Splashbacks and tiling in Sunderland

What prompts splashbacks and tiling in Sunderland?

Homeowners in Sunderland 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.

Some households in Tyne and Wear want tiling taken up to the ceiling behind a range cooker or open shelving, turning one whole wall into a practical feature that is easy to wipe down. Homes right across Sunderland are covered, as are nearby places such as Seaham, Washington and the villages in between.

What is included in the work?

Your written quote lists everything included. For splashbacks and tiling, that normally means:

Grout and sealant chosen for easy cleaning, with flexible sealant at the worktop joint
Stone upstands and splashbacks templated and fitted alongside a stone worktop
Tiled splashbacks between the worktop and wall units, set out from a centre line
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
Old tiles removed and walls prepared, patched or boarded where needed

Splashbacks and tiling prices in Sunderland

Typical splashbacks and tiling prices for homes in Sunderland, including VAT and adjusted for the North East. Your own figure depends on the size of the kitchen, the layout and what is moving. Prices in the North East usually come in below the national guide, as labour rates are lower than in the South East.

Splashbacks and tiling prices in Sunderland
Typical project	Guide price
Tiled splashbackBetween worktop and wall units	£140–£360
Kitchen wall tiling, 4–6 m²Preparation, tiling and grouting	£270–£720
Toughened glass splashback behind the hob, fittedMade to measure after the worktops are in	£220–£540
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 Sunderland and what they mean for a kitchen

Typical homes in this part of Tyne and Wear include tyneside flats, Victorian terraces, 1930s semis and post-war council-built houses. Tyneside flats often have a narrow kitchen in the rear offshoot, while 1930s semis and ex-council houses tend to have a small square kitchen at the back.

Back lanes behind terraced streets can help deliveries, but upper Tyneside flats have their own internal stair, so long worktops need careful handling. Hardness varies across Tyne and Wear, from fairly soft around Newcastle to harder in parts of Sunderland, so check with your supplier before choosing a filter.

Building regulations, electrics and gas in Sunderland

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.

In conservation areas and listed buildings, such as parts of central Newcastle and Tynemouth, a new external vent or changes to historic features may need consent.

Planning ahead

Clear the worktop and empty the nearest wall cupboards before the tiler arrives at your Sunderland home, as cutting dust and adhesive travel further than you expect.
Give fresh grout and sealant the full curing time shown on the packaging before scrubbing them or letting water sit on the joint at the back of the worktop.
If your Tyne and Wear kitchen has a gas hob, check the hob instructions for splashback clearances before choosing glass or tiles for the wall behind it.
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 Sunderland

How much do splashbacks and tiling cost in Sunderland?

Guide prices in Sunderland are about £140 to £360 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.

Can you measure up in Sunderland before quoting?

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

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.

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.

Splashbacks and tiling in neighbouring towns

Neighbouring towns where we offer splashbacks and tiling: