Splashbacks and tiling · Scotland
Splashbacks and tiling in Argyll and Bute
Our splashbacks and tiling work covers the whole of Argyll and Bute, including Dunoon, Oban and Renfrewshire and Inverclyde.
Why splashbacks and tiling for an Argyll and Bute home?
Homeowners in Argyll and Bute often add a splashback as the final stage of a new kitchen, once the worktops are in and the bare wall above them needs a washable finish.
If your Argyll and Bute home is an older property with uneven walls, the splashback may start with patching, skimming or boarding so the tiler has a flat surface to work from.
What do splashbacks and tiling in Argyll and Bute include?
After the survey visit we write the scope down. For splashbacks and tiling in Argyll and Bute it usually covers:
- Free survey visit to check the walls, agree the layout and give an itemised quote
- Old tiles removed and walls prepared, patched or boarded where needed
- Tiled splashbacks between the worktop and wall units, set out from a centre line
- Full-height or feature tiling behind the hob, sink or open shelving
- Toughened glass splashback measured after the worktops are fitted, with socket cut-outs
- Stone upstands and splashbacks templated and fitted alongside a stone worktop
- Grout and sealant chosen for easy cleaning, with flexible sealant at the worktop joint
- Socket and switch plates refitted by an electrician once the tiling is finished
How much do splashbacks and tiling cost in Argyll and Bute?
Use these ranges to plan your budget. They include VAT, reflect costs in Scotland, and are firmed up once we have seen your Argyll and Bute kitchen. Costs across Scotland tend to sit under UK averages, which these ranges reflect.
| Typical project | Guide price |
|---|---|
| Tiled splashbackBetween worktop and wall units | £140–£380 |
| Kitchen wall tiling, 4–6 m²Preparation, tiling and grouting | £280–£750 |
| Toughened glass splashback behind the hob, fittedMade to measure after the worktops are in | £240–£560 |
| 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%.
Kitchens in homes across Argyll and Bute
The housing mix across Argyll and Bute includes Victorian villas, whitewashed cottages, tenement flats and post-war bungalows, so no two kitchen fits are quite alike. Victorian villas in Dunoon and Oban often have a separate scullery and a larger kitchen, while cottages and bungalows tend to have a compact room at the back.
Soft water is usual across Argyll and Bute, so limescale is rarely a concern, though rural homes on private supplies may need their own filtering. Long single-track roads are common, and some mainland addresses are quickest reached by ferry, so delivery dates, vehicle size and worktop lengths need planning around timetables and weather.
Villa kitchens are sometimes split between a main room and a former scullery, and joining them is a common project that needs a building warrant if the wall is load-bearing. Rural cottages are often off the gas grid, so cooking may be electric or run from LPG.
Rules for splashbacks and tiling in Argyll and Bute
In Scotland, tiling and splashbacks do not need a building warrant or planning permission. If sockets or switches are moved to suit the new wall finish, the electrical work must meet the building standards and BS 7671, and you should receive an Electrical Installation Certificate or a Minor Works Certificate. In a listed building, removing historic tiles or panelling may need listed building consent, so check with the local authority first.
Parts of Cowal lie within Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, and listed buildings or conservation areas may need consent for a new external vent.
Before you start
- Toughened glass cannot be cut once it is made, so it is measured after the worktops are fixed and every socket position is final.
- Order spare tiles from the same batch to cover cuts and breakages, and keep a few back so a later repair matches.
- Choosing stone worktops? Decide on upstands or a full-height splashback before templating, so they can be cut from the same material and priced together.
- Heavy tiles, such as large porcelain or natural stone, may need a stronger backing board and a suitable adhesive, so have the wall checked first.
- If your Argyll and Bute kitchen has a gas hob, check the hob instructions for splashback clearances before choosing glass or tiles for the wall behind it.
- Hold a few of your chosen tiles against the wall in your Argyll and Bute kitchen, in daylight and under the kitchen lights, before ordering the full quantity.
Questions about splashbacks and tiling in Argyll and Bute
How much do splashbacks and tiling cost in Argyll and Bute?
For a tiled splashback, budget around £140 to £380 including VAT in Argyll and Bute. That reflects typical costs in Scotland; we confirm the actual figure in writing once we have measured up.
Do you cover the whole of Argyll and Bute?
Yes, across mainland Argyll and Bute, including Dunoon and Oban. We do not currently cover the islands, such as Bute, Mull and Islay. Every job starts with a free survey visit and an itemised written quote.
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 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 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 towns across Argyll and Bute
Choose a town for local guide prices and postcode coverage: