Splashbacks and tiling · England
Splashbacks and tiling in Bristol
Our splashbacks and tiling work covers the whole of Bristol, and we also work in neighbouring Somerset and Gloucestershire.
What prompts splashbacks and tiling in Bristol?
If the kitchen in your Bristol home is sound but the tiles are dated, cracked or stained, a new splashback is one of the simplest ways to refresh it without replacing units.
Many people in Bristol choose a single panel of toughened glass behind the hob because it wipes clean quickly and has no grout lines to hold grease.
What do splashbacks and tiling in Bristol include?
The exact scope is agreed after the survey, but a typical job in Bristol 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 Bristol?
The figures below are guide prices for Bristol, including VAT and adjusted for typical costs across the South West. The fixed price comes after we have measured up. Prices across the South West are broadly in line with UK averages.
| Typical project | Guide price |
|---|---|
| Tiled splashbackBetween worktop and wall units | £150–£410 |
| Kitchen wall tiling, 4–6 m²Preparation, tiling and grouting | £310–£820 |
| Toughened glass splashback behind the hob, fittedMade to measure after the worktops are in | £260–£620 |
| 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 Bristol
The housing mix across Bristol includes Victorian terraces, Georgian townhouses and flats, 1930s semis and flats in converted houses, so no two kitchen fits are quite alike. Bristol's Victorian terraces often have a narrow rear galley, while Georgian houses split into flats can have kitchens tucked into former bedrooms or reception rooms.
Bristol's mains water is hard, so limescale on taps, kettles and boiling water taps is common, and an inline filter or softener can help. Steep hillside streets, permit parking and terraces with no rear access are common in the city, so long worktops may need careful handling through the front door.
Many Bristol terraces have a small kitchen behind the back room, and opening the two into one space is a popular change. Where a flat sits in a converted Georgian or Victorian house, the work often means fitting a lot into a modest room while working around shared walls and services.
Rules for splashbacks and tiling in Bristol
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.
Many of the city's older streets are conservation areas and some houses are listed, so a new extractor vent or the removal of historic features may need consent first.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Bristol home, as cutting dust and adhesive travel further than you expect.
- If your Bristol kitchen has a gas hob, check the hob instructions for splashback clearances before choosing glass or tiles for the wall behind it.
Questions about splashbacks and tiling in Bristol
How much do splashbacks and tiling cost in Bristol?
Splashbacks and tiling in Bristol typically cost £150 to £410 including VAT for a tiled splashback, based on prices in the South West. Larger or more involved jobs cost more, and your price is fixed in writing after a free survey visit.
Do you cover the whole of Bristol?
Yes. We carry out splashbacks and tiling across Bristol. 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.
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 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.