Call us at 888.619.2226

Tag Archive for: glass paint kitchen

Is Glass Paint Food Safe?

/in , /by
Is glass paint food safe?

Is glass paint food safe?

Glass paint is often used for decorative purposes. It can be used virtually anywhere around the house, but it plays particularly well in the bathroom and kitchen. One question people have is whether or not glass paint is food safe.

Most paints are not food safe

Food safety is especially important. Food can inadvertently absorb substances from paint that are not intended for human consumption. Some surfaces can also retain bacteria that can cause food-borne illnesses, so using surfaces that have been demonstrated as safe for contact with food is essential.

Most paints are not designated as food safe. Glass paint is no different; it’s not designated as being “food safe.” As a decorative medium, glass paint is used in the kitchen to create backpainted surfaces. The painted surface is mounted toward the wall, countertop or other substrate, and does not ever come in contact with food. This is true whether the backpainted surface is used as a backsplash, a stove surround, a countertop, or for cabinet facing.

Usually, food safe dishes that have been painted are glazed following the paint. The glaze, which is food safe, is cured and creates a permanent barrier between the paint and the food. Most ceramic glazes are dishwasher safe, and will not deteriorate over time.

The ability to clean and sanitize a surface also plays into the determination of whether or not a substance is food safe. Glass paint is certainly tough and can stand up to a variety of household cleaners, many of which are used in the kitchen, but we do not recommend complete immersion in water for surfaces that are painted with Glassprimer™ glass paint.

Glassprimer™ glass paint can stand up well to humidity. Immersion in water will not destroy the permanent bond between the paint and the glass, however dishes are commonly cleaned by water immersion. Because we do not recommend that surfaces painted with Glassprimer™ glass paint undergo water immersion, that makes cleaning dishes, glassware or other objects that regularly contact food difficult!

In addition, food is presented at a variety of temperatures. Glassprimer™ glass paint is heat-resistant only to a maximum temperature of 350 degrees F, which is below the cooking/serving temperature of certain foods. When used in the kitchen, care should be taken to avoid direct contact between the painted glass surface and food intended for consumption. Glass paint should be used for decorative purposes only.

If you’d like more information about glass paint, please visit the rest of our site. If you’d like to purchase Glassprimer™ glass paint, please visit our online store .

Photo Credit: , via FreeImages.com

Put a backpainted glass backsplash in your kitchen

/in , /by

Put a backpainted glass backsplash in your kitchenWhether you’re trying to protect the wall around your sink or stove, a backpainted glass backsplash can help protect your walls and add a dash of color at the same time. Glass is a great medium to use in the kitchen because it’s impervious, easy to clean and looks great year after year! Unlike ordinary paint, a backpainted glass backsplash won’t stain, fade or peel over time.

Working with backpainted glass

Glass is easy to work with in the kitchen, which gives you another reason to consider it as a decorative and functional element. There are some considerations you should be aware of, however. If you intend to put glass behind or beside your stove, you’ll want to use tempered glass. Tempered glass resists impacts and shattering. More importantly, it can withstand the wide, rapid changes in temperature around the stove. You can purchase tempered glass in custom or standard sizes.

Paint the tempered glass on one side, using the color(s) of your choice. You can choose paints that offer an opaque, translucent or transparent effect. Using glass paint will give you a few advantages. First, once glass paint has cured, you can safely use mastic to attach the glass to the wall without worrying that the glue will show through the paint. Second, glass paint will resist humidity, which is typically in abundance in the kitchen!

Ordinary paint never truly cures on glass, so it will peel, crack and bubble, virtually right away. Glass paint forms a permanent bond with the glass, so your backpainted glass backsplash will look like new for years to come.
If the area you intend to cover with a backpainted glass panel currently has electrical outlets, you’ll need to move the outlets before you install the glass. You cannot cover outlets with glass, and you can’t cut tempered glass, so you’ll need to move the outlets before undertaking your project.

It sounds daunting, especially if you’re not skilled in electrical work, but moving the outlets isn’t as complicated as it might seem. Angled power strips can allow you to place electrical outlets wherever you need them without having to recess them into a wall. You can use angled power strips under cabinets, on your countertops or underneath your countertops. You may even find that angled power strips allow you to add power exactly where you need it.

If you’d like more information about working with glass paint, or creating a backpainted glass backsplash for your kitchen, please check out the rest of our site!

Photo Credit: , via FreeImages.com

Humidity and glass paint

/in , /by

Humidity and glass paint

Humidity and glass paint

Glass paint is a specialty product, and it has qualities that ordinary paint doesn’t have. You might be tempted to think that ordinary paint will perform well when backpainted onto glass, especially if the painted glass is then bonded to a wall – as you might see with a kitchen backsplash. After all, the glass will protect the paint from splatters and humidity, and glass paint isn’t really necessary, right?

A permanent bond discourages humidity

When paint cures, it hardens and becomes resistant to dirt, grease and contact damage. Ordinary paint doesn’t ever bond to glass, so it never really cures. Without curing, the paint will be subjected to contact damage, chemical damage from glues and damage from the humidity in the air. Ordinary paint will continue to absorb humidity, so not only will it not be cured, it won’t even stay dry. In a relatively wet place like a kitchen or bath, this will cause immediate problems.

If the paint is wet, it will peel away from the glass surface. The paint will bubble and flake – something you certainly don’t want in a kitchen! The relative humidity in the kitchen changes every time you cook something, so ordinary paint on glass will be subjected to these wide swings in humidity every day.

Humidity is a double-edged sword. Just as a room can be moister than average, it can also be drier than average. Ordinary paint in a place like a kitchen may be subjected to higher than average humidity, followed by lower-than-average humidity. Just as the paint absorbed moisture from the air, it will release moisture back into the air when the humidity drops. This will cause the paint to shrink and crack – something else you don’t want in the kitchen.

In short, applying ordinary paint to glass and then attaching the glass to the wall will not create the same effect as glass paint will, and it will create a mess in your food preparation area. The solution is to use true glass paint. Glassprimer™ glass paint forms a permanent bond to glass, and resists the effects of changes in humidity. When properly applied, glass paint will withstand the rigors of kitchen duty for years.

If you’d like more information about working with glass paint, or you’d like to buy glass paint, please visit our online store.

Photo Credit: Dave Gostisha, via FreeImages.com