Splashbacks and tiling in Guildford

Why do people in Guildford choose splashbacks and tiling?

Some households in Surrey 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 the units in your Guildford kitchen are already fitted and only the walls are unfinished, we can take on the tiling or splashback as a job on its own. Homes right across Guildford are covered, as are nearby places such as Godalming, Woking and the villages in between.

What is in a typical job?

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

Old tiles removed and walls prepared, patched or boarded where needed
Stone upstands and splashbacks templated and fitted alongside a stone worktop
Socket and switch plates refitted by an electrician once the tiling is finished
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
Full-height or feature tiling behind the hob, sink or open shelving

Guide prices for splashbacks and tiling in Guildford

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 Guildford kitchen. Prices in the South East usually run above the national guide, mainly because labour and parking cost more.

Guide prices for splashbacks and tiling in Guildford
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%.

What kind of kitchens do we fit in Guildford?

You will find 1930s semis, Victorian and Edwardian villas, detached family houses and new-build estates throughout Surrey. 1930s semis often have a narrow kitchen beside the dining room, while larger detached houses and Edwardian villas may have room for an island or a separate utility.

Private roads, long drives and village lanes can be awkward for large lorries, while town-centre flats may need lift bookings and parking permits for delivery day. Surrey's water is hard across most of the county, so limescale on taps and boiling water taps is common, and a scale-reducing filter is worth considering.

Regulations for kitchen work in Guildford

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 buildings and conservation areas in older towns and villages may need consent for new vents, and flats in managed blocks usually need the freeholder's consent first.

Before you book splashbacks and tiling in Guildford

If you are renting out a flat in Guildford, a single glass panel or large plain tiles cut down the grout that needs cleaning at each check-out.
Ask to see where the tiling will start before the first row goes on in your Guildford kitchen, so narrow cut tiles end up in corners rather than on show.
Choosing stone worktops for a Guildford 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 Guildford

How much do splashbacks and tiling cost in Guildford?

Splashbacks and tiling in Guildford 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 Guildford do you work in?

All of them. Our Surrey coverage takes in the whole of Guildford, including the GU1 postcode district, as well as surrounding towns such as Godalming. If you are unsure, send us your postcode.

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.

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 near Guildford

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