Splashbacks and tiling in Berwick-upon-Tweed

Why splashbacks and tiling for a Berwick-upon-Tweed home?

Homeowners in Berwick-upon-Tweed 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.

When a Berwick-upon-Tweed kitchen is getting stone worktops, upstands or a matching splashback are usually planned at the same time, so they are templated in one visit. Berwick-upon-Tweed sits about 48 miles north-west of Blyth, and our Northumberland coverage takes in everything in between.

What is in a typical job?

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

Toughened glass splashback measured after the worktops are fitted, with socket cut-outs
Tiled splashbacks between the worktop and wall units, set out from a centre line
Free survey visit to check the walls, agree the layout and give an itemised quote
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
Socket and switch plates refitted by an electrician once the tiling is finished

What do splashbacks and tiling cost in Berwick-upon-Tweed?

The figures below are guide prices for Berwick-upon-Tweed, including VAT and adjusted for typical costs across the North East. The fixed price comes after we have measured up. Labour rates in the North East are generally lower than in London and the South East, so these ranges are a little below the national guide.

What do splashbacks and tiling cost in Berwick-upon-Tweed?
Typical project	Guide price
Tiled splashbackBetween worktop and wall units	£140–£360
Kitchen wall tiling, 4–6 m²Preparation, tiling and grouting	£270–£720
Toughened glass splashback behind the hob, fittedMade to measure after the worktops are in	£220–£540
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 around Berwick-upon-Tweed

You will find stone-built cottages, colliery terraces, post-war semis and farmhouses throughout Northumberland. Colliery terraces in Ashington and Blyth often have a small kitchen in the rear offshoot, while stone cottages and farmhouses tend to have a square kitchen with thick walls.

Remote farms and villages may be reached by long single-track roads, so delivery vehicle size and timing need planning, especially for long worktops. Northumberland's mains water is mostly soft, so limescale is less of a concern and taps and boiling water taps tend to stay cleaner.

What rules apply to splashbacks and tiling in Berwick-upon-Tweed?

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 inside Northumberland National Park, listed buildings and conservation areas in towns such as Alnwick and Hexham may need consent for new vents or alterations.

Tips before you start

Keep the tile boxes until the job is finished and note the batch number, so matching replacements can be found if a tile cracks later.
Ask to see where the tiling will start before the first row goes on in your Berwick-upon-Tweed kitchen, so narrow cut tiles end up in corners rather than on show.
Hold a few of your chosen tiles against the wall in your Berwick-upon-Tweed kitchen, in daylight and under the kitchen lights, before ordering the full quantity.
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.

Questions about splashbacks and tiling in Berwick-upon-Tweed

How much do splashbacks and tiling cost in Berwick-upon-Tweed?

Guide prices in Berwick-upon-Tweed are about £140 to £360 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 Berwick-upon-Tweed before quoting?

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

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.

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.

Nearby places we cover

Splashbacks and tiling across Northumberland