwise, a different mounting method must be chosen.
First, check the condition of the substructure and smooth out any bumps. Installing a counter-bearing near the outlets is recommended, so they can be attached securely at a later stage. Then screw the profile onto the wall.
5
Determine the sheet size
The PLEXIGLAS® sheet is cut slightly shorter than the frame to ensure correct mounting. For the right cut, measure the internal clearance between the profiles and add the insertion depth. The calculation formula is:
Height = clear profile dimension + (1 x profile depth) ‒ 1 mm clearance Length = clear dimension from U-profile to corner profile + (1 x profile depth)
Mark out the dimensions on the PLEXIGLAS® sheet and cut with a circular hand saw.
Insert a round cord into the lower profile. This ensures that the PLEXIGLAS® sheet fits well and can expand. The spacer cord should be as thick as the profile insertion depth minus approximately 3 mm.
7
Mark the exact position of the sockets on the PLEXIGLAS® sheet
Mark the exact position of the holes for the outlets in the right place on the PLEXIGLAS® sheet.
Important: To allow for an expansion clearance on the PLEXIGLAS®, the hole must be at least 5 mm in diameter larger than the outlet.
8
Drill the holes
Now drill the holes for the outlets. Use a hole saw suitable for acrylic glass to drill the PLEXIGLAS®. Select a slow speed and cool the bore continuously with water from a spray bottle. Then deburr the hole with a file or scraper.
Before inserting the PLEXIGLAS® sheet into the profiles, remove the protective film completely from the back. On the front, first remove only a narrow strip of the protective film along the edge so that the sheet fits well into the frame.
10
Mount the PLEXIGLAS® sheet
Now place the PLEXIGLAS® sheet in the frame. Using a suction lifter can be helpful here for large kitchen back walls.
Can dark tiles be covered over with PLEXIGLAS® Hi-Gloss, or will I still be able to see them through the sheet?
No, the tiles will not be visible.
Can a PLEXIGLAS® sheet be mounted behind the stove? How much heat does the material withstand?
The maximum operating temperature of PLEXIGLAS® is 70°C. PLEXIGLAS® can be used with a minimum distance of 60 mm from a ceramic cooktop and 200 mm from a gas cooktop. Please also refer to the stove or cooktop manufacturer's instructions.
Does acrylic glass also tolerate splashes of hot fat at 200°C?
PLEXIGLAS® is not damaged by fat splashes if they are removed soon afterwards with a soft, lint-free cloth and lukewarm water with a dash of detergent.
Is the adhesive tape resistant to moisture and heat changes in the long term?
Yes, because the adhesive tape does not come into direct contact with the heat from the cooktop.
Where do you get the aluminum profiles that can be seen in the video "Kitchen tiled splashback made from PLEXIGLAS®"?
These aluminum profiles are usually available from hardware stores.
How much shorter does the PLEXIGLAS® sheet have to be than the profile?
The calculation formula is:
Height = clear profile dimension + (1 x profile depth) ‒ 1 mm clearance
Length = clear dimension from U-profile to corner profile + (1 x profile depth)