Coloured glass splashbacks are a great option for a kitchen. You have the choice of assorted colours, and you can get the splashback digitally printed. You can even use frosted glass to add interesting, unexpected texture effects. One important decision is whether to choose regular, clear glass or low-iron glass. So what is low-iron glass and why does it matter for a kitchen splashback?

How Glass Is Made

Glass is formed by heating a mixture of ingredients to extreme temperatures, then moulding the molten glass solution to its required shape as it cools. However, not all glass is made from precisely the same ingredients; different additives combine to change the transparency, colour, strength, durability or other qualities of the finished glass. This results in different types of glass that suit different purposes.

Regular, Clear Glass And Low-Iron Glass

Two common types of glass are 'clear' glass and low-iron glass. Regular, clear glass is not entirely clear; rather it often displays a green tinge which becomes more noticeable in a thicker glass. The iron content in the glass mixture causes this tint. To combat this, low-iron glass contains less iron which successfully eliminates the green, producing a more neutral glass.

Which Glass Type To Choose?

The reasons you would choose either regular or low-iron glass are purely aesthetic. If you're planning on a coloured or digitally printed glass splashback, a low-iron glass will result in more pure colour matching. If you use regular, clear glass instead, the green tint will influence the final colour, however slightly. 

Of course, you may like the effect of green-tinged glass and may not be bothered, particularly if you're not planning a coloured splashback. Just make sure to test the result by holding a sample piece of glass against the planned background wall.

Kitchen splashbacks are often manufactured from toughened glass, which is glass that has been treated to render it robust and heat resistant enough for use near baking cooktops. Both regular, clear glass and low-iron glass can be toughened, so both suit use as splashbacks.

The decision of whether to choose regular, clear glass or low-iron glass depends on the look you are after. If a splashback is coloured or digitally printed, using low-iron glass will guarantee purer colour matching. However, if you quite like the green-tinged effect, feel free to stick with regular clear glass.

Reach out to a place that specialises in glass splashbacks for more assistance.