Splashbacks and tiling in Totnes

When do splashbacks and tiling make sense in Totnes?

If your Totnes home is an older property with uneven walls, the splashback may start with patching, skimming or boarding so the tiler has a flat surface to work from.

Landlords around Devon 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. Our Devon coverage reaches every part of Totnes (TQ9) and out towards Paignton.

What is in a typical job?

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

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
Old tiles removed and walls prepared, patched or boarded where needed
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

Splashbacks and tiling prices in Totnes

As a starting point for Totnes, these ranges include VAT at 20% and allow for typical labour costs in the South West. For the South West, these ranges are close to the national figures.

Splashbacks and tiling prices in Totnes
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%.

Fitting kitchens in older and newer Totnes homes

You will find cob and thatched cottages, Victorian terraces, post-war houses and flats and seaside bungalows throughout Devon. Victorian terraces in Exeter and Torbay often have a narrow back kitchen, while post-war houses and seaside bungalows usually have a square room that suits an L-shape.

Much of Devon has soft mains water, which is kind to taps and appliances, though some eastern parts are harder, so check with your supplier. Single-track lanes, steep town streets and cottages with no parking can make deliveries slow, so long worktops and tall units need a planned route into the house.

Do you need approval for splashbacks and tiling in Totnes?

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 Dartmoor or Exmoor national parks, listed thatched cottages and conservation areas may need consent before a new extractor vent goes through an outside wall.

Getting the most from your splashbacks and tiling

Choosing stone worktops for a Totnes kitchen? Ask for upstand and splashback heights to be confirmed before the template visit, not after.
If you are renting out a flat in Totnes, a single glass panel or large plain tiles cut down the grout that needs cleaning at each check-out.
Hold a few of your chosen tiles against the wall in your Totnes kitchen, in daylight and under the kitchen lights, before ordering the full quantity.
Order spare tiles from the same batch to cover cuts and breakages, and keep a few back so a later repair matches.

Questions about splashbacks and tiling in Totnes

How much do splashbacks and tiling cost in Totnes?

Guide prices in Totnes are about £150 to £410 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.

Which parts of Totnes do you work in?

All of them. Our Devon coverage takes in the whole of Totnes, including the TQ9 postcode district, as well as surrounding towns such as Paignton. If you are unsure, send us your postcode.

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 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.

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.

Nearby places we cover

The same service is available a short drive from Totnes, including: