The latest trend in interior design, high gloss kitchen splashbacks
are a colourful and modern alternative to glass splashbacks offering a
flawless and long lasting finish.
The high gloss is created by a
layer of clear acrylic which is coextruded over a layer of coloured
acrylic. The remarkable light admittance of the clear acrylic allows the
colour to show through, resulting in a vibrancy and depth of colour not
seen in other acrylic sheets.
Plexiglas Hi-Gloss acrylic can be mounted as a splashback around the
kitchen behinds sinks and work surfaces, though it should not be used
behind a hob or other heat source. Exposure to high temperatures can
warp acrylic over time, so if the high gloss is to be installed behind a
hob a heat-shielding material such as toughened glass should also be
used to protect the acrylic.
High gloss acrylic sheets are fastened to a wall or supporting structure
with a high-strength double-sided tape along with crosslinking silicone
to ensure a flawless and long lasting finish with no distortion to the
surface of the sheet. However before the sheet is installed there are a
number of preparations to make to both the sheet and the substrate to
ensure the splashback looks its best.
Top Tip: High gloss acrylic sheet will be delivered with a masking
film on the surface to protect from scratches and marks - don't remove
this film until the sheet is installed!
You may wish to drill
and cut the acrylic sheet before installing to make holes for plug
sockets, pipes or other wall features which will interrupt your
splashback. To do this extreme care must be taken to prevent the sheet
from cracking or breaking, so it is recommended that only pre-ground
twist drill bits that are designed for use with acrylic sheet are used.
When drilling the sheet, the drill bit should be positioned slowly and
carefully pushed through. Slow the feed as the bit reaches the other
side to prevent chipping of the coloured layer, and it may be beneficial
to use a piece of wood as a supporting material. To cool the acrylic
simply apply tap water to the area that has been drilled.
To saw the sheet, non-vibrating high speed machine should be used to
achieve the cleanest-cut edges which may then be polished to restore the
high gloss lustre. Circular hand and table saws may be used, but should
only protrude slightly beyond the surface of the sheet to minimise
vibration and movement. Jigsaws are also suitable for cutting high gloss
acrylic sheets, and will effectively and neatly saw the plastic if only
straight-tooth blades are used and if care is taken to place the shoe
firmly on the masking film. This will safeguard the acrylic from
unwanted chipping, preserving the edge for the most professional finish
to the splashback. Once again, tap water may be used to cool the acrylic
after cutting.
Top Tip: Measure twice, cut once!
Once your colourful
high gloss acrylic sheet has been shaped to fit your kitchen, you may
wish to finish the edges and restore that crystal-clear lustre to the
splashback. This is particularly important where the edge may be visible
and it will give the splashback an almost glass-like effect and the
high transparency of the plastic will allow the layer of colour to be
seen.
To smooth off and buff the edges of high gloss acrylic, wet sanding
should first be carried out in three stages with three grades of
sandpaper:
• First, coarse sandpaper of 80-240 grit
• Then, medium sandpaper of 400 grit
• And finally, fine sandpaper of 600-1000 grit
