Splashbacks and tiling in Solihull

When do splashbacks and tiling make sense in Solihull?

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

Homeowners in Solihull 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. We cover all of Solihull, including the B91 postcode district, and travel out to neighbouring towns across the West Midlands.

What is in a typical job?

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

Socket and switch plates refitted by an electrician once the tiling is finished
Full-height or feature tiling behind the hob, sink or open shelving
Stone upstands and splashbacks templated and fitted alongside a stone worktop
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
Toughened glass splashback measured after the worktops are fitted, with socket cut-outs

Guide prices for splashbacks and tiling in Solihull

The figures below are guide prices for Solihull, including VAT and adjusted for typical costs across the West Midlands. The fixed price comes after we have measured up. For the West Midlands, these ranges are close to the national figures.

Guide prices for splashbacks and tiling in Solihull
Typical project	Guide price
Tiled splashbackBetween worktop and wall units	£150–£400
Kitchen wall tiling, 4–6 m²Preparation, tiling and grouting	£300–£800
Toughened glass splashback behind the hob, fittedMade to measure after the worktops are in	£250–£600
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

Across the West Midlands you will often find Victorian terraces, 1930s semis, post-war council-built houses and post-war flats and maisonettes, and each shapes the kitchen differently. Victorian terraces often have a long galley behind the back room, while 1930s semis across Birmingham and the Black Country tend to have a small kitchen at the rear.

Birmingham's water is relatively soft, while much of the Black Country and Coventry is harder, so check your supplier's hardness figure before choosing a filter. Busy terraced streets, permit parking near town centres and blocks with shared lifts can each affect delivery times and how worktops reach the kitchen.

Regulations for kitchen work in Solihull

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 and listed buildings, including parts of Birmingham and Solihull, may need consent for new vents, and flat owners usually need the freeholder's consent first.

Getting the most from your splashbacks and tiling

Ask to see where the tiling will start before the first row goes on in your Solihull kitchen, so narrow cut tiles end up in corners rather than on show.
If you are renting out a flat in Solihull, a single glass panel or large plain tiles cut down the grout that needs cleaning at each check-out.
If your West Midlands kitchen has a gas hob, check the hob instructions for splashback clearances before choosing glass or tiles for the wall behind it.
Choosing stone worktops? Decide on upstands or a full-height splashback before templating, so they can be cut from the same material and priced together.

Questions about splashbacks and tiling in Solihull

How much do splashbacks and tiling cost in Solihull?

For a tiled splashback, budget around £150 to £400 including VAT in Solihull. That reflects typical costs in the West Midlands; we confirm the actual figure in writing once we have measured up.

Do you cover all of Solihull?

Yes. We work across Solihull, including the B91 postcode district, and nearby towns such as Shirley and Birmingham. 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.

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.

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.

Nearby places we cover

Neighbouring towns where we offer splashbacks and tiling: