Kitchen tiling in Exeter

1. Set out from the hob or window

   The tiles are set out from the centre of the hob, sink or window, so the wall looks balanced where your eye goes first and there's no thin sliver at one end.

2. Prepare the wall

   Old tiles come off and the wall is made flat and sound, so the new tiles sit in one plane and the edges don't catch the light.

3. Cut cleanly round everything

   Sockets, switches, window reveals and worktop ends are cut neatly and consistently. It's what makes a splashback look fitted rather than stuck on.

4. Grout and finish the edges

   The joints are grouted, the line along the worktop sealed, and the ends of the tiling finished neatly. Then the kitchen is cleared up so you can use it again.

Based in Exeter, Mark covers all of Devon. See more recent projects, or read what customers say.

Centring. A splashback is set out from the middle of the hob, the sink or the window, whichever your eye lands on first, so the tiles either side match and you don't end up with a thin sliver at one end.

Sockets and switches. A splashback has more cuts per square metre than almost anything else. Each one is cut close around the socket box, so the faceplate covers the cut and sits flat on the tiles.

Where it stops. The tiles need a clean finishing line: at the end of the worktop, at the underside of the wall units, or full height to the ceiling. Deciding that before tiling starts saves odd half-tiles later.

Behind the hob. Heat and grease land here first. Porcelain or glazed ceramic with a darker or stain-resistant grout keeps it looking clean. If the tiles are sound and only the grout is tired, it can be raked out and regrouted without retiling.