Perspex or Acrylic Splashbacks.

Was in Bunnings yesterday and saw the Vistelle acrylic wall panels.
www.vistelle.com.au

I was planning on doing glass splashbacks when we reno our kitchen, this looks like a far cheaper alternative. Has anybody used and acrylic splashback? How has it stood up to everyday use?

 

Scratches alot easier but anyone with 10 fingurs can cut it rather than glass which needs to be properly measured.

 

No experience with them, been wondering this myself, whilst I reckon they'd be ok for bath, laundry, not sure about hot oils from cooking etc, always thought if I did a splashback I'd get laminated glass cut to size, paint the side facing the wall.

 

I looked at them last year when I did a kitchen in an IP. If I was doing the reno to sell the place, I would have gone with them. As I was keeping the flat, I went with glass.

 

I have a friend who got some from work and painted it in aubergine. Looks great. Not hte Bunnings one but no doubt quite similar.

 

How has it stood up to everyday living?

 

I saw it a couple of years after she put it on and it looked really good. Haven't seen it for about 2 years so not sure now.
The acrylic in that ad looks amazing in the bathroom. I think things have come a long way. It's the diy that worries me.
I had a glass one done and that guy has always taken so much pride in his work - flawless. For ppor would prob go glass again. IP might be worth trying the acrylic. Is it significantly cheaper?

 

It doesn't seem to be that much cheaper.
Also consider some of the Thin Porcelain Tiles - these are 3-6mm massive tiles in sizes up to 1800 x 3200 but more commonly 1300 x 1000mm
Laminam was the first in the market but lots more have joined in bringing the prices down.
High performance, Large format Porcelain stoneware Tiles | Maximum Australia

 

I am not concerned about the DIY aspect. Our factory manager is actually a glazier, and although we do not do this work, he has in the past, and a number of our customers do glass splashbacks. We were looking at glass, but the acrylic is faaaaar cheaper than we can get glass for even wholesale. I am going to get hubby to get a price of our plastics guy.

the prices at Bunnings are....
2070 x 900 x 4mm sheet $349
2070 x 1250 x 4mm sheet $409
2440 x 1000 x 4mm sheet $405

 

Yes, very attractive prices - especially with your very own glazier. Will look great. Want to see some photos.

Just looking at more pics - love the look in the shower!

 

Or even 9 fingers if they mess up the first cut

 

Hubby got a price of $55 m2 for 4mm coloured acrylic from our plastic guy.

I have decided to get a small price to stick behind my hot plates (just over the top of the tiles) and see how it goes for at least 3 months. That will give us a good idea as to how it will wear before committing to ripping all the tiles off and spending a few hundred dollars.

 

@moyjos just make sure it's not too close to the hot plate.

 

Or used on a gas cooktop. Acrylic is fine for electric/induction

 

That is exactly the point... I want to use a test piece DIRECTLY behind the (electric ) hotplates and up to the range hood. We figure that is the hardest area of use. If it can stand up to that, I am happy to do the whole kitchen

 

Wouldn't use this stuff for a kitchen - it melts.

 

Do you have experience with this @Hodge ?

 

It isn't recommended for use behind the hotplate unless it xxx cms but I can't remember what it is.

 

I do. Once you hit the acrylic with a hot object it's buggered. You can't have it near your cook top and it's very hard to clean without scratching it.

 

A 600mm depth benchtop means you will have approximately 50mm from cook top to splashback. This will definitely melt the acrylic splashback. I think legally you need 250mm but will need to check tomorrow.