Splashbacks and tiling in Exeter

What prompts splashbacks and tiling in Exeter?

If the units in your Exeter kitchen are already fitted and only the walls are unfinished, we can take on the tiling or splashback as a job on its own.

If the kitchen in your Exeter 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. Our Devon coverage reaches every part of Exeter (EX2) and out towards Exmouth.

What do splashbacks and tiling in Exeter include?

The exact scope is agreed after the survey, but a typical job in Exeter covers:

Socket and switch plates refitted by an electrician once the tiling is finished
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
Grout and sealant chosen for easy cleaning, with flexible sealant at the worktop joint
Free survey visit to check the walls, agree the layout and give an itemised quote

Splashbacks and tiling prices in Exeter

Typical splashbacks and tiling prices for homes in Exeter, including VAT and adjusted for the South West. Your own figure depends on the size of the kitchen, the layout and what is moving. Prices across the South West are broadly in line with UK averages.

Splashbacks and tiling prices in Exeter
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%.

House types around Exeter and what they mean for a kitchen

Across Devon you will often find cob and thatched cottages, Victorian terraces, post-war houses and flats and seaside bungalows, and each shapes the kitchen differently. Victorian terraces in Exeter and Torbay often have a narrow back kitchen, while post-war houses and seaside bungalows usually have a square room that suits an L-shape.

Single-track lanes, steep town streets and cottages with no parking can make deliveries slow, so long worktops and tall units need a planned route into the house. Much of Devon has soft mains water, which is kind to taps and appliances, though some eastern parts are harder, so check with your supplier.

Building regulations, electrics and gas in Exeter

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.

Homes within Dartmoor or Exmoor national parks, listed thatched cottages and conservation areas may need consent before a new extractor vent goes through an outside wall.

Before you book splashbacks and tiling in Exeter

Clear the worktop and empty the nearest wall cupboards before the tiler arrives at your Exeter home, as cutting dust and adhesive travel further than you expect.
If you are renting out a flat in Exeter, a single glass panel or large plain tiles cut down the grout that needs cleaning at each check-out.
Keep the tile boxes until the job is finished and note the batch number, so matching replacements can be found if a tile cracks later.
Agree socket, switch and cooker hood positions before tiling starts; moving them afterwards means cutting tiles out and patching in replacements that may not match.

Questions about splashbacks and tiling in Exeter

How much do splashbacks and tiling cost in Exeter?

For a tiled splashback, budget around £150 to £410 including VAT in Exeter. That reflects typical costs in the South West; we confirm the actual figure in writing once we have measured up.

Which parts of Exeter do you work in?

All of them. Our Devon coverage takes in the whole of Exeter, including the EX2 postcode district, as well as surrounding towns such as Exmouth. If you are unsure, send us your postcode.

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.

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 neighbouring towns

The same service is available a short drive from Exeter, including: