Do I need a back splash in my new kitchen?

Q:

We are building a new custom home and don’t know what to do about the backsplash for our kitchen, can we wait and do it later?

A:

I use to tell people that they could this, that they could have the tile backsplash installed at a later date when they had moved in and taken the time to decide what they wanted. But times have changed and with it the rules and regulations.

In today’s custom kitchens people are opting for large multi burner gas stoves. These natural gas cookers are very well built and produce a lot of flame on the burners. The other trend that has developed is that there are no backs to these stoves any more. Without a back there is no heat shield to stop the flames from the burners from touching the backsplash. When you place a large pot on the back burner of the stove, the flames disperse around the pot and up the sides depending on the level you set the burner. This flame can extend up the side of the pot and burn against the backsplash, if you don’t have a backsplash it’s burning against the drywall.

Drywall technically has a 20 minute burn rating, but with a direct flame you could burn through it in probably half that time. You could burn your new house down from simply boiling water!

You have several options;

1. Buy the optional heat shield that goes with the stove. They are expensive for what they are, an 8 inch piece of stainless steel that attaches to the back of the stove. This is a simple option but gets easily tarnished from the flames of the burners.

2. Install a tile backsplash, this will give you the protection that you need and allow you to move into a completely finished home without tilers coming in after you have moved in and make a mess in your new kitchen.

3. Have a custom piece of metal made to cover the area at the back of the stove, like a piece of stainless steel or copper. These look good and can also easily be removed when you pick a backsplash.

Gas inspectors are now looking to see if there is enough protection behind these big stoves and sometimes not allowing the gas to be turned on to the building until it is installed.

Put a backsplash in and you and your family will be safer for it.

Rob Abbott
Operations Manager
Village Builders Inc.