Home Upgrades withBack Painted Glass

Think outside the box for your next remodel and include back painted glass in the design! This versatile material is a wonderful option for rooms ranging from the kitchen to the bathroom to the home office. In fact, back painted glass is an appealing alternative to surface coverings that are difficult to clean and keep fresh. We’ll give you an overview of this product and how it can add to your home in many ways – aesthetics, functionality, and even cleanliness!

What is back painted glass?

Back painted glass is created using low iron glass. This is more transparent than normal glass, and the greenish coloring you typically see around glass edges is minimized. Specialized paint is applied to the back of the glass, and a protective coating is added on top of this. The glass is installed with the unpainted side facing outward, and the color of the paint shines through clearly thanks to the reduced iron content of the glazing. Of course back painted glass can be customized by the color of paint used. However, you also have options when it comes to:

• Thickness – 1/4” is most common, but options range from 1/8” to 1/2”
• Edge – polished, seamed and beveled options
• Dimensions – various geometric and asymmetrical shapes can be cut

How is back painted glass used in a kitchen?

The most popular kitchen application for this material is the backsplash. Tiled backsplashes are common, but their grout lines tend to collect grease and splatters which can make them difficult to clean. Sometimes this job gets put off so long that the tile and grout alike are coated with oily dust – not a great look or feel in the room where you prepare food!

A back painted glass backsplash, on the other hand, has no grout lines and minimal caulk joints. The smooth surface of this glass is easy to wash and spot clean in the moment. When it’s time for a more thorough cleaning, it is restored to its original appearance with only the usual glass cleaning process:

• Apply an approved cleaner
• Wipe with old newspaper or a microfiber cloth (to avoid lint)
• Buff dry
• Repeat as needed for greasy areas or streaks

Besides being easy to care for, a glass backsplash adds sparkle and brightness to a kitchen. Having one installed is a great way to update your space when it needs a glowup, but you’re not ready to do a full renovation. Other uses for back painted glass in a kitchen include:

• Covering for a table or island
• Whiteboard for writing menus, schedules, etc.
• Decorative wall covering

Is back painted glass also used in bathrooms?

Back painted glass can serve many of these same functions in a bathroom setting as well. It makes a sleek modern backsplash, and it’s a nice option for a wall covering because it holds up well to moisture and humidity. A piece of back painted glass can also be added to the vanity top. Finally, some homeowners choose to use it inside the shower enclosure as an alternative to stone or porcelain wall tiles. Back painted glass is an attractive material for bathroom use because it can be easily cleaned and sanitized

How can back painted glass improve my home office?

Turning to a different type of room, the home office is a space where back painted glass can be utilized in several different ways:

• Whiteboard – As alluded to earlier, white back painted glass can function as a markerboard. You can write on it with normal dry erase markers, and it erases with no ghosting. In a home office, a whiteboard can be used as a calendar, a place to write to-do lists, and more.
• Desktop – Placing a sheet of back painted glass on top of an old desk gives it a fresh look. It also provides a surface on which you can write and erase!
• Wall covering – If you sometimes meet with clients or co-workers in your home office, you can give it a more professional ambiance by covering the walls with sheets of colored glass.

Of course back painted glass can be used in similar ways throughout the home. If this product sounds perfect for a project you have in mind, we invite you to call the ABC Glass & Mirror team at (703)257-7150. We offer free in-home consultations, customization of your glass, and professional installation!