Splashbacks and tiling · Argyll and Bute
Splashbacks and tiling in Dunoon
Splashbacks and tiling in Dunoon start with a free survey visit: we measure up, check the walls, floor and service positions, and explain what the job involves before anything is priced.
Why do people in Dunoon choose splashbacks and tiling?
Some households in Argyll and Bute 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.
If your Dunoon home is an older property with uneven walls, the splashback may start with patching, skimming or boarding so the tiler has a flat surface to work from. We work throughout Dunoon (PA23) and across the wider Argyll and Bute area.
What is included in the work?
After the survey visit we write the scope down. For splashbacks and tiling in Dunoon it usually covers:
- Old tiles removed and walls prepared, patched or boarded where needed
- Free survey visit to check the walls, agree the layout and give an itemised quote
- Socket and switch plates refitted by an electrician once the tiling is finished
- Stone upstands and splashbacks templated and fitted alongside a stone worktop
- 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
Splashbacks and tiling prices in Dunoon
Typical splashbacks and tiling prices for homes in Dunoon, including VAT and adjusted for Scotland. Your own figure depends on the size of the kitchen, the layout and what is moving. Prices in Scotland usually come in below the national guide, as labour rates are lower than in the South East.
| Typical project | Guide price |
|---|---|
| Tiled splashbackBetween worktop and wall units | £140–£380 |
| Kitchen wall tiling, 4–6 m²Preparation, tiling and grouting | £280–£750 |
| Toughened glass splashback behind the hob, fittedMade to measure after the worktops are in | £240–£560 |
| 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%.
Local homes and their kitchens
You will find Victorian villas, whitewashed cottages, tenement flats and post-war bungalows throughout Argyll and Bute. Victorian villas in Dunoon and Oban often have a separate scullery and a larger kitchen, while cottages and bungalows tend to have a compact room at the back.
Long single-track roads are common, and some mainland addresses are quickest reached by ferry, so delivery dates, vehicle size and worktop lengths need planning around timetables and weather. Soft water is usual across Argyll and Bute, so limescale is rarely a concern, though rural homes on private supplies may need their own filtering.
Building regulations, electrics and gas in Dunoon
In Scotland, tiling and splashbacks do not need a building warrant or planning permission. If sockets or switches are moved to suit the new wall finish, the electrical work must meet the building standards and BS 7671, and you should receive an Electrical Installation Certificate or a Minor Works Certificate. In a listed building, removing historic tiles or panelling may need listed building consent, so check with the local authority first.
Parts of Cowal lie within Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, and listed buildings or conservation areas may need consent for a new external vent.
Planning ahead
- Ask to see where the tiling will start before the first row goes on in your Dunoon kitchen, so narrow cut tiles end up in corners rather than on show.
- If you are renting out a flat in Dunoon, a single glass panel or large plain tiles cut down the grout that needs cleaning at each check-out.
- Hold a few of your chosen tiles against the wall in your Dunoon kitchen, in daylight and under the kitchen lights, before ordering the full quantity.
- 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.
Questions about splashbacks and tiling in Dunoon
How much do splashbacks and tiling cost in Dunoon?
For a tiled splashback, budget around £140 to £380 including VAT in Dunoon. That reflects typical costs in Scotland; we confirm the actual figure in writing once we have measured up.
Can you measure up in Dunoon before quoting?
Yes. Every quote starts with a free, no-obligation survey visit to your home in Dunoon. We measure the room, check the walls, floor and service positions, then send 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 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.
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 near Dunoon
Neighbouring towns where we offer splashbacks and tiling: