Why Acrylic Splashbacks were Chosen for the $100m Elements Apartment Complex

Acrylic splashbacks are fast becoming a popular glass alternative for large developments.

The Element Apartments in Canberra are a perfect example.

The $100 million project sits at the edge of the Kingston harbour.

It’s part of the rejuvenation of the former industrial park. As you’d expect - the developers insisted on the highest quality finish.

And Innovative Splashbacks were chosen to supply the shower panels.

That’s because Innovative Splashbacks met all their criteria.

Criteria #1 – Extremely high quality and consistent with luxurious apartments

The Element Apartments set a new standard in luxury living. And naturally, the developers insisted on the highest quality finish. 

Innovative Splashbacks use the highest quality 6mm acrylic in the world. And they are spray-painted by hand in a clean, dust-free environment. 

Importantly, the clarity of the splashbacks is equivalent to eye-glasses. This lets through the maximum amount of light to reflect from the metallic finish. And maximising the available light is especially important in bathrooms where natural light is often unavailable. 

The two colours chosen were metallic blues and metallic oranges which gave each bathroom a vibrant, lively finish.

Criteria #2 – Lower the cost of their project

Anyone can create a luxurious finish with an open cheque book. However this would make most developments unaffordable and uneconomical.

That’s why there are so many amazing new products which meet the same standards but are far more affordable.

Innovative Splashbacks proudly follow this tradition. Typically they cost around 30% less than glass.

However, that’s only the beginning. The real savings begin on-site.

Glass is much harder to install because it weighs twice as much as acrylic. Because acrylic is half the weight, and can be cut on-site using standard woodworking tools, the panels were installed in an average of 17 minutes each. This included preparing the walls, measuring the size required, cutting the panels to size and installation.

When you factor in labour costs Innovative Splashbacks came out the clear winner.

Criteria #3 – Speed of installation

The saying ‘time is money’ probably came from a developer. With vast sums of money tied up in developments, meeting deadlines without sacrificing quality is critical. 

Innovative Splashbacks have two major advantages over glass. 

First, it’s light and can be cut on-site with standard woodworking tools. And this means the installation team can be in and out far quicker. Because shower and kitchen finishes are installed towards the end of a project, they can help get projects back on track if they’ve slipped behind.

And second, it follows the philosophy of ‘measure, cut and install’. Simply grab the next panel, measure the space, cut it to size and cut tap-holes and install it. 

You can’t do this with glass where measurements have to be made and be perfect before installation. This can be time consuming and a logistical nightmare.

Precise measurements aren’t needed before manufacturing. And Innovative Splashbacks panels were on-site before installation. Any panel could go into any apartment, so there was no need to figure out which panels went where. 

There’s something to be said for simplicity, right?

Penalties of tens of thousands of dollars for late completion are common. If a glass splashback were broken during installation it could be a fortnight for a replacement to arrive. And it could be the one item stopping the project being completed. 

This case study demonstrates why Innovative Splashbacks were created. The product has been designed to meet the demands of projects like these and deliver an exceptional finish, quickly, at a lower cost and with the absolute minimum of fuss.

If you’re curious about how we can help you with your projects then contact Innovative Splashbacks on 0419 138 723. 

You can find out more at http://innovativesplashbacks.com.au/
And you can see our latest projects at https://www.facebook.com/InnovativeSplashbacks/
P.S. You can see our range of printed splashbacks (which were not used in this project) at https://www.printedsplashbacks.com.au/