Remove kitchen tiles or cover with backboard ( if possible ) ?

deejaybee

Hi all,

I have finally managed to sort out a recommended fitter for my kitchen refresh,  my idea was to fit "tile effect" backboards ( seen in Howdens catalogue ) over the existing ceramic tiles, and a black glass splashback behind hob.

However fitters recommendation is to take off the existing tiles.... in an ideal world i would agree with this, BUT the tiles are fixed to a plasterboard ( dot & dab ?  ) wall, and i think the chances of tiles coming off cleanly without destroying the wall are slim.

Apart from losing a small amount of worktop width, i am struggling to see downside to just covering the tiles, but obviously i am not clued up at all .....

( we will be having new worktops and appliances, sink/tap )

Mahsroh

The cost of getting a plasterer in the make good the walls after removing the tiles would probably make it worthwhile just removing the tiles in my opinion. Obviously I don't know what your budget constrains are, but in the scheme of a new kitchen fit out, the cost of a plasterer would be relatively low. 

Additionally, if you're having new appliances etc. do these require new electrical points that require wires being chased in to the wall? If so you'll need a plasterer anyway so might as well make good the walls whilst the other plastering work is being done. On that basis the extra cost would be minimal. 

deejaybee

Thanks for reply Mahsroh.

The new appliances will be like for like replacements so dont envisage any extra wiring being needed.

Its not a budget issue re plastering , just had the artex ceiling in there skimmed etc actually, its the potential mess, and not being able to crack on with  the rest of it till the tiling question is sorted one way or the other.

Mahsroh

I see, that makes sense.
What I will say though is i've had replacement tiles in an already fitted kitchen. This included him plastering along the work surface directly above a brand new worktop, and he left no mess whatsoever. 

fenwick458

well. the fitter and you are the only 2 people to see the job, if he's reccomending to take them off , ask him if he has a specific reason for this? do they look like they are about to fall off? are they un even? are they 15mm thick?
if you want to gamble with taking them off, then take them off. you just have to worry if they destroy the plasterboards, and if so you'll need to rectify that first to make them flat enough and primed to take the new adhesive boards