Splashbacks and tiling · Northern Ireland
Splashbacks and tiling in County Down
Our splashbacks and tiling work covers the whole of County Down, including Bangor, County Down, Castlereagh and Newtownards.
Why splashbacks and tiling for a County Down home?
If the units in your County Down kitchen are already fitted and only the walls are unfinished, we can take on the tiling or splashback as a job on its own.
Some households in County Down 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.
What do splashbacks and tiling in County Down 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 County Down?
As a starting point for County Down, these ranges include VAT at 20% and allow for typical labour costs in Northern Ireland. Costs across Northern Ireland tend to sit under UK averages, which these ranges reflect.
| 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%.
Kitchens in homes across County Down
The housing mix across County Down includes Victorian seaside villas, red-brick terraces, rural bungalows and new-build estates, so no two kitchen fits are quite alike. Victorian villas in the seaside towns often have a separate kitchen and old scullery, while newer estate houses tend to have an open-plan kitchen-diner.
Most of County Down has soft mains water, so limescale is less of a concern and taps, sinks and boiling water taps stay cleaner. Country lanes in the Mournes and on the Ards Peninsula can be narrow for lorries, and seaside flats may have no lift, so access is checked early.
Joining a villa kitchen and old scullery into one room is a common project, and removing a load-bearing wall needs building control approval. Newer estate homes around Newtownards and Banbridge more often need a straight replacement with integrated appliances, an island or peninsula and better lighting.
Rules for splashbacks and tiling in County Down
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.
Many older towns and villages in County Down have conservation areas or listed buildings, where a new external vent or changes to historic features may need consent.
Before you start
- 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.
- 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.
- Choosing stone worktops? Decide on upstands or a full-height splashback before templating, so they can be cut from the same material and priced together.
- Clear the worktop and empty the nearest wall cupboards before the tiler arrives at your County Down home, as cutting dust and adhesive travel further than you expect.
- Hold a few of your chosen tiles against the wall in your County Down kitchen, in daylight and under the kitchen lights, before ordering the full quantity.
Questions about splashbacks and tiling in County Down
How much do splashbacks and tiling cost in County Down?
Splashbacks and tiling in County Down typically cost £130 to £350 including VAT for a tiled splashback, based on prices in Northern Ireland. 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 County Down?
Yes. We carry out splashbacks and tiling across County Down, including Bangor, County Down, Castlereagh, Newtownards and Banbridge. Every job starts with a free survey visit and an itemised written quote.
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.
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 County Down
Choose a town for local guide prices and postcode coverage:
- Splashbacks and tiling in Bangor, County Down
- Splashbacks and tiling in Castlereagh
- Splashbacks and tiling in Newtownards
- Splashbacks and tiling in Banbridge
- Splashbacks and tiling in Downpatrick
- Splashbacks and tiling in Newry