Splashbacks and tiling in York

Why do people in York choose splashbacks and tiling?

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

When a York kitchen is getting stone worktops, upstands or a matching splashback are usually planned at the same time, so they are templated in one visit. Kitchens in every part of York are covered, and the survey visit is free wherever you are in North Yorkshire.

What is in a typical job?

After the survey visit we write the scope down. For splashbacks and tiling in York it usually covers:

Socket and switch plates refitted by an electrician once the tiling is finished
Free survey visit to check the walls, agree the layout and give an itemised quote
Grout and sealant chosen for easy cleaning, with flexible sealant at the worktop joint
Old tiles removed and walls prepared, patched or boarded where needed
Full-height or feature tiling behind the hob, sink or open shelving
Tiled splashbacks between the worktop and wall units, set out from a centre line

What should you budget for splashbacks and tiling in York?

As a starting point for York, these ranges include VAT at 20% and allow for typical labour costs in Yorkshire and the Humber. Prices in Yorkshire and the Humber usually come in below the national guide, as labour rates are lower than in the South East.

What should you budget for splashbacks and tiling in York?
Typical project	Guide price
Tiled splashbackBetween worktop and wall units	£140–£380
Kitchen wall tiling, 4–6 m²Preparation, tiling and grouting	£280–£760
Toughened glass splashback behind the hob, fittedMade to measure after the worktops are in	£240–£570
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%.

Kitchens in homes around York

The housing mix across North Yorkshire includes stone-built cottages, Victorian terraces, Georgian townhouses and post-war semis, so no two kitchen fits are quite alike. Dales and moorland stone cottages often have a small kitchen in a rear extension, while terraces in York and Middlesbrough tend to have a narrow back galley.

Dales and moorland roads can be narrow and steep, and older streets in York can have restricted parking, so delivery vehicles and timing need planning. Water hardness varies across North Yorkshire, from soft in some upland areas to moderately hard elsewhere, so check with your supplier before choosing a filter.

Regulations for kitchen work in York

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 in the Yorkshire Dales or North York Moors national parks, York's many listed buildings and conservation areas may need consent for new vents or internal changes.

Getting the most from your splashbacks and tiling

Ask to see where the tiling will start before the first row goes on in your York kitchen, so narrow cut tiles end up in corners rather than on show.
If your North Yorkshire kitchen has a gas hob, check the hob instructions for splashback clearances before choosing glass or tiles for the wall behind it.
Clear the worktop and empty the nearest wall cupboards before the tiler arrives at your York home, as cutting dust and adhesive travel further than you expect.
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 York

How much do splashbacks and tiling cost in York?

Guide prices in York are about £140 to £380 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.

Do you work near York as well?

Yes. As well as York itself, we cover the rest of North Yorkshire and nearby towns such as Selby and Pocklington. The process is the same wherever the kitchen is.

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.

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.

Splashbacks and tiling in neighbouring towns

Close to York? We cover these nearby towns too: