Splashbacks and tiling in Galashiels

Is splashbacks and tiling right for your Galashiels kitchen?

Many people in the Scottish Borders choose a single panel of toughened glass behind the hob because it wipes clean quickly and has no grout lines to hold grease.

If your Galashiels 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. If your home is in Galashiels or close by in Hawick or Kelso, the same survey, quote and fitting process applies.

What does the job involve?

Every kitchen is different, so we confirm the scope in writing. Most jobs of this kind include:

Toughened glass splashback measured after the worktops are fitted, with socket cut-outs
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
Stone upstands and splashbacks templated and fitted alongside a stone worktop
Old tiles removed and walls prepared, patched or boarded where needed

Guide prices for splashbacks and tiling in Galashiels

Typical splashbacks and tiling prices for homes in Galashiels, 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.

Guide prices for splashbacks and tiling in Galashiels
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%.

House types around Galashiels and what they mean for a kitchen

Typical homes in this part of the Scottish Borders include stone mill-town terraces, Victorian villas, farm cottages and post-war council-built houses. Stone terraces in Hawick and Galashiels often have a small kitchen at the back, while Victorian villas in Peebles and Kelso tend to have larger separate kitchens.

Rural roads and farm tracks can be narrow for delivery lorries, and older town centres may have limited parking, so delivery is planned in advance. The Scottish Borders generally have soft mains water, though rural homes on private supplies may need testing and filtering.

What rules apply to splashbacks and tiling in Galashiels?

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.

Older Borders towns often have conservation areas and listed buildings, so a new external vent or changes to historic features may need consent.

Getting the most from your splashbacks and tiling

If you are renting out a flat in Galashiels, 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.
Hold a few of your chosen tiles against the wall in your Galashiels kitchen, in daylight and under the kitchen lights, before ordering the full quantity.
Toughened glass cannot be cut once it is made, so it is measured after the worktops are fixed and every socket position is final.

Questions about splashbacks and tiling in Galashiels

How much do splashbacks and tiling cost in Galashiels?

For a tiled splashback, budget around £140 to £380 including VAT in Galashiels. That reflects typical costs in Scotland; we confirm the actual figure in writing once we have measured up.

Which parts of Galashiels do you work in?

All of them. Our Scottish Borders coverage takes in the whole of Galashiels, including the TD1 postcode district, as well as surrounding towns such as Hawick. 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.

Also covering nearby towns

We also carry out splashbacks and tiling in these towns near Galashiels: