Island? Check. Counters, cabinetry, and cooktop? Check, check, and check.
You may have already discussed all these features with your Atlanta kitchen remodeling contractor, yet there’s another thing you should consider before finalizing blueprints: the backsplash. More than a bonus installation, it’s become one of the essential components of an efficient and attractive kitchen.
Here are three reasons why you should install one, and take the time to think of what kind of backsplash it should be.
Backsplashes protect your kitchen from more than stains
As its name implies, a backsplash protects the wall behind the sink from water damage, given all the splashing that happens around that workspace. Placed behind countertops and cooktops, it also helps protect the wall from food and grease splatters.
By being a catch-all, the backsplash saves you from several potential complications. For example, you would never want liquids to seep into drywall (be it the bathroom or the kitchen) because this would pose the risk for mold growing there. A backsplash helps prevents dampness in the drywall by sealing it off entirely.
What else does it protect your kitchen from? Pests. Insects that creep up the woodwork and through the drywall would have no access to your cooktop and counters since they cannot bore through a backsplash.
Backsplashes make the kitchen easier to clean
As a catch-all, backsplashes—which are typically made of tile, stone, or composite materials—are relatively easy to clean. All you need to do is wipe them down with a damp cloth, or rinse them with warm water and a sponge. Imagine if cooking sauces splattered onto a bare wooden wall instead of a tiled backsplash! You might have to put considerably more effort into getting the stains off.
Of course, the material you choose factors in how easy it will be to clean. Tiles, for example, are easy to wipe down, but come with the question of grout. Many backsplash options now are stain-resistant, but some like marble can still retain streaks from staining.
Backsplashes open up endless design possibilities
Ultimately, the best reason for investing in a backsplash is that it can serve all its functions while also making the kitchen more beautiful. The space it occupies will always be in anyone’s line of sight. Any design you use for it can become the room’s visual accent, if not its focal point.
Are you kitchen remodeling for a rustic aesthetic? A brick veneer backsplash can work. Do you prefer an industrial look? There are many ways experimenting with subway tile or stainless steel will achieve it. And, if you just happen to have a kitchen that looks out onto a garden, you could even order a glass backsplash that doubles as a window!
Consult Sterling Works for the options best suited to your needs.
Sources:
Kitchen and Bathroom Backsplashes: A Comprehensive Guide, TheSpruce.com
Kitchen Ideas: How to Choose the Perfect Backsplash, Houzz.com
The 30 Backsplash Ideas Your Kitchen Can’t Live Without, FamilyHandyMan.com
