If you're currently staring at a greasy patch of wall behind your stove and wondering, "do you fit and install splashbacks," the short answer is a resounding yes, we definitely do. It's one of those jobs that seems straightforward until you're actually standing there with a large, expensive piece of glass or a handful of sticky tiles, realizing that "level" is a much more subjective term than you originally thought.
Kitchens are the heart of the home, but they're also the messiest. Between the tomato sauce explosions and the rogue frying pan oil, your walls take a beating. That's where a solid splashback comes in. But getting it right—making sure it's flush, straight, and properly sealed—is where things can get a bit hairy.
Why a professional fit matters more than you think
It's tempting to look at a piece of acrylic or a glass panel and think, "How hard can it be? A bit of glue, a bit of pressure, and I'm done." But the truth is, the wall behind your counter is rarely as flat as it looks. Most houses have slight bows or dips in the plaster. If you just slap a splashback on there, you might end up with gaps that collect moisture, or worse, a piece of glass that's under weird tension and eventually cracks.
When we fit and install splashbacks, the first thing we're looking at isn't the material itself, but the surface it's going onto. We have to make sure everything is prepped, sanded where necessary, and completely degreased. If there's even a hint of old cooking oil on that wall, your adhesive isn't going to stick. You'll come down for breakfast one morning and find your beautiful new feature lying in pieces on the toaster. Nobody wants that.
Choosing your material: Glass, Acrylic, or Tile?
One of the most common questions we get, right after "do you fit and install splashbacks," is "which material should I go for?" There isn't a one-size-fits-all answer, but here's the breakdown of what we usually see.
Glass is the gold standard for a reason. It's incredibly easy to clean, it looks sleek, and it reflects light, which makes smaller kitchens feel a bit bigger. However, it's heavy and it usually needs to be toughened if it's going behind a gas hob. You can't just cut toughened glass on-site; it has to be measured perfectly and manufactured to size.
Acrylic is the budget-friendly cousin. It looks almost exactly like glass once it's up, but it's much lighter and easier to work with. The big "but" here is that you can't put it directly behind a heat source like a gas stove. It'll warp or melt. If you have an induction hob, you might get away with it, but we usually recommend a glass protector even then.
Tiles are the classic choice. They offer endless patterns and textures. But—and this is a big but—grout is a nightmare to keep clean in a kitchen. If you love the look of tiles, we can certainly install them, but be prepared to spend a bit more time scrubbing those lines with an old toothbrush every few months.
The socket situation: The bane of every install
Nothing ruins the flow of a beautiful, seamless splashback like a double power socket right in the middle of it. This is probably the trickiest part of the whole process. When people ask if we fit and install splashbacks, they often forget about the electrics.
If you're using glass, we have to measure exactly where those sockets are so the glass can be laser-cut at the factory. There's zero room for error. If the hole is 2mm off, the socket cover won't sit right, and the whole panel is basically expensive scrap. When we handle the installation, we take those measurements with a level of precision that feels a bit like a high-stakes math exam. We also make sure the power is off and the sockets are safely brought forward so they sit flush on top of the new surface.
What actually happens on installation day?
We try to make the process as painless as possible, but it's still a construction job, so there's a bit of a dance involved. First, we clear the decks. Everything off the counters. Then, we do a dry fit. This is where we hold the splashback up to the wall without any glue just to make sure the measurements were spot on.
Once we're happy, the adhesive goes on. This isn't just regular superglue; it's a specific low-modulus silicone or a high-strength grab adhesive that won't react with the paint on the back of the glass. If you use the wrong stuff, it can actually eat away at the color, leaving weird "bleeding" marks that you can see from the front.
After the panel is pressed into place, we use spacers to make sure it's sitting perfectly. Then comes the sealing. A neat bead of silicone around the edges is what makes the whole thing waterproof. It sounds easy, but getting a smooth, professional line of silicone is a skill that takes years to master. Most DIY jobs look great until you see the messy, lumpy sealant in the corners.
DIY vs. Professional: Is it worth the saving?
I'm all for a bit of Saturday afternoon DIY, but splashbacks are one of those areas where the "pro" route usually pays for itself. If you mess up a coat of paint, you just paint over it. If you mess up a bespoke glass splashback, you're out several hundred pounds and potentially left with a damaged wall.
When we fit and install splashbacks, we bring the right tools—suction cups for handling heavy glass, professional-grade sealants, and the experience to handle "problem" walls. Plus, if we break it, it's on us to replace it. If you break it well, that's a very expensive "oops" moment.
How to keep your new splashback looking sharp
Once the job is done and we've packed up our tools, you're left with a kitchen that looks brand new. To keep it that way, you don't need fancy chemicals. In fact, most of those "heavy-duty" kitchen cleaners are too abrasive.
For glass and acrylic, a simple microfiber cloth and some glass cleaner (or even a bit of warm soapy water) is all you need. The trick is to wipe away splashes as soon as they happen. If you let grease sit there for weeks, it hardens and becomes much harder to shift without scratching the surface.
If you've gone for tiles, keep an eye on the grout. Every couple of years, it's worth applying a grout sealer to keep it from soaking up stains. It's a bit of a chore, but it keeps the kitchen looking fresh.
Ready to upgrade?
So, back to that original question: "do you fit and install splashbacks?" Not only do we do it, but we actually enjoy the transformation it brings to a room. It's one of those rare home improvements that doesn't take weeks of dust and noise but makes a massive impact on how your home looks and feels.
If you're tired of looking at that plain, stained wall and you want something that's easy to clean and looks like it belongs in a magazine, give us a shout. We'll handle the measurements, the heavy lifting, and the fiddly silicone work so you can just get back to cooking—hopefully with a bit less mess this time around.