Before you buy it is important to learn How to Buy a Back Painted Glass Backsplash

There are a lot of great reasons why back-painted glass backsplashes are the right choice for kitchens and bathrooms.

In this article, we will cover the most important steps to follow as you learn how to buy a back-painted glass backsplash.

What is a Back-Painted Glass Backsplash?

A back-painted glass backsplash is a glass that has been painted on one side with an opaque colour and is applied to a wall surface usually above a kitchen or bathroom counter.

A backsplash is used to protect (and now decorate) the wall behind wet work areas in kitchens and bathrooms.

You have probably seen coloured glass walls or glass table tops in decorator interior design magazines or websites. You may have seen dry-erase glass marker boards in office environments or shower doors that have been painted with an Acid Etched coating.

Back-painted interior glass is becoming more popular in residential and commercial applications because of the unlimited colour range and it is very easy to keep clean.

What makes Glass Paint different from solvent-based or Latex wall paint?

The backsplash should be painted with a paint product chemically formulated to bond to the glass.

There are back-painted glass backsplash providers that still use standard latex paint.

Why is this wrong?

If you don’t use glass paint that is chemically formulated to bond to glass it may separate from the glass and create a visual disaster in your kitchen or bathroom.

If the glass paint is not bonded to the glass or the adhesion fails the glass could separate from the wall and fall and break or injure someone.

Always ask your contractor if the glass paint they use includes an “Adhesion Promoter”.

There are two choices of glass paint; Solvent Borne and, the more environmentally and user-friendly, Water Borne.

What Type of Glass Should be used for Back Painted glass?

Back painted backsplashes are normally made from clear low iron non pattern glass.

Clear low iron glass is the most colourless or clear glass available. Low iron glass is absent of ingredients that add a slight green colour to the glass.

Did you know that there are different types of clear glass?

It is very important to understand what clear glass types are available while you learn how to buy a back-painted glass backsplash.

Clear or Low-Iron glass is generally the choices available.

It is important for the Contractor to know where they bought the glass from and for you to keep a record in case the backsplash breaks.

The primary Float Glass manufacturers in North America are:

AGC Glass Co. North America
Cardinal FG Company
Guardian Industries
Pilkington North America
PPG Industries

If you try to replace the backsplash glass, and even if you use the same glass paint, the clear glass colour varies by the manufacturer which will change the appearance or colour of the back-painted glass.

So make sure you know who the primary glass manufacturer is in case you need to replace a piece of glass.

For example, some manufacturers’ glass has a stronger green tint than others.

The green tint will change the colour of the back-painted glass when viewed through the glass. Contact us for clarification.

Can my newly Back-Painted Glass Backsplash be any Custom Colour I want?

Glass Paint Technology takes great pride in our state of art colour-matching technology. We can match to any National Brand paint manufacturer, Pantone Color System and physical samples you may have.

You have additional colour coating options to choose from:

Opaques: An unlimited range of colours is available using the GPT Color Matching System.
Metallics: Our silver metallic base used in conjunction with our range of GPT “tinters” will produce an infinite range of lustre colours.
Translucent: A wide range of colours in any level of translucency can be applied to the glass and then PVB, EVA and or liquid pour laminated.
Transparent: Vibrant UV stable finishes are available. Patterns and designs can be achieved through masking techniques.

Request a Colour Match Sample

Once you have selected your colour it is important that you request a colour-match sample from the contractor you choose to work with.

Colour match samples may require a fee paid to the contractor.

When you evaluate your sample make sure you are in the kitchen or bathroom where the backsplash will be installed.

Look at the colour with natural light and the artificial light in the room to make sure the colour is exactly what you want.

If you approve this sample you will keep it and use it to compare to the completed back-painted backsplash.

How to Find a Contractor to Manufacture and Install the Back-Painted Glass Backsplash?

Isn’t technology great? Go to your computer and use Google to search for “Glass Backsplash”. A number of choices will appear for your glass project.

Select the top 4 “Organic” results – not guys who pay for ads.

Check out their website and see if they have a showroom and visit them. Look at their reviews and eliminate contractors with poor reviews. Do you want to hire someone that has a 3 out of 5 rating?

Make sure you get a minimum of 3 proposals so you can compare.

This is your opportunity to ask all your questions – before you give the contractor any money.

Ask them how they get the work done. Who is performing the work; the Contractor’s employee or a sub-contractor?

Employees tend to be more connected with the Contractor’s methods. Sub-contractors are in place to control costs and overflow labour and don’t always have the same commitment as the primary contractor.

Remember this is a very small niche trade so it is not unreasonable to expect the Contractor to have his own employees.

Ask these questions about the contractors business:

Is the Contractor Licensed to work in your area, and are they bonded and insured? Before you give them a deposit get a Contractor Certificate of Insurance form.
What is the Contractors Better Business Bureau rating?
What is the Contractor’s Google review rating? Hint – are the reviews from real people?
How many Glass backsplashes have they installed?
Make sure you sign off on a layout of the back-painted glass backsplash to verify where the joints are. Hint; you want as few joints as possible. Joints normally occur at cutouts.
Ask for a copy of the Contract you will sign.
Is a deposit required with the order?
Who is performing the work; the Contractor’s employee or a sub-contractor?
Tell the Contractor the “Ground Rules” of working in your home. For example, it may not be ok to start work at 6 a.m. (for obvious reasons).
Make sure you know what your responsibilities are. What must be removed from the room? What type of access does the Contractor require? Don’t leave anything to chance.

Ask the contractor these questions about the product they will manufacture and install:

What type of Glass Paint do they use? If the answer is vague ask them who the manufacturer is. Hint: there are not many manufacturers in North America. There are many manufacturers in China and India that do not manufacture to North American manufacturer standards so beware.
What type of glass do they use – generic clear or low-iron? You want the name of the primary glass manufacturer in case of future breakage.
Does the contractor have a colour approval process?
What colour choices do they offer?
Thickness of the glass recommended? Hint: 6mm or 1/4″ is the standard.
Glass colour – will it be generic clear or low-iron?
Will tempered or annealed glass be provided?
Glass is attached to the wall using what method? Hint: Silicone Low-Acid Neutral-Cure.
Cutouts for electrical outlets – how do they handle them?
What are the glass edge finishing options? Hint: Flat edge polish for any exposed edges and raised or hand polished at cutouts and concealed edges.

How to Buy a Back-Painted Glass Backsplash Checklist?

Choose Your Backsplash Color.
Take measurements, length x height, and identify cutouts.
Then Interview Contractors, visit the showroom and ask business and product questions (use the list identified earlier in this article).
Finally, you Evaluate a minimum of 3 Contractors and don’t always buy the low price!

Now you have completed your research and learned? How to Buy a Back Painted Glass Backsplash?

Enjoy!