Glass, Tile and Steel: Choosing a Kitchen Splashback

Behind a wok burner you get high heat, aerosolised oil and frequent aggressive cleaning. Whatever goes there needs to tolerate all three, and the junction with the worktop has to be sealed so nothing gets behind it.

A single pane with no grout lines, wiped clean in seconds, available in any colour. It needs accurate templating because it cannot be cut on site, and toughened glass must be specified behind a hob.

The most flexible and the most forgiving to install around awkward walls, but grout is the weak point. Grease works into grout lines and discolours them over time; an epoxy grout costs more and solves most of that.

A stainless sheet is the most practical choice behind a serious wok burner. A continuous slab of the worktop material carried up the wall gives the most seamless look and the highest cost. Both avoid grout entirely.