Splashbacks and tiling in Portsmouth

Thinking about splashbacks and tiling in Portsmouth?

Homeowners in Portsmouth often add a splashback as the final stage of a new kitchen, once the worktops are in and the bare wall above them needs a washable finish.

Many people in Hampshire choose a single panel of toughened glass behind the hob because it wipes clean quickly and has no grout lines to hold grease. Portsmouth sits about 15 miles south-east of Southampton, and our Hampshire coverage takes in everything in between.

What do splashbacks and tiling in Portsmouth include?

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
Old tiles removed and walls prepared, patched or boarded where needed
Socket and switch plates refitted by an electrician once the tiling is finished
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

What should you budget for splashbacks and tiling in Portsmouth?

These guide ranges include VAT at 20% and are adjusted for prices in the South East. We confirm your price in writing after a free survey visit. Labour in the South East generally costs more than the UK average, which lifts these ranges a little.

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

Local homes and their kitchens

Typical homes in this part of Hampshire include Victorian terraces, 1930s semis, post-war estate houses and thatched and brick cottages. Terraces in Southampton and Portsmouth often have a narrow back kitchen, while post-war estate houses tend to have a compact rectangular room suited to an L-shape.

Water across Hampshire is mostly hard, largely from chalk sources, so limescale on taps and boiling water taps is common and a filter can help. Dense terraced streets can be very tight for parking, and New Forest lanes and village roads may limit the size of delivery vehicle.

Regulations for kitchen work in Portsmouth

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 the New Forest or South Downs national parks, listed cottages and conservation areas may need consent for a new extractor vent or alterations to historic features.

Getting the most from your splashbacks and tiling

If you are renting out a flat in Portsmouth, 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.
Ask to see where the tiling will start before the first row goes on in your Portsmouth kitchen, so narrow cut tiles end up in corners rather than on show.
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 Portsmouth

How much do splashbacks and tiling cost in Portsmouth?

For a tiled splashback, budget around £170 to £460 including VAT in Portsmouth. That reflects typical costs in the South East; we confirm the actual figure in writing once we have measured up.

Do you cover all of Portsmouth?

Yes. We work across Portsmouth, including the PO5 postcode district, and nearby towns such as Southsea and Gosport. Book a free survey visit and we will arrange a time that suits you.

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 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

Close to Portsmouth? We cover these nearby towns too: