Kitchen Tiling & Splashbacks Kent

A well-tiled kitchen is not just easier to clean. It changes how the room reads — a splashback that runs floor to ceiling behind the hob can make a modest kitchen feel considered and finished. A tiled floor that continues from the kitchen into the hallway creates coherence through the ground floor of a house.

ABC Tiling has completed kitchen tiling work across Greenhithe, Gravesend, Stone, Longfield, Bean and New Barn since 2016. Splashbacks, full floor installations, wall tiling, and the tiling in the adjacent rooms — hallways, conservatories, utility rooms — that often gets discussed during the same conversation.

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What kitchen tiling with ABC Tiling includes

• Hob splashbacks — behind the cooker or range, tiled to the underside of the extractor, full-height or partial
• Sink surrounds — tiles around and behind the sink area, often a practical necessity and frequently an opportunity for something that looks good too
• Full kitchen wall tiling — entire wall surfaces in a kitchen, coordinated with cabinet colours and worktop materials
• Kitchen floor tiling — porcelain, ceramic, natural stone and terracotta floors, with or without underfloor heating
• Hallway and entrance tiling — floors that tie the entrance to the rest of the ground floor
• Conservatory floors — porcelain and natural stone for garden rooms and orangeries
• Utility room tiling — practical floors and walls that hold up to the use a utility room gets

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Why the splashback matters more than people expect

The area behind the hob is one of the hardest-working surfaces in a kitchen. It takes heat, steam, grease and the occasional splatter, and it does so in full view of anyone who walks into the room. A splashback tiled well — with clean cuts at the cabinet edges, a neat trim at the top, and tiles seated flush — looks entirely different from one that was rushed or done without attention to the junctions.

The same is true of tile selection. Glossy white metro tiles have their place and remain popular for a reason. But a kitchen with a particular layout or cabinet colour will sometimes suit something unexpected — a matte stone-effect porcelain, a bold geometric pattern, a handmade ceramic that catches the light differently to a standard tile. Gee will discuss what he thinks will work in your specific room, and he will be honest if he thinks an idea will not land the way you are picturing it.

"I had ABC tiling complete work in my kitchen and we LOVE it! Gee is amazing at what he does and the most loveliest person also, would highly recommend the company. 10/10 from us."

— Georgina Jones, November 2025

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Tile selection and suppliers

For customers who have not yet chosen tiles, Gee can meet you at Apex Tiles to go through options in person. This is worth doing for kitchens in particular, where the tile colour and texture interacts with the cabinet colour, the worktop, and the light in the room — decisions that are difficult to make from a small sample card.

ABC Tiling also has a trade account with Topps Tiles, which means customers receive a discount on materials purchased there. If you are planning to source your own tiles, Topps Tiles is a practical option and Gee can advise on what to look for.

He will calculate the quantities you need accurately. Over-ordering is common when homeowners estimate tile quantities themselves. Under-ordering mid-job means a delay if the batch has sold out.

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Working around an older kitchen

A number of ABC Tiling's kitchen jobs are in properties that were not built recently. The 18th-century terrace with a flagstone floor that needs replacing. The 1960s semi with walls that have been painted and repainted over decades of previous work. The Victorian kitchen where the floor is not level from one end to the other.

Older kitchens require more preparation time, and occasionally more problem-solving on the day. An uneven floor needs levelling compound before tiles can go down. A wall that has been artex-coated needs proper preparation before adhesive will bond properly. Gee has extensive experience with period and older properties and accounts for this in his quotes.

"We live in an 18th century terraced cottage, and wanted to refurbish our kitchen. The largest part of this project was replacing the existing laminate flooring with small terracotta tiles. Once the project was underway, we knew we made the right decision as there were various unexpected hurdles to overcome, which Gee navigated expertly, ensuring we remained fully communicated with throughout. We are delighted with the end product and it is now the centrepiece of our wonderful new kitchen."

— Jennifer French, November 2025

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How a kitchen tiling job works

1. Contact and site visit. Gee visits the property, looks at the kitchen, and talks through what you are looking for. For a splashback job this might be a 20-minute conversation; for a full floor and wall installation it will take longer. He will note the room dimensions, the condition of the walls and floor, and any factors — pipework, fitted appliances, awkward angles — that affect the plan.

2. Tile selection. If you have not already chosen tiles, this is the point to do so. Gee can meet you at Apex Tiles or advise on specific ranges at Topps Tiles.

3. Written quote. Following the site visit you receive a written quote. This covers labour and gives you a clear basis for pricing materials.

4. Preparation. Walls and floors are prepared before any tile is laid. For kitchen floors this typically means checking for movement in the subfloor, levelling where needed, and applying primer. For walls, any loose or painted surfaces are addressed before adhesive goes on.

5. Tiling. Tiles are laid from centre-out with the layout planned in advance. Cut tiles at edges and junctions are measured and cut accurately — not estimated. Junction trims and edge profiles are fitted as part of the job.

6. Grouting and sealing. Grout colour is agreed with you before application. Silicone is applied at wall-floor junctions and around any fixed appliances. The room is cleaned down when complete.

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Materials for kitchen tiling

Porcelain is the most common choice for kitchen floors and is suited to the wear a kitchen floor receives. Rectified large-format porcelain tiles give a minimal-grout-joint finish that many customers want; smaller formats in a pattern (herringbone, offset stack) remain popular.

Ceramic is lighter and easier to work with on walls. For splashbacks, a ceramic tile in any format works well. The material tolerates heat and steam without issue.

Natural stone — limestone, slate, travertine, some marbles — has a warmth that manufactured tiles cannot quite replicate. Stone floors do require sealing before use and periodic re-sealing. Gee will advise on the maintenance requirements for any natural stone installation.

Terracotta is a traditional choice for period kitchen floors and has enjoyed a revival in newer kitchens too. It is a softer material that requires careful handling and specific adhesive.

Heat resistance is a practical consideration for the area immediately behind a hob. Standard ceramic and porcelain tiles handle kitchen heat without issue. Natural stone and glass tiles also perform well in this position.

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Frequently asked questions

How much does a kitchen splashback cost to tile? The cost of a splashback job depends on the area to be tiled, the tile selected, and the complexity of the cuts around cabinets, sockets and appliances. A straightforward splashback behind a standard cooker in metro tile takes less time than a floor-to-ceiling statement wall with intricate cuts around multiple socket positions. Gee provides a free written quote after a site visit — contact him to arrange one.

Can you tile over existing kitchen tiles? In some cases, yes — provided the existing tiles are firmly fixed, flat, and the substrate can support the additional weight. In many cases it is better to remove the existing tiles first so the surface behind can be checked and prepared properly. Gee will assess this on the site visit and advise on the best approach for your specific situation.

What is the best tile for a kitchen splashback? There is no single answer — it depends on the kitchen. From a practical standpoint, a porcelain or ceramic tile in a format that suits the space is durable, easy to clean and tolerates the heat and steam generated by cooking. From an aesthetic standpoint, the tile choice needs to work with the cabinet colour, worktop material and the light in the room. Gee is well-placed to advise on this; it is part of what the initial consultation covers.

Do you tile conservatory and orangery floors? Yes — this comes up regularly. Gee has tiled several orangery and garden room floors, including one that a customer specifically noted was "amazing" in their review. Porcelain and natural stone both perform well in conservatories where there is temperature variation between seasons.

How far in advance should I book? Gee typically has a waiting list of a few weeks. For kitchen tiling work, contact him as early as possible, particularly if the kitchen is being fitted around a planned kitchen installation date.

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Get a kitchen tiling quote

Call: 07961 795424 Email: info.abctiling@gmail.com

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Covering: Greenhithe · Stone · Gravesend · Longfield · Bean · New Barn