Splashback / Backsplash (Tile)

A protective wall covering installed behind a kitchen hob, cooktop, or sink to shield the wall from water, grease, and cooking splashes.

A splashback (called a backsplash in the US) is the section of wall covering behind your kitchen hob/cooktop and sink that protects the wall from water, steam, grease, and food splashes. In bathrooms, splashbacks serve a similar purpose behind sinks and along bath or shower walls.

Splashback materials

  • Ceramic or porcelain tiles — the most popular choice. Huge range of sizes, colours, and patterns. Metro/subway tiles are a perennial favourite. Individual tiles can be replaced if damaged.
  • Glass — available in solid colours or printed designs. Seamless and very easy to clean, with no grout lines to maintain. Fitted as panels rather than individual tiles.
  • Natural stone — granite, marble, or slate. Beautiful but requires sealing and more maintenance. Premium pricing.
  • Stainless steel — durable and hygienic. Common in professional kitchens. Gives a contemporary, industrial look.
  • Acrylic or laminate panels — budget-friendly, available in many designs. Lightweight and easy to fit. Less heat-resistant than other options — keep away from direct flame.
  • Matching worktop material — some homeowners extend their worktop material (quartz, porcelain, solid surface) up the wall as the splashback for a seamless look.

Design considerations

  • Height — a standard splashback behind a hob covers the wall from the worktop to the bottom of the extractor hood or wall cabinets (typically 600-750mm). Behind a sink, a shorter splashback of 300-400mm may be sufficient.
  • Full wall or partial — some kitchens tile the entire wall from worktop to ceiling for maximum protection and visual impact; others just cover the areas directly behind the hob and sink.
  • Pattern and layout — tiles can be laid in herringbone, brick bond, stacked, or basket weave patterns, each giving a different character to the same tile.

Installation

Tiles are fixed to the wall with adhesive and the joints filled with grout. Where the splashback meets the worktop, silicone sealant is used instead of grout to accommodate slight movement. Glass and panel splashbacks are typically bonded directly to the wall with adhesive.

Things to ask your contractor

Make sure your scope of work specifies the splashback material, area to be covered, and tile layout pattern. If you are tiling, clarify who supplies the tiles and grout, and what colour grout will be used — this significantly affects the finished look.