Splashbacks and tiling · Dorset
Splashbacks and tiling in Swanage
From the survey to handover, splashbacks and tiling in Swanage are run by us as one job, with the fitters and trades booked in the right order.
Who usually needs splashbacks and tiling in Swanage?
Landlords around Dorset 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.
When a Swanage kitchen is getting stone worktops, upstands or a matching splashback are usually planned at the same time, so they are templated in one visit. We work throughout Swanage (BH19) and across the wider Dorset area.
What we cover for splashbacks and tiling in Swanage
Here is what usually goes into splashbacks and tiling, adjusted to your Swanage kitchen after we have measured it:
- Stone upstands and splashbacks templated and fitted alongside a stone worktop
- Grout and sealant chosen for easy cleaning, with flexible sealant at the worktop joint
- Socket and switch plates refitted by an electrician once the tiling is finished
- Toughened glass splashback measured after the worktops are fitted, with socket cut-outs
- Full-height or feature tiling behind the hob, sink or open shelving
- Free survey visit to check the walls, agree the layout and give an itemised quote
How much do splashbacks and tiling cost in Swanage?
The figures below are guide prices for Swanage, including VAT and adjusted for typical costs across the South West. The fixed price comes after we have measured up. Costs in the South West sit close to the national guide.
| 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 Swanage?
The housing mix across Dorset includes thatched cottages, Victorian and Edwardian villas, 1930s semis and seaside bungalows, so no two kitchen fits are quite alike. Edwardian villas in Bournemouth often have a separate kitchen and scullery, while 1930s semis and bungalows tend to have a compact room at the back.
Flats in converted villas may have no lift and shared hallways, and narrow village lanes can make delivering long worktops difficult. Most of Dorset has hard water, so limescale on taps, sinks and boiling water taps is common, and a scale-reducing filter can help.
What rules apply to splashbacks and tiling in Swanage?
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.
Thatched and listed cottages may need listed building consent for internal changes, and owners of flats in converted houses usually need the freeholder's consent before work starts.
Planning ahead
- Ask to see where the tiling will start before the first row goes on in your Swanage kitchen, so narrow cut tiles end up in corners rather than on show.
- 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.
- 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.
- Agree socket, switch and cooker hood positions before tiling starts; moving them afterwards means cutting tiles out and patching in replacements that may not match.
Questions about splashbacks and tiling in Swanage
How much do splashbacks and tiling cost in Swanage?
For a tiled splashback, budget around £150 to £410 including VAT in Swanage. That reflects typical costs in the South West; we confirm the actual figure in writing once we have measured up.
Do you cover all of Swanage?
Yes. We work across Swanage, including the BH19 postcode district, and nearby towns such as Poole and Bournemouth. Book a free survey visit and we will arrange a time that suits you.
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.
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.
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 Swanage
Close to Swanage? We cover these nearby towns too:
- Splashbacks and tiling in Poole
- Splashbacks and tiling in Bournemouth
- Splashbacks and tiling in Christchurch
- Splashbacks and tiling in New Milton
- Splashbacks and tiling in Ringwood
- Splashbacks and tiling in Blandford Forum
- Splashbacks and tiling across Dorset