There was a recent thread where someone wanted a coved backsplash. From what I remember some of the issues are most fabricators aren't doing them anymore, they are labor intensive, and expensive.

I would suggest getting some estimates. Also make sure they understand exactly what you want as in "coved" as that was one of the issues the poster had. Since most people don't request them anymore, the store didn't know what she was asking for, which led to a wrong estimate.

Hopefully some fabricators will jump in with answers for you.

The first issue is that wouldn't be heat resistant enough behind the cooktop. It will scorch. You'd need to have a range with a backguard on it, or do that section in stainless.

A full height backplash is usually done as a separate set on piece, because of the difficulty of fitting around all of the cabinets. (That's how all stone full height backsplashes are done, like below, with a bead of silicone in between the two.) That doesn't lend itself to coving, only set on. However, if they did the standard coved backsplash and then did a separate piece on top of that, and then joined them, that might work to give you the look. It will be darn expensive. The only fabricator locally that still does it charges $40 a foot for it, which isn't far from the material cost itself. So, it almost doubles the price of the counter, and you're already almost doubling the price because of the added material for the full backsplash.

We had some issues with the stone fitting perfectly around the arch of the hood liner, even though we cut it a bit larger to cover the edge of it. We had to do some molding pieces to hide the edges.

We are going to put the cooktop on an island, so that won't need a backsplash.

I was the thread about coved backsplash. I wanted a coved backsplash and molded sink, but the cost was prohibitive. I have a small kitchen, 59 sqf of countertop. The 4" coved backsplash would have been only 15 linear feet and would have cost $1500. I can't even begin to imagine how expensive a full height backsplash would be! For us solid surface was a budget choice, and we liked the seamless aspect. Once we realized we couldn't have both of those we went back to our first choice of quartz.

FWIW, I've chosen Formica solid surface and the literature says it is fire rated for stove backsplashes. Maybe Corian is different in some way?

I too have had a formica backsplash (all the way up to the cabinets, exhaust fan and even the window sills.) It is 30 years old and still no damage or discoloration from the stove.

I had Corian in a prior house, complete with the "dreaded" 4 " coved backsplash. I've said it before around here and I'm surprised I haven't been voted off the island (ha-ha)....but I loved the counter.

No seams anywhere lead to a very smooth, easy to clean surface.

I had Corian in a bath at the same house, and did a separate 4" set-in splash. That looked fine too, but it was an obvious seam.

It isn't that the seam gets gunky (at least in my house) - just that it doesn't look quite as "clean", or smooth, or uniform....

Corian doesn't recommend using it for a backsplash area behind a pro grade range. With a consumer grade range, and proper ventilation to remove the excess heat, it may not be an issue, even if it's used contrary to the manufacturer's recommendations. I have seen solid surface and laminate both scratch behind even a "regular" range though.

I think the bigger issue here is probably the island cooktop. Those are more often done poorly, without enough space for safety and prep than they are done correctly. It needs a really BIG island to be able to satisfy those requirements and not just prep in the corner by the sink with your back to everyone. Prep is 70% of the time spent in a kitchen and cooking only 10% yet people plan the kitchen thinking entirely in reverse.

ielaine:

I've fabricated many full-height solid surface backslashes. Be sure you compare the total price of each. Repairing walls and nice tile can easily be as expensive as solid surface splash but without the clean look, easy cleaning, and sanitation that only solid surface can provide.

From a technical perspective, I would template and fabricate your tops with a 4" high coved splash, then hard seam the full splash to the top of the 4".

If you're doing new cabinets, pull the range forward 3" and use angled fills on the side. This will allow enough clearance between a back burner and the splash to avoid any heat issues.