Splashbacks and tiling in Highbury

Thinking about splashbacks and tiling in Highbury?

When a Highbury kitchen is getting stone worktops, upstands or a matching splashback are usually planned at the same time, so they are templated in one visit.

If your Highbury 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. Highbury sits about 4 miles north-east of Westminster, and our Greater London coverage takes in everything in between.

What do splashbacks and tiling in Highbury include?

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

Grout and sealant chosen for easy cleaning, with flexible sealant at the worktop joint
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
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
Toughened glass splashback measured after the worktops are fitted, with socket cut-outs

Splashbacks and tiling prices in Highbury

The figures below are guide prices for Highbury, including VAT and adjusted for typical costs across London. The fixed price comes after we have measured up. Prices in London usually run above the national guide, mainly because labour and parking cost more.

Splashbacks and tiling prices in Highbury
Typical project	Guide price
Tiled splashbackBetween worktop and wall units	£200–£520
Kitchen wall tiling, 4–6 m²Preparation, tiling and grouting	£390–£1,000
Toughened glass splashback behind the hob, fittedMade to measure after the worktops are in	£320–£780
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 Highbury and what they mean for a kitchen

Across Greater London you will often find Victorian and Edwardian terraces, conversion flats, mansion block flats and 1930s semis, and each shapes the kitchen differently. Victorian terraces often have a narrow galley beside the side return, while conversion flats and mansion blocks usually fit the kitchen into a small room or along one living-room wall.

Permit parking, red routes and flats without lifts are common, so parking suspensions, stair carries and lift bookings may need arranging before delivery day. London's mains water is hard, so limescale builds quickly on taps and boiling water taps, and a scale-reducing filter is worth planning in.

Do you need approval for splashbacks and tiling in Highbury?

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.

Conservation areas are widespread across London, so a new extractor vent on a front wall may need permission, and leaseholders usually need the freeholder's written consent first.

Worth knowing before the fit

If your Greater London kitchen has a gas hob, check the hob instructions for splashback clearances before choosing glass or tiles for the wall behind it.
Clear the worktop and empty the nearest wall cupboards before the tiler arrives at your Highbury home, as cutting dust and adhesive travel further than you expect.
Choosing stone worktops for a Highbury kitchen? Ask for upstand and splashback heights to be confirmed before the template visit, not after.
Order spare tiles from the same batch to cover cuts and breakages, and keep a few back so a later repair matches.

Questions about splashbacks and tiling in Highbury

How much do splashbacks and tiling cost in Highbury?

Guide prices in Highbury are about £200 to £520 including VAT for a tiled splashback. The final price depends on the size of the kitchen and what is moving, and is set out in an itemised written quote.

Do you cover all of Highbury?

Yes. We work across Highbury, including the N5 postcode district, and nearby towns such as Islington and Holloway. Book a free survey visit and we will arrange a time that suits you.

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.

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.

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

Neighbouring towns where we offer splashbacks and tiling: