Splashbacks and tiling · Northern Ireland
Splashbacks and tiling in County Londonderry
If you need splashbacks and tiling anywhere in County Londonderry, we survey the kitchen, agree the scope with you and book every trade through to handover.
Why do people in County Londonderry choose splashbacks and tiling?
When a County Londonderry kitchen is getting stone worktops, upstands or a matching splashback are usually planned at the same time, so they are templated in one visit.
Homeowners in County Londonderry 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.
What do splashbacks and tiling in County Londonderry include?
Here is what usually goes into splashbacks and tiling, adjusted to your County Londonderry kitchen after we have measured it:
- 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 Londonderry?
Typical splashbacks and tiling prices for homes in County Londonderry, including VAT and adjusted for Northern Ireland. Your own figure depends on the size of the kitchen, the layout and what is moving. 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.
| 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 Londonderry
The housing mix across County Londonderry includes red-brick terraces, Georgian townhouses, rural bungalows and post-war estate houses, so no two kitchen fits are quite alike. Terraced houses in the city and in Coleraine often have a narrow kitchen in the return, while rural bungalows tend to have a larger kitchen with space for dining.
County Londonderry's mains water is generally soft, so limescale is rarely a big problem and taps and boiling water taps tend to stay cleaner. Steep streets in the city, terraces with limited parking and long country roads can each affect deliveries, so the route for worktops is checked at the survey.
Opening a return kitchen into the back living room is a common terrace project, giving space for a small table or peninsula. Rural bungalows often have oil-fired heating and a separate utility, and many owners want a bigger kitchen-diner with better storage and lighting.
Rules for splashbacks and tiling in County Londonderry
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.
The historic walled city is a conservation area with many listed buildings, so new external vents or changes to historic features there 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.
- Toughened glass cannot be cut once it is made, so it is measured after the worktops are fixed and every socket position is final.
- 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.
- If your County Londonderry kitchen has a gas hob, check the hob instructions for splashback clearances before choosing glass or tiles for the wall behind it.
- Clear the worktop and empty the nearest wall cupboards before the tiler arrives at your County Londonderry home, as cutting dust and adhesive travel further than you expect.
Questions about splashbacks and tiling in County Londonderry
How much do splashbacks and tiling cost in County Londonderry?
Splashbacks and tiling in County Londonderry 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 Londonderry?
Yes. We carry out splashbacks and tiling across County Londonderry, including Derry/Londonderry, Coleraine, Limavady and Magherafelt. Every job starts with a free survey visit and 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.
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.
Splashbacks and tiling in towns across County Londonderry
Choose a town for local guide prices and postcode coverage:
- Splashbacks and tiling in Derry/Londonderry
- Splashbacks and tiling in Coleraine
- Splashbacks and tiling in Limavady
- Splashbacks and tiling in Magherafelt