Splashbacks and tiling in Plymouth

When do splashbacks and tiling make sense in Plymouth?

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

Landlords around Devon 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. Homes right across Plymouth are covered, as are nearby places such as Plymstock, Saltash and the villages in between.

What does the job involve?

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
Socket and switch plates refitted by an electrician once the tiling is finished
Free survey visit to check the walls, agree the layout and give an itemised quote
Old tiles removed and walls prepared, patched or boarded where needed
Stone upstands and splashbacks templated and fitted alongside a stone worktop

What should you budget for splashbacks and tiling in Plymouth?

As a starting point for Plymouth, these ranges include VAT at 20% and allow for typical labour costs in the South West. Costs in the South West sit close to the national guide.

What should you budget for splashbacks and tiling in Plymouth?
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%.

What kind of kitchens do we fit in Plymouth?

In and around Plymouth, homes range across cob and thatched cottages, Victorian terraces, post-war houses and flats and seaside bungalows. 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.

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. 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.

Do you need approval for splashbacks and tiling in Plymouth?

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.

Getting the most from your splashbacks and tiling

Hold a few of your chosen tiles against the wall in your Plymouth kitchen, in daylight and under the kitchen lights, before ordering the full quantity.
Clear the worktop and empty the nearest wall cupboards before the tiler arrives at your Plymouth home, as cutting dust and adhesive travel further than you expect.
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.
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 Plymouth

How much do splashbacks and tiling cost in Plymouth?

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

Can you measure up in Plymouth before quoting?

Yes. Every quote starts with a free, no-obligation survey visit to your home in Plymouth. We measure the room, check the walls, floor and service positions, then send an itemised written quote.

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.

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.

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.

Splashbacks and tiling near Plymouth

Neighbouring towns where we offer splashbacks and tiling: