Kitchen island in White Oak, delivered to Gauteng in 4 weeks with pre-finished install-ready sections.
View island builds →What full height means
A full height backsplash covers the entire wall surface between the countertop and the underside of the upper cabinets — typically 450mm to 600mm of vertical wall space. It replaces tile, stone, or painted plaster as the wall finish in that zone. The timber runs horizontally or vertically depending on the design intention and the cabinet configuration.
This is a more significant design choice than a standard backsplash. It works best in kitchens where the timber countertop is already a defining element and the full height extension completes rather than introduces the material. In kitchens with white cabinetry, a full height timber backsplash in the same species as the countertop creates a clean, warm accent that connects the worksurface visually to the room.
Construction and panel joints
Full height backsplashes are typically made in face grain construction — the panels are wide and the grain reads horizontally across the wall. Boards are joined edge to edge where the width exceeds the available board width. Joints are aligned to minimise visual interruption.
All panels are finished on the front face, back face, and all edges before installation. The back face finish prevents uneven moisture absorption from the wall, which is the primary cause of cupping in backsplash panels over time.
Around sockets and switches
Cutouts for power outlets, switches, and any wall-mounted items are cut in the workshop to your specified positions. As with countertop cutouts, workshop cutting produces a cleaner result than site work.
Matching your countertop
Full height backsplashes ordered with the countertop are selected from the same timber batch. The finish specification is matched exactly. This produces the most consistent result — the same colour, the same sheen, the same character across horizontal and vertical surfaces. See countertop options →
