Kitchen Splashbacks: Materials, Installation, and Which to Choose

The kitchen splashback — the surface behind the hob, sink, and preparation area — takes the most punishment in the kitchen. It is subject to heat, steam, grease, and water. It also covers a large, visible area of wall and is one of the defining aesthetic elements of the kitchen. Yet it is frequently treated as an afterthought, specified late, or left undecided until tiling is underway.

This guide covers the main splashback options, what each requires technically, and which suits different kitchen contexts.

Full-height stone or porcelain slab

The highest-specification option. A large-format slab — marble, quartzite, or porcelain — running floor to ceiling or from worktop to ceiling behind the hob, with continuation along the preparation areas. Where the worktop and splashback are in the same material (a waterfall of Calacatta marble from worktop to wall), the effect is seamless and monolithic.

Marble: The definitive luxury kitchen material. Calacatta, Statuario, and Carrara are the standard choices — each with distinct white/grey tonal ranges. Marble behind a hob is fine (it is not vulnerable to heat in the way worktops are) but should be sealed against oil splatter. A polished surface shows marks more readily than a honed one.

Porcelain slab: Large-format porcelain (up to 3200 × 1600mm in a single slab) gives the aesthetic of stone with zero porosity — no sealing required, no staining. Dekton and Neolith are the established brands. Available in convincing stone patterns and in solid colours. More forgiving in a working kitchen than natural stone.

Technical requirements: Large-format slabs require a flat, plumb substrate. Kitchen walls are rarely flat enough without boarding out. The slab must be fixed with appropriate adhesive (flexible large-format tile adhesive), and joints must be kept to an absolute minimum — ideally a single slab from worktop to ceiling for a seamless result. Cutting and handling equipment for 3m slabs requires specialist fixers.

Metro and ceramic tile

The classic small-format tile — typically 75 × 150mm or 100 × 200mm brick-bond — is one of the most enduring kitchen splashback treatments. White gloss metro tile with grey or white grout reads as clean and timeless; coloured metro tile in green, blue, or cream creates a more expressive result.

Advantages: Easy to replace individual damaged tiles; wide availability; modest cost; any competent tiler can install it.

Limitations: The grout lines require cleaning. A large number of small tiles behind a busy hob are difficult to keep pristine. Epoxy grout (Mapei Kerapoxy or similar) is more stain-resistant than standard cement grout and worth specifying throughout.

Artisan and handmade tiles: Imperfect, hand-pressed tiles with an irregular glaze give a warmer, more characterful result than machine-made tiles. Manufacturers include Bert & May, Claybrook, and Emery & Cie. These command a significant premium — expect £60–£200/m² for handmade tiles versus £15–£40/m² for standard metro.

Glass splashback

A single sheet of toughened glass — typically painted on the reverse with a selected colour — fixed directly to the wall. The seamless, jointless surface is the primary advantage: no grout lines, wiped clean in seconds.

Advantages: Completely hygienic; jointless; can be colour-matched to any RAL or Farrow & Ball colour; allows the wall behind to be visible if the glass is left clear.

Limitations: Scratches are permanent in a painted glass finish. Any imperfection in the wall behind is visible through clear glass. Fixing requires careful drilling through the glass (manufacturer-drilled holes) or adhesive bonding — the latter is simpler but makes removal difficult.

Technical note: The glass must be toughened (thermally or chemically) and is typically 6mm thick. The fixing method — bonded or mechanically fixed — should be agreed before the glass is ordered. Bonded installations are permanent; mechanical fixing allows future removal.

Stainless steel

The professional kitchen material. Sheet stainless steel — typically 1.2–2mm grade 304 — behind the hob is hygienic, heat-resistant, and easy to clean. Brushed stainless has fewer visible fingerprints than polished.

Stainless steel reads as industrial; it suits contemporary or industrial-aesthetic kitchens and is less appropriate in a traditional painted kitchen. It is typically the choice of clients who cook seriously and prioritise function over aesthetics.

Technical requirements: Fixed with adhesive to a flat substrate. Exposed cut edges should be folded or ground smooth. Bespoke stainless fabrication for an unusual dimension is straightforward — any sheet metal shop can cut and fold to size.

Brick and stone

Exposed brick — either original brick revealed by removing later plaster, or new brick slips fixed to the wall — gives a raw, textural quality that suits some kitchen styles. Brick slips (thin slices of fired brick, typically 20mm deep) give the appearance of full brick without the depth. Sealed with a penetrating masonry sealer for the kitchen environment.

Natural stone (slate, limestone, travertine) as a splashback is an extension of the stone worktop aesthetic. The stone must be sealed; the grout joints must be kept tight and sealed with epoxy grout. Stone behind a hob is fine in terms of heat resistance.

Decision framework

ASAAN specifies and installs kitchen splashbacks as part of kitchen and whole-property renovation programmes. If you are deciding on your kitchen specification, our team can advise on what suits the architecture of the space.