Splashbacks and tiling in Brighton

Is splashbacks and tiling right for your Brighton kitchen?

Landlords around East Sussex 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.

When a Brighton kitchen is getting stone worktops, upstands or a matching splashback are usually planned at the same time, so they are templated in one visit. If your home is in Brighton or close by in Hove or Portslade, the same survey, quote and fitting process applies.

What we cover for splashbacks and tiling in Brighton

Every kitchen is different, so we confirm the scope in writing. Most jobs of this kind include:

Grout and sealant chosen for easy cleaning, with flexible sealant at the worktop joint
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
Old tiles removed and walls prepared, patched or boarded where needed
Stone upstands and splashbacks templated and fitted alongside a stone worktop
Socket and switch plates refitted by an electrician once the tiling is finished

Guide prices for splashbacks and tiling in Brighton

These guide ranges include VAT at 20% and are adjusted for prices in the South East. We confirm your price in writing after a free survey visit. Expect costs in the South East to sit somewhat above UK averages, reflecting local labour rates.

Guide prices for splashbacks and tiling in Brighton
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 Brighton and what they mean for a kitchen

Across East Sussex you will often find Regency townhouses and flats, Victorian terraces, 1930s semis and seaside bungalows, and each shapes the kitchen differently. Regency and Victorian houses split into flats often have small kitchens in former reception rooms, while 1930s semis usually have a compact kitchen at the back.

East Sussex has hard water, so limescale builds up on taps, kettles and boiling water taps, and a filter or softener is worth considering. Seafront flats without lifts, permit parking and steep streets in the coastal towns can make delivery and waste removal slower, so access needs planning.

Do you need approval for splashbacks and tiling in Brighton?

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.

Listed Regency buildings, conservation areas and homes inside the South Downs National Park may need consent for a new external vent, and flat owners usually need freeholder consent.

Practical advice for Brighton homeowners

Hold a few of your chosen tiles against the wall in your Brighton kitchen, in daylight and under the kitchen lights, before ordering the full quantity.
If your East Sussex kitchen has a gas hob, check the hob instructions for splashback clearances before choosing glass or tiles for the wall behind it.
Ask to see where the tiling will start before the first row goes on in your Brighton kitchen, so narrow cut tiles end up in corners rather than on show.
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 Brighton

How much do splashbacks and tiling cost in Brighton?

Guide prices in Brighton are about £170 to £460 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 all of Brighton?

Yes. We work across Brighton, including the BN2 postcode district, and nearby towns such as Hove and Portslade. Book a free survey visit and we will arrange a time that suits you.

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.

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

Neighbouring towns where we offer splashbacks and tiling: