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Kitchen splashbacks - mirrored finish

Having a glass splashback with a mirrored finish can make even the smallest kitchen or bathroom look much larger and brighter. Larger areas can also benefit from a mirrored finish too. For example, a long run of work surface can look really eye catching when reflected along its length or from one of the ends.

The dictionary definition of mirror finish is a smooth highly polished surface produced on metal by mechanical or electrolytic polishing or lapping.

Silvering is the chemical process of coating glass with a reflective substance. When glass mirrors first gained widespread usage in Europe during the 16th century, most were silvered with an amalgam of tin and mercury, but by the 19th century, mirrors were commonly made through a process by which silver was coated onto a glass surface. Today, sputtering aluminium or other compounds is more often used for this purpose, although the process may maintain the name silvering.

The process we use today

In modern aluminum silvering, a sheet of glass is placed in a vacuum chamber with electrically heated nichrome coils that can evaporate aluminum. In a vacuum, the hot aluminum atoms travel in straight lines. When they hit the surface of the mirror, they cool and stick. Some mirror makers evaporate a layer of quartz or beryllia on the mirror; others expose it to pure oxygen or air in an oven so that it will form a tough, clear layer of aluminum oxide.

Mirrors made by this method are classified as either back-silvered, with the silvered layer viewed through the glass; or front silvered, with the reflective layer on the surface towards the incoming light or image. Most common household mirrors are back-silvered, since this protects the fragile reflective layer from corrosion, scratches, and other damage. However, precision optical surfaces normally need the reflective material on the front surface of the glass to avoid introducing optical aberrations. First surface mirrors use the substrate to keep form. There are optical mirrors such as Mangin mirrors that are back-silvered as part of their optical design.

Although the silvering on a second surface mirror such as a household mirror is often actual silver the silvering on precision optical instruments such as telescopes is usually aluminum. Even though silver has the best initial front surface reflectivity in the visible spectrum it is unsuitable for optical mirrors because it quickly oxidizes and absorbs atmospheric sulfur to create a dark, low reflectivity tarnish. Although aluminum also oxidizes quickly, the thin aluminum oxide layer is transparent, and so the high reflectivity underlying aluminum stays visible.

The silvering on infrared instruments is usually gold. It has the best reflectivity in the infrared spectrum, and has high resistance to oxidation and corrosion.

Toughened glass products for any room

Remember that at Splashbacks of Distinction we manufacture, supply and fit splashbacks for any room in your home or office, not just the kitchen. We supply the following items in premium quality glass to enhance your property:

• Printed Glass Kitchen Splashbacks
• Printed Glass Splashbacks with a High Definition Picture
• Glass Kitchen Worktops
• Glass Balustrades
• Toughened Glass Shelves
• Bespoke Glass Mirrors
• Bespoke Shower Screens and Enclosures
• Juliet Balconies

Why not call us today for a free, no obligation quote on a new glass splashback or one of our other specialist toughened glass products?