Splashbacks and tiling in Reading

Why do people in Reading choose splashbacks and tiling?

Many people in Berkshire choose a single panel of toughened glass behind the hob because it wipes clean quickly and has no grout lines to hold grease.

If the kitchen in your Reading 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. Our Berkshire coverage reaches every part of Reading (RG1, RG6 and RG30) and out towards Henley-on-Thames.

What is in a typical job?

The exact scope is agreed after the survey, but a typical job in Reading covers:

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
Toughened glass splashback measured after the worktops are fitted, with socket cut-outs
Old tiles removed and walls prepared, patched or boarded where needed
Grout and sealant chosen for easy cleaning, with flexible sealant at the worktop joint
Free survey visit to check the walls, agree the layout and give an itemised quote

What do splashbacks and tiling cost in Reading?

The figures below are guide prices for Reading, including VAT and adjusted for typical costs across the South East. The fixed price comes after we have measured up. Expect costs in the South East to sit somewhat above UK averages, reflecting local labour rates.

What do splashbacks and tiling cost in Reading?
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%.

House types around Reading and what they mean for a kitchen

The housing mix across Berkshire includes Victorian and Edwardian terraces, 1930s semis, post-war estate houses and new-build town houses, so no two kitchen fits are quite alike. Edwardian terraces often have a long galley running back from the dining room, while newer three-storey town houses usually have a compact kitchen on the ground floor.

Expect hard water in most of Berkshire, much of it drawn from chalk, so limescale on taps is common and a boiling water tap benefits from a filter. Busy town-centre streets and permit parking zones can make unloading slow, so a parking permit or bay suspension may need arranging before delivery day.

Regulations for kitchen work in Reading

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.

A new extractor vent on a street-facing wall can need permission in a conservation area, and listed homes may need consent for internal changes affecting historic features.

Worth knowing before the fit

If you are renting out a flat in Reading, a single glass panel or large plain tiles cut down the grout that needs cleaning at each check-out.
Clear the worktop and empty the nearest wall cupboards before the tiler arrives at your Reading home, as cutting dust and adhesive travel further than you expect.
Choosing stone worktops for a Reading 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 Reading

How much do splashbacks and tiling cost in Reading?

Splashbacks and tiling in Reading 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.

Do you work near Reading as well?

Yes. As well as Reading itself, we cover the rest of Berkshire and nearby towns such as Henley-on-Thames and Wokingham. The process is the same wherever the kitchen is.

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.

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: