Splashbacks and tiling · Scottish Borders
Splashbacks and tiling in Peebles
Splashbacks and tiling in Peebles start with a free survey visit: we measure up, check the walls, floor and service positions, and explain what the job involves before anything is priced.
When do splashbacks and tiling make sense in Peebles?
If the kitchen in your Peebles 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 the Scottish Borders 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. If your home is in Peebles or close by in Penicuik or Galashiels, the same survey, quote and fitting process applies.
What is included in the work?
Your written quote lists everything included. For splashbacks and tiling, that normally means:
- Tiled splashbacks between the worktop and wall units, set out from a centre line
- Stone upstands and splashbacks templated and fitted alongside a stone worktop
- Full-height or feature tiling behind the hob, sink or open shelving
- Grout and sealant chosen for easy cleaning, with flexible sealant at the worktop joint
- Toughened glass splashback measured after the worktops are fitted, with socket cut-outs
- Socket and switch plates refitted by an electrician once the tiling is finished
How much do splashbacks and tiling cost in Peebles?
Typical splashbacks and tiling prices for homes in Peebles, including VAT and adjusted for Scotland. Your own figure depends on the size of the kitchen, the layout and what is moving. Labour rates in Scotland are generally lower than in London and the South East, so these ranges are a little below the national guide.
| 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%.
Fitting kitchens in older and newer Peebles homes
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.
Regulations for kitchen work in Peebles
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.
Planning ahead
- Ask to see where the tiling will start before the first row goes on in your Peebles kitchen, so narrow cut tiles end up in corners rather than on show.
- Hold a few of your chosen tiles against the wall in your Peebles kitchen, in daylight and under the kitchen lights, before ordering the full quantity.
- Choosing stone worktops for a Peebles 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 Peebles
How much do splashbacks and tiling cost in Peebles?
Guide prices in Peebles are about £140 to £380 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 work near Peebles as well?
Yes. As well as Peebles itself, we cover the rest of the Scottish Borders and nearby towns such as Penicuik and Galashiels. The process is the same wherever the kitchen is.
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.
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.
Also covering nearby towns
We also carry out splashbacks and tiling in these towns near Peebles:
- Splashbacks and tiling in Penicuik
- Splashbacks and tiling in Galashiels
- Splashbacks and tiling in Bonnyrigg
- Splashbacks and tiling in Musselburgh
- Splashbacks and tiling in Livingston
- Splashbacks and tiling in Hawick
- Splashbacks and tiling across the Scottish Borders