Splashbacks and tiling in Belfast

Why do people in Belfast choose splashbacks and tiling?

Some households in County Antrim want tiling taken up to the ceiling behind a range cooker or open shelving, turning one whole wall into a practical feature that is easy to wipe down.

Homeowners in Belfast 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. We work throughout Belfast (BT1, BT2, BT3, BT4, BT5 and BT6) and across the wider County Antrim area.

What does the job involve?

Here is what usually goes into splashbacks and tiling, adjusted to your Belfast kitchen after we have measured it:

Toughened glass splashback measured after the worktops are fitted, with socket cut-outs
Old tiles removed and walls prepared, patched or boarded where needed
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
Free survey visit to check the walls, agree the layout and give an itemised quote
Tiled splashbacks between the worktop and wall units, set out from a centre line

Guide prices for splashbacks and tiling in Belfast

These guide ranges include VAT at 20% and are adjusted for prices in Northern Ireland. We confirm your price in writing after a free survey visit. Labour rates in Northern Ireland are generally lower than in London and the South East, so these ranges are a little below the national guide.

Guide prices for splashbacks and tiling in Belfast
Typical project	Guide price
Tiled splashbackBetween worktop and wall units	£130–£350
Kitchen wall tiling, 4–6 m²Preparation, tiling and grouting	£260–£700
Toughened glass splashback behind the hob, fittedMade to measure after the worktops are in	£220–£530
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%.

Fitting kitchens in older and newer Belfast homes

You will find red-brick terraces, Victorian villas, post-war estate houses and rural bungalows throughout County Antrim. Red-brick terraces in Belfast often have a narrow kitchen in the return, while estate houses and rural bungalows tend to have a separate kitchen with room for a table.

Mains water across most of County Antrim is soft, so limescale is less of a problem and taps and boiling water taps tend to stay cleaner. Terraced streets with entries at the back, city flats with booked lifts and country lanes can each affect deliveries, so the route for worktops is checked at the survey.

Regulations for kitchen work in Belfast

In Northern Ireland, fitting a splashback or retiling a kitchen needs no planning permission or building control application. Domestic electrical work does not have to be notified, but sockets moved to suit the tiling should still be installed and tested to BS 7671 and certified. In a listed building, removing historic tiles or other original features may need listed building consent, so check with the council before work starts.

Listed buildings and conservation areas in older parts of Belfast and the county towns may need consent for new vents, and apartment owners usually need management consent.

Planning ahead

Hold a few of your chosen tiles against the wall in your Belfast kitchen, in daylight and under the kitchen lights, before ordering the full quantity.
Ask to see where the tiling will start before the first row goes on in your Belfast kitchen, so narrow cut tiles end up in corners rather than on show.
Give fresh grout and sealant the full curing time shown on the packaging before scrubbing them or letting water sit on the joint at the back of the worktop.
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 Belfast

How much do splashbacks and tiling cost in Belfast?

Guide prices in Belfast are about £130 to £350 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.

Can you measure up in Belfast before quoting?

Yes. Every quote starts with a free, no-obligation survey visit to your home in Belfast. We measure the room, check the walls, floor and service positions, then send an itemised written quote.

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.

Which grout and sealant are easiest to keep clean?

A darker or mid-tone grout in narrow joints is usually the easiest to keep looking clean in a kitchen, and an epoxy or stain-resistant grout helps behind the hob and sink. Where the tiles meet the worktop, a flexible sealant is used rather than grout, because that joint moves slightly. The sealant can be cut out and renewed later without disturbing the tiles.

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.

Splashbacks and tiling in neighbouring towns

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