Splashbacks and tiling in Alton

Why do people in Alton choose splashbacks and tiling?

If the kitchen in your Alton home is sound but the tiles are dated, cracked or stained, a new splashback is one of the simplest ways to refresh it without replacing units.

Landlords around Hampshire often prefer plain tiles with mid-grey grout or a glass panel, since both stand up to heavy use and are quick to clean between tenancies. Alton sits about 25 miles north-east of Southampton, and our Hampshire coverage takes in everything in between.

What is included in the work?

The exact scope is agreed after the survey, but a typical job in Alton covers:

Free survey visit to check the walls, agree the layout and give an itemised quote
Socket and switch plates refitted by an electrician once the tiling is finished
Full-height or feature tiling behind the hob, sink or open shelving
Grout and sealant chosen for easy cleaning, with flexible sealant at the worktop joint
Tiled splashbacks between the worktop and wall units, set out from a centre line
Toughened glass splashback measured after the worktops are fitted, with socket cut-outs

What do splashbacks and tiling cost in Alton?

Use these ranges to plan your budget. They include VAT, reflect costs in the South East, and are firmed up once we have seen your Alton kitchen. Expect costs in the South East to sit somewhat above UK averages, reflecting local labour rates.

What do splashbacks and tiling cost in Alton?
Typical project	Guide price
Tiled splashbackBetween worktop and wall units	£170–£460
Kitchen wall tiling, 4–6 m²Preparation, tiling and grouting	£340–£920
Toughened glass splashback behind the hob, fittedMade to measure after the worktops are in	£290–£690
Stone upstands and splashbacksTemplated with the worktop	Priced with the worktop

Tiling guide ranges cover preparation, adhesive, grout, trims and fixing, with the tiles themselves confirmed once chosen; the glass range includes a made-to-measure panel, and stone upstands are priced with the worktop. Prices include VAT at 20%.

House types around Alton and what they mean for a kitchen

You will find Victorian terraces, 1930s semis, post-war estate houses and thatched and brick cottages throughout Hampshire. Terraces in Southampton and Portsmouth often have a narrow back kitchen, while post-war estate houses tend to have a compact rectangular room suited to an L-shape.

Dense terraced streets can be very tight for parking, and New Forest lanes and village roads may limit the size of delivery vehicle. Water across Hampshire is mostly hard, largely from chalk sources, so limescale on taps and boiling water taps is common and a filter can help.

What rules apply to splashbacks and tiling in Alton?

Tiling or fitting a splashback in England needs no planning permission or building regulations approval. If sockets or switches are moved to suit the new wall finish, that is electrical work to BS 7671; adding to an existing kitchen circuit is not notifiable under Part P, but a new circuit is. Behind a gas hob, follow the hob maker's clearance instructions, and in a listed building, removing historic tiles or panelling may need listed building consent.

Homes within the New Forest or South Downs national parks, listed cottages and conservation areas may need consent for a new extractor vent or alterations to historic features.

Getting the most from your splashbacks and tiling

Choosing stone worktops for an Alton kitchen? Ask for upstand and splashback heights to be confirmed before the template visit, not after.
Clear the worktop and empty the nearest wall cupboards before the tiler arrives at your Alton home, as cutting dust and adhesive travel further than you expect.
Hold a few of your chosen tiles against the wall in your Alton kitchen, in daylight and under the kitchen lights, before ordering the full quantity.
Agree socket, switch and cooker hood positions before tiling starts; moving them afterwards means cutting tiles out and patching in replacements that may not match.

Questions about splashbacks and tiling in Alton

How much do splashbacks and tiling cost in Alton?

Splashbacks and tiling in Alton typically cost £170 to £460 including VAT for a tiled splashback, based on prices in the South East. Larger or more involved jobs cost more, and your price is fixed in writing after a free survey visit.

Do you work near Alton as well?

Yes. As well as Alton itself, we cover the rest of Hampshire and nearby towns such as Bordon and Farnham. The process is the same wherever the kitchen is.

Can you tile over existing kitchen tiles?

Sometimes, but it is rarely the better choice in a kitchen. Tiling over old tiles adds thickness, so sockets, switches and the edge against the wall units may no longer line up, and the new tiles rely on the old ones staying firmly bonded. If the existing tiles are sound and flat it can work for a small area; otherwise we remove them and prepare the wall.

Can a glass splashback go behind a gas hob?

Yes, usually, as long as the glass is toughened and the hob maker's instructions allow it. Toughened glass handles heat far better than ordinary glass, but a gas hob must still keep the clearances set out in its installation instructions, so we check those before ordering. The panel is measured after the worktops are fitted and made with cut-outs for sockets, because it cannot be cut once toughened.

Can heavy tiles or stone go on any kitchen wall?

Not always. Heavy tiles such as large-format porcelain or natural stone need a backing that can carry their weight and an adhesive suited to both the tile and the wall. Old plaster, painted plaster or plasterboard may need preparing, priming or replacing with a tile backer board first. We check the wall at the survey and follow the tile and adhesive makers' guidance.

Splashbacks and tiling in neighbouring towns

We also carry out splashbacks and tiling in these towns near Alton: