Help with hear cracking back-painted glass backsplash

10 years ago

Hi everyone-I recently had my newly installed glass backsplash crack on me while using a griddle on my stove. My contractor said that he has contacted many manufacturers and this is the nature of the beast. I'm not sure what to think. The glass is heat resistant but not tempered-he said tempered glass could shatter if there were issues. What is your experience? Do I replace the glass or put up a stainless steel guard a foot up from the stove?

Featured Answer

suzyq53

10 years ago

There is a problem with installing a powerful gas cooktop without a heat guard. Manufacturers don't want to talk about it, but somewhere in the literature that comes with it there will be a warning about it. Lots of folks install them without, and they look so much better without, but not such a good idea. They also install them like this using the island trim that comes with the cooktop. Also a no no. Usually you have to buy the heat guard separately which is deceptive I think. Long story short, when you use a griddle the gas flame goes out the back where there is not enough clearance. Electric isn't such an issue. Also if you use the front burners for boiling and only use the back on low heat not a problem. When you put on the two burner griddle = problem.

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Comments (13)

PRO
Gravitas
10 years ago
It makes sense, the hot glass want's to expand, and the cool glass next to it does not. Metal will reflect a lot of the heat, but distract from the design...that looks really great by the way. Can the contractor help figure it out, "it's the nature of the beast" is not a solution. Who speced the glass? I don't see any cracks, are they small fissures, or big cracks across the whole back?

Derek Hurd

Gravitas, Inc.

112 E 33rd St.

Garden City, ID 83714

208.367.1184

Gravitas on Houzz.com
PRO
Brian Gannon
10 years ago
There is an issue with installing large format glass tile that might apply here. Installers are using a dab type method where they instead of set the entire tile in a combed thinnest they put large dabs on the back of the tile to level it off.

Problem is when those big dabs of thinnest dry they shrink blowing out the tiles. You might have an issue with how they are installing the glass vs the glass itself. Not sure glass expands and contracts enough where it would crack. In the above scenario it is the adhesive that is shrinking and cracking the glass.

Maybe you can get a small format tile in the same color or accent color. Nice kitchen!!
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Such a pity... your splashback is beautiful, but it looks out of place at the moment. There are a couple of things you could do: - cover the rest of the wall in a back-painted glass that matches the background colour (milky white?) of your splashback (similar to pic below) - you could have it on the left hand side wall (the one with microwave+oven) if you can give up the plugs there, re-sized, obviously; choose something else for the rest of the kitchen. - re-size and place it vertically in front of the hob. - use it somewhere else (bathroom?) and consider new splashback for kitchen. Good luck!
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Hello Mandy, Have you thought about a plaster colour or something that is like the bare wall as you have it.. I actually really like it!! ... You could have plain transparent glass and painted wall a similar plaster colour underneath...... I think this brings out the warmth, it really opens up the kitchen too and works well with the brown worktop.. and it really works with the oven!! For me the green splash back gives it a cold tone.. It looks really gr8 as it is!... so another suggestion for you before you decide! I have included 2 colours that would be lovely.. both by Little Greene... Rolling fog and Rolling fog pale.. With a transparent glass splash back it would be amazing I think and also is really good with your cabinets.. (Like the style of those too)..but you might hate my suggestion of course! : ) ) Rolling fog pale
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Tiles are one way to introduce some pops of colour in your kitchen. If you are worried about the grout discolouring, use epoxy grout which is more resilient to liquid staining. Also, if you use a coloured grout, discolouration will be less noticeable. If you choose textured tiles with rectilinear edges, grout lines are almost invisible. Using tiles can look more traditional compared to glass or stainless steel. The problem with stainless steel is keeping it looking good. Drip marks and grease are instantly noticeable. Glass is less obvious when splashed. They are both more industrial and modern looking. What about using the same material that makes up your worktop as the splashback? Most manufacturers of manmade worktops also do an 11mm thick splashback and upstand.
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Hello...great units...I've just ordered similar in cream (again!). In my last house we used bespoke acrylic sheets as splash back (and behind gas range) and I never had any problems with heat. However, for your own peace of mind you might want to get bespoke strengthened glass cut to size. I painted the inside of the acrylic sheet coral (to match the facing wall and it worked very well. This time I think I will use paper (gift wrap or similar...wallpaper might be too thick) with a small repeat pattern, perhaps a retro design, and paste this to the inside of the acrylic/glass. Affix with mirror screws and seal with clear sealant to prevent steam/condensation, etc... Acrylic is cheap to replace if your design preference changes after a few years.
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Melissa
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks for the help y'all. My next step is to go to a tempered glass or do something entirely different. The glass manufacturer said they've had 4 instances where the heat has shattered the glass. Not sure who the manufacturer is.
Barbara Almandarz
10 years ago
Consider replacing you lovely glass backsplash with glass tiles in the same color. Glass tiles won't crack from heat.
Barbara Almandarz
10 years ago
You can just replace the backsplash that's behind the stove top.
User
10 years ago
You needed 6" clearance to the rear if you wanted to use the glass. Which would necessitate pulling forward the hood with a stainless spacer, and a whole host of other domino issues.
KD
10 years ago
Is a Heat guard the little stainless steel backsplash kind of thing (sometimes with a shallow shelf on top) you often see pictured paired with commercial style ranges in the catalogs?
Kivi
10 years ago
What about installing a stainless panel ( heat shield) along the back of the range up to the bottom of the cabinets. It would cover the cracked section, and still retain the blue above it.
suzyq53
10 years ago
This is what I'm talking about.

Encinitas Kitchen · More Info
KD
10 years ago
Yup, that is what I was picturing. Some of the more commercial style lines seem to put a shallow shelf near the top - the sort of thing sized for bottles of oil or similar, although it is a horrible place to keep oil as the constant heat exposure makes them go rancid more quickly.
suzyq53
10 years ago
There was a taller one but I needed the short one to fit under the window. My husband made me get it. It looked much better without.
User
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Tempered glass is just about as likely to crack (or shatter) when one edge is heated way more than the others. The bigger problem is that the required clearance to the rear wall for that specific appliance is not followed.

http://www.dacor.com/getattachment/Products/Rangetop/Discovery-48-36-Gas-Rangetops/Planning-Guides-PDF.pdf.aspx

.

If the clearances were followed, there would be a far less chance of the glass cracking. (Unless you still tried to shove a griddle all the way back to the wall with the burners up high)

Neither glass, tile, or drywall is an acceptable means to reduce the required clearance from the back of the cooktop to the rear wall.

IInternational Residential Code (Acceptable non-combustible materials and application)

"G2409.1 (308.1) Scope.

This section shall govern the reduction in required clearances to combustible materials, including gypsum board, and combustible assemblies..."

.

"All clearances shall be measured from the outer surface of the combustible material to the nearest point on the surface of the appliance, disregarding any intervening protection applied to the combustible material."

.

http://publicecodes.cyberregs.com/icod/irc/2012/icod_irc_2012_24_sec007.htm

.

The only other option is to use one of the approved (listed and labeled) backguards as mentioned in the first picture. The difference between a backguard and tile is that there is an air gap between the wall and the backguard, as the standards and codes stipulate as necessary.

Stainless steel glued directly to the glass or drywall is not acceptable by code either unless the back of the cooktop is at least 2.5" away from the wall for this specific appliance.

Help with hear cracking back-painted glass backsplash

suzyq53

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Gravitas

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Help with hear cracking back-painted glass backsplash

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