The Pros and Cons of Full-Sheet Kitchen Backsplash Materials

Your kitchen backsplash is a significant visual focal point and functional element in your kitchen design. The ideal backsplash material should be not only aesthetically beautiful, but it should also be a low-maintenance material that is easy to clean. Today, there is a trend toward using full-sheet materials, and many manufacturers are producing elegant options that look beautiful, eliminate grout lines, and are durable, easy to clean surfaces.

Whether it's quartz, stone, steel, or glass, using a large sheet material for your kitchen backsplash is beautiful, and easier to clean than tile mosaics of any kind!

Choosing a Kitchen Backsplash That's Easy To Clean - Steel, Stone, Quartz, & Glass

Technological advances in manufacturing have given designers and homeowners a wide range of new materials to choose from when it comes to kitchen design. For many homeowners, there are three main reasons for selecting a particular substance; first is its aesthetic appeal. Does the material meet their aesthetic design needs? Is it attractive and stylish? Second, is it functional? A good backsplash material is durable and versatile. Finally, is it low-maintenance and easy to keep clean?

Four full-sheet materials that are gaining popularity with designers and homeowners are stainless steel, natural stone, engineered quartz, and tempered glass. Let's take a look at the pros and cons of each.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel has long been a staple in commercial kitchens and is prized for its durability, beauty, and affordability. There are some great benefits for including sheet stainless steel in your kitchen remodeling. 

• It Looks Great!
  Stainless steel is a contemporary-looking material that looks great when used as a backsplash. Stainless steel backsplash material comes in a wide variety of patterns and surfaces, which can become a beautiful focal point for any kitchen design. Because it reflects a good amount of light, it can also make your kitchen look more substantial.

• It's Hygienic
  Stainless steel is non-porous, so bacteria have no place to hide! It's an easy to clean material that can be sanitized with household cleaners, or simply a bleach and water solution.

• It's Long-Lasting and Versatile
  Stainless steel will never tarnish, doesn't require frequent polishing, and with regular maintenance can look great for many years. Because it's versatile, stainless steel is easy to install into any space.

• Stainless is Extremely Durable
  Stainless is both heat and water-resistant and pretty difficult to damage. It hides fingerprints well and is extremely easy to care for.

While stainless steel offers plenty of benefits, there are some drawbacks. Steel can actually stain when exposed to acidic foods like lemon juice or tomato juice. Spills or splashes should be cleaned up quickly. Stainless steel is also prone to scratching. Never use steel wool or scouring powder to clean it. Like any metal, if hit hard enough, stainless steel can dent, and dents and dings can be difficult to remove.

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Natural Stone

Natural stone is a beautiful material that can enhance any area of your home, whether it's a kitchen countertop, an accent wall, or your floor. Stone adds value to your home and comes in a wide variety of colors, styles, and species like travertine, Cararra marble, soapstone, and granite. Today, there is a new trend of using thin natural stone veneer as a backsplash material. It looks great, weighs much less than slab material, and is much easier to keep clean than tile. Here are some of the pros and cons of a solid stone kitchen backsplash.

• Stone Has Universal Appeal!
  If you're remodeling, adding natural stone to your space will add value to your home at resale. Stone-like travertine, marble, or granite is timeless, which gives it real staying power. Stone appeals to a broad buying audience, whether your selling today or in 15 years.

• Stone is Unique
  The beauty of any natural material is that no two pieces of stone will ever look identical. Even two sections of the same color will have unique swirls and veining, giving your kitchen space its own unique look.

• Stone is Budget Friendly
  Depending on the species, natural stone can be surprisingly affordable when you compare it to custom tile. While some varieties can be pricey, a thin-cut stone veneer can be a bargain when you factor in its durability, stain resistance (when properly sealed), and relatively easy cleaning.

While there are plenty of benefits, there are also a few drawbacks to natural stone. You must be selective with cleaning products. Some chemicals can affect natural stone, causing it to discolor. Make sure you only use a manufacturer-approved cleaning product. Acidic liquids like lemon juice, vinegar, or wine can also be a problem, causing pitting or etching. Any splashes should be cleaned immediately to avoid problems. Because it's porous, stone can absorb water and is subject to staining. It's essential to properly seal your stone surfaces every couple of years to keep them looking great. 

Engineered Quartz

Today, quartz is the number two choice among homeowners for kitchen countertops, right behind granite. It's no surprise, unlike natural stone engineered quartz, is water, stain, and scratch-resistant, extremely durable, and incredibly versatile. Recent advances in manufacturing have given us ultra-thin sheet quartz that is designed for use in shower surrounds and makes a perfect backsplash material. Here are the pros and cons of quartz.

• Quartz is Cutting Edge Design
  Tile backsplashes are becoming outdated. Slabs and sheets are a stylish new trend that offers plenty of benefits. They provide a continuous surface that looks modern, has fewer seams and breaks, and large sheets covering a wall provide better protection. Quartz provides a controllable surface that comes in a wide range of patterns and colors to fit into any design style.

• Quartz is Non-Porous
  Quartz is a true solid surface that will not stain, never requires sealing, and is incredibly easy to clean and maintain.

• Aesthetically Beautiful, Durable, and Timeless
  Quartz is beautiful and the perfect material to use if you want to create a stunning visual focal point in your kitchen design. It's available in a wide range of natural-looking patterns. It's incredibly durable, stain, and scratch-resistant, and offers a timeless beauty that will maintain its look and value for decades.

The only real drawback to full-sheet engineered quartz backsplashes is that they can be a bit pricey. But the fact is it really depends on your definition of "pricey." The truth is most homeowners who choose sheet quartz for their backsplash material feel it's actually reasonably priced for the value received. With quartz, you get an aesthetically pleasing, durable material that will last for years. 

Tempered Glass

A solid glass backsplash is a beautiful way to make a design statement that is timeless, beautiful, and affordable. Full-sheet, solid glass backsplash material comes in a wide range of colors, textures, and thicknesses. Glass offers homeowners many benefits and a few drawbacks. 

• A Glass Backsplash Is Beautiful!
  Glass is not only a great way to protect your kitchen walls, but it's also a way to beautify your kitchen and create a stunning visual focus in your kitchen.

• Glass Is Versatile
  Glass gives you a lot of options when it comes to creating a stunning backsplash design. Shape, size, color, glass texture, are all things you can mix and match to achieve your creative vision.

• It's Easy to Keep Clean
  Glass is one of the easiest materials to keep clean and sparkling. With a soft cloth, some water, and a little dish soap, almost anything will lift right off, immediately! You'll love how easy it is to clean and how clean your kitchen will look at the end of the day! 

• Glass Is Environmentally Friendly
  When it comes to full-sheet tempered Glass, you have plenty of options that are made using recycled Glass. It's a great use for recycled material that's easy to manufacture.

While Glass offers plenty of benefits, there are some drawbacks you'll need to consider. While tempered glass backsplash material is durable, it's not shatterproof. If you misuse your backsplash, for example, cleaning it too hard or accidentally hitting it with a pan, it could crack. A glass backsplash also needs careful installation, especially if it's transparent. Finally, if your backsplash is damaged, depending on the extent of the damage, repairing it might be difficult. You may need to replace it if the damage is significant.

Beautiful Alternatives to Tile

If you're looking for a unique option to make your kitchen design stand out, consider using a full-sheet backsplash. Whether it's durable stainless steel, the natural beauty of stone, the convenience of engineered quartz, or environmentally friendly glass, a full sheet backsplash is easier to clean, aesthetically beautiful, and surprisingly affordable. 

If you live in the greater Madison, Wisconsin area and are planning a kitchen remodeling project, give the award-winning design team at Degnan Design-Build-Remodel a call at (608) 846-5963. Let us show you your options for creating a visually stunning kitchen design featuring a beautiful full-sheet backsplash.