Splashbacks and tiling in Eastbourne

When do splashbacks and tiling make sense in Eastbourne?

If the kitchen in your Eastbourne 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.

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. Homes right across Eastbourne are covered, as are nearby places such as Hailsham, Seaford and the villages in between.

What is included in the work?

After the survey visit we write the scope down. For splashbacks and tiling in Eastbourne it usually covers:

Old tiles removed and walls prepared, patched or boarded where needed
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
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
Grout and sealant chosen for easy cleaning, with flexible sealant at the worktop joint

Guide prices for splashbacks and tiling in Eastbourne

Use these ranges to plan your budget. They include VAT, reflect costs in the South East, and are firmed up once we have seen your Eastbourne kitchen. Expect costs in the South East to sit somewhat above UK averages, reflecting local labour rates.

Guide prices for splashbacks and tiling in Eastbourne
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%.

Kitchens in homes around Eastbourne

The housing mix across East Sussex includes Regency townhouses and flats, Victorian terraces, 1930s semis and seaside bungalows, so no two kitchen fits are quite alike. 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.

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

Building regulations, electrics and gas in Eastbourne

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 Eastbourne homeowners

Hold a few of your chosen tiles against the wall in your Eastbourne kitchen, in daylight and under the kitchen lights, before ordering the full quantity.
Ask to see where the tiling will start before the first row goes on in your Eastbourne kitchen, so narrow cut tiles end up in corners rather than on show.
Choosing stone worktops for an Eastbourne kitchen? Ask for upstand and splashback heights to be confirmed before the template visit, not after.
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.

Questions about splashbacks and tiling in Eastbourne

How much do splashbacks and tiling cost in Eastbourne?

Splashbacks and tiling in Eastbourne typically cost £170 to £460 including VAT for a tiled splashback, based on prices in the South East. Larger or more involved jobs cost more, and your price is fixed in writing after a free survey visit.

Which parts of Eastbourne do you work in?

All of them. Our East Sussex coverage takes in the whole of Eastbourne, including the BN21 postcode district, as well as surrounding towns such as Hailsham. If you are unsure, send us your postcode.

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

Close to Eastbourne? We cover these nearby towns too: