Splashbacks and tiling · Scotland
Splashbacks and tiling in Ayrshire
If you need splashbacks and tiling anywhere in Ayrshire, we survey the kitchen, agree the scope with you and book every trade through to handover.
Why do people in Ayrshire choose splashbacks and tiling?
If your Ayrshire 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.
Landlords around Ayrshire 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.
What do splashbacks and tiling in Ayrshire include?
Every kitchen is different, so we confirm the scope in writing. Most jobs of this kind include:
- 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 Ayrshire?
Typical splashbacks and tiling prices for homes in Ayrshire, including VAT and adjusted for Scotland. Your own figure depends on the size of the kitchen, the layout and what is moving. Labour rates in Scotland are generally lower than in London and the South East, so these ranges are a little below the national guide.
| 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 Ayrshire
The housing mix across Ayrshire includes red sandstone villas, sandstone tenement flats, four-in-a-block flats and post-war council-built houses, so no two kitchen fits are quite alike. Four-in-a-block flats and ex-council houses often have a small galley kitchen, while sandstone villas in Ayr tend to have a larger kitchen with a separate dining room.
Ayrshire's mains water is soft, so limescale is rarely a problem and taps, sinks and boiling water taps tend to stay cleaner. Upper four-in-a-block flats usually have their own stair, and coastal towns can have limited parking, so the route for long worktops is checked at the survey.
A four-in-a-block flat usually has a narrow galley, where a well-planned layout with tall storage makes the most of it. Sandstone villa kitchens often sit in former sculleries, and opening into the dining room needs a building warrant if the wall is load-bearing.
Rules for splashbacks and tiling in Ayrshire
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.
Listed sandstone villas and conservation areas in older town centres may need consent for a new external vent, and flat owners may need neighbours' agreement for shared walls.
Before you start
- Order spare tiles from the same batch to cover cuts and breakages, and keep a few back so a later repair matches.
- 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.
- Pale grout behind a hob or sink shows stains quickly; a mid-grey or stain-resistant grout in narrow joints is easier to keep looking fresh.
- Toughened glass cannot be cut once it is made, so it is measured after the worktops are fixed and every socket position is final.
- Clear the worktop and empty the nearest wall cupboards before the tiler arrives at your Ayrshire home, as cutting dust and adhesive travel further than you expect.
- Hold a few of your chosen tiles against the wall in your Ayrshire kitchen, in daylight and under the kitchen lights, before ordering the full quantity.
Questions about splashbacks and tiling in Ayrshire
How much do splashbacks and tiling cost in Ayrshire?
Guide prices in Ayrshire are about £140 to £380 including VAT for a tiled splashback. The final price depends on the size of the kitchen and what is moving, and is set out in an itemised written quote.
Do you cover the whole of Ayrshire?
Yes, across mainland Ayrshire. We do not currently cover Arran or Cumbrae. 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.
When are splashbacks fitted during a kitchen installation?
Splashbacks go on near the end, once the worktops are fixed and the electrician has agreed where the sockets and switches will sit. Tiles need a finished worktop to start from, glass is measured off the fitted worktop, and stone upstands are templated at the same visit as the worktop. Faceplates go back on after tiling, so the sockets sit neatly against the new finish.
Splashbacks and tiling in towns across Ayrshire
Choose a town for local guide prices and postcode coverage:
- Splashbacks and tiling in Kilmarnock
- Splashbacks and tiling in Ayr
- Splashbacks and tiling in Irvine
- Splashbacks and tiling in Kilwinning